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A Quick Snapshot into the Writing Life of Amateur Sleuth Mystery Author A. D. Hay02 March 2022
But it’s not over yet. Up next on my to-do list is to prepare the novel for editing. Before my editor sees the story, I need to make sure that the manuscript is free of all known errors. I aim to finish preparing the book for my editor before the end of the first week in April. Between now and the next two weeks, I will take a two-week break because I feel a little burned out.
Hopefully, I’ll return to the writing refreshed and ready to go.
If you would love to read the book before anyone else and like leaving reviews, then sign up to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of Duplicity (James Lalonde #2).
05 January 2022
Book Giveaway
Good News: The giveaway for Romanov Ransom by Clive Cussler and Robin Burcell that I announced on episode TBN005 of the Book Nerd Podcast is still open partly because I forgot to include the details of entry on the show notes, and I only realised quite recently. To enter the giveaway to win a free paperback copy of The Romanov Ransom by Clive Cussler and Robin Burcell follow the steps below.
- Join The Book Nerd Reader Club Facebook Group
- Like the post for episode TBN005
- Comment below the post with “count me in”
Please note, only one entry per person is allowed. The winner will be announced in the Facebook Group and on the podcast in February 2022.
10 December 2021
On top of this, I can’t tell you how long the story will be; it will be a mystery that I will discover as I write. Nevertheless, I can tell you that it will be a locked-room mystery that takes place in a beautiful English Manor House. But I won’t bore you with that information. This story will be a part of the James Lalonde Universe, and I’m going to make it available to my James Lalonde insider email list.
So, if you want a free story, make sure you sign up. In the meantime, you’ll get a free copy of The Lawn.
6 December 2021
Yay!
The paperback is available on Amazon in all countries and on Barnes and Noble. However, the other day, I approved the paperback copy, which can be purchased via the catalogue in your favourite book store. So all you have to do is quote the ISBN (978-1-9163483-6-3) to the bookseller, and they can order you a copy. Usually, when I publish a paperback, I have to approve one paperback for Amazon and the other from bookstores because your local store orders books from a separate source. But that’s just author life for you.
27 July 2021
So, what’s next, you ask?
I need to send my novella to a few beta readers before doing my one pass revision edit. And then I can send my novella off to my editors. Hopefully, I can get this book finished and published by September; fingers crossed.
15 July 2021
Yay!
To download the ebook, you need to create a Booktopia account and download the reader app.
13 July 2021
Today, I wrote the first scene in the climactic sequence of The Candidate which is a first-in-series amateur sleuth mystery novella. By the end of the day, I had written and performed minor edits resulting in an additional 1,370 words to the manuscript. So, what does this all mean? I only have three scenes left to write in this novella.
Yay!
If you want to know more about the series, check out this blog post or YouTube video.
29 May 2021
Well, it’s my 40th birthday. Yay!
In celebration of my old age, I’ve discounted my amateur sleuth mystery novella, Missing to 99¢, on all ebook retailers. But, It’s not all about me. I also want to make reading an affordable hobby for people who have been affected by the Pandemic. So, hopefully, discounting my first-in-series novella will make reading a little easier and cheaper for you. Click here to find Missing on your favourite ebook retailer.
Hello!
My Books
A Body is on the Lawn, and a Killer is on the Loose
When Will Thatcher, doesn’t show up for work, James Lalonde is forced to attend an afternoon tea with Alistair Carmichael in his place. The lovely autumn afternoon tea comes to an abrupt end when a body turns up on the lawn of the Carmichael Estate with strange markings on his neck.
But, something is missing, a priceless painting is off the wall. However, it’s no ordinary painting, it’s a Van Gogh purchased in an auction a few months ago. After discovering fresh tracks, most likely left by the murderer James realises the murder is still in the estate.
Can James figure out who the thief and murderer are before he or Alistair is next?
A killer is on the loose, Excalibur is missing, and his career is on the line…
James, the chief editor of a small newspaper, returns home to discover that his girlfriend, Valentine has unexpectedly left. Later that morning, he fails to reallocate her story. To avoid blank space in the paper, James decides to write the story on the local museum’s latest acquisition, Excalibur. But, there’s one thing he didn’t count on… Excalibur is Missing, and his girlfriend has been kidnapped.
$2.99
Find it on Amazon:
Find it on Other Stores:
Apple | Kobo | Google Play | B&N
A Murdered Judge. A Dark Secret Silenced.
Rookie reporter James Lalonde is bored. And, he isn’t a journalist. He’s an all-round dogs-body, to editor-in-chief, Rhys Kelly. But, his luck has finally changed. After eavesdropping in on the morning editorial meeting, James learns he has his first-ever story. There’s one catch. If the story gets too complicated, it will be taken away from him and given to another journalist with more experience. Sure it’s a boring interview with the soon to be sworn-in magistrate, Albert Harrington, but it finally gets him out of his six-month slump as an editorial research assistant.
The following day, James turns up to his interview with Albert to discover a trail of blood smeared through Albert’s house, an empty safe, the murder weapon on the floor, but no body. Detective Anwar Khan turns up to the crime scene, puts two and two together, and believes James murdered the controversial magistrate. Can James clear his name and write his first-ever story before his editor takes it away from him?
$2.99
What I’m Writing!
Revised Draft
83,827 of 85,000 Words
Right now, I’m preparing Book Two in the James Lalonde series, for a final round of revisions. The next step is to send the story off to my editor. I aim to have this eBook published on all major ebook retailers by the end of May 2022. And, I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
Publishing Updates
First Draft
0 of 60,000 Words
I’ve decided to add an extra book between the second book and the start of the byline series, where James arrives in New York. Book Three will be set in a 24 hour period in London. This novel will be available in ebook on all major ebook retailers by the end of mid 2022. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
Revised Draft
112,960 of 99,000 Words
Book Four the James Lalonde series needs one final round of revisions before I can hand it off to my editor. This longer novel will be published on all major ebook retailers in late 2022. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
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