Work and Relaxation

Life has been rather busy lately between finishing ‘Dirty Deeds in Downdene’, posting it to Amazon and Smashwords and giving talks on electronic publishing.  Now my time is being taken up with dealing with the publicity angle.  Sorry for the book plug, but without print copies to go and sign.....

Enough of work.  I am so happy that summer has now decided to put in an appearance.  I - and everyone else in the UK - have been fed up with wearing winter clothes.  To celebrate, one day this week I took a trip to Bognor Regis and strolled along the promenade.  To be exact, I strolled and sat to relax and read my Kindle - such a useful item!

The quieter beach at Bognor.

Bognor acquired the ‘Regis’ following a stay there in 1929 by King George V who, apparently, didn’t like the town.  Looking at the number of people enjoying themselves I think he was in the minority.

As well as the beaches (one family oriented and the other more peaceful) and shops, Bognor has the Alexandra Theatre where many well know people perform and at Christmastime there is always a pantomime.  Oh dear, summer is late this year and here I am talking about the winter.

Now that we are having a typical British summer - a few nice days, then some cloudy/showery ones - I hope there will be lots of hot days so that I can make more visits to Bognor on the West Sussex coast.

The New Forest in Hampshire

Mother and Baby

One of my favourite places in England is the New Forest so it is hardly surprising that I set one of my books there (Homicide in Hampshire).

Whether you walk, cycle or horse-ride through the forest it is a wonderful experience.  There are woods and moorlands to discover and plenty of animals.  Probably the most famous are the New Forest ponies, followed by the sheep and donkeys.  An important do not do is feed these animals.  Nor should you pet them.  And, of course, when driving through the forest, always be alert because these animals have a tendency to crop the grass on the verges and to amble across the road.

Beaulieu House

There are several small towns for those who need shops, bars and restaurants and for those who enjoy show gardens and historic houses, there are several to visit.  The gardens at Exbury are gorgeous at any time of the year and there is a novel way of getting around - steam train.  A model one of course.  In Beaulieu there is the historic House and the National Motor Museum and on the banks of the Beaulieu River is Bucklers' Hard.  This is an 18th century shipbuilding village where they built ships for Nelson's Navy and the Battle of Trafalgar.

Among other things to see and do are the New Forest Wildlife Park and several Nature Reserves, Paultons Park and Breamore House.

For more information about the National Forest log onto their web site:  www.thenewforest.co.uk

There is also a blog now available:  forestandwaterside.info

Homicide in Hampshire

Cleo Marjoribanks lives in a village (fictitious of course!) in the New Forest and one evening comes home from London to find that her housekeeper has apparently drowned in the swimming pool and the housekeeper's husband is missing.  A couple of days later his body turns up on a beach.  He had been shot.  Later in the book the village gossip is found dead - in Cleo's garden.  She was, fortunately, away at the time.

Near the end of the book is a very strange car chase - four cars which keep to the speed limits and obey the traffic lights when driving through towns. 

The Detective Chief Inspector in charge of the case is 'Steaming' Kettle who went to school with Cleo.  They haven't seen each other since then so it is quite a reunion.  And, yes, they do get very friendly!!!!!!

Homicide in Hampshire is available at $2.99/£2.00 on Amazon, Smashwords.com, Kobo, Apple I-Pad, Sony, Barnes & Noble (Nook), Diesel, Baker-Taylor.