Greetings Teacozies,
As we enter a new year, I’d like to thank you for being part of this community, for reading my books, and for enabling me to keep writing new stories.
I am planning another busy year of content, starting with six new books. Three will be set in the Cotswolds and feature our favourite detective duo, Dotty and Keya, along with their friends and colleagues.
Georgina will continue her journey of mixing antiques with intriguing locations as she travels to historic Malta with Aunt Beanie, and later to the fascinating island of Tenerife. These stories are perfect for the armchair travellers among us.
And the sixth book, although not in released order, features Keya on her own. Or not quite, as calm and dependable Sujin is there to support and reassure her.
I’m also planning research trips to Tenerife and Barcelona for Georgina’s Treasured Journey Mystery series, along with visits to more country houses and historic sites in the UK, so I can share my discoveries with you.
I’m delighted to be writing again and I’m already 5,000 words into A Maypole of Deceit.
I was inspired to write this story while painting the upstairs rooms of my cottage last summer.
I rarely listen to true crime podcasts, but I discovered a series that fascinated me because it focused on fraud and crimes against ordinary people that are unlikely to be investigated. Even when they are, the perpetrators are rarely prosecuted. All too often, it is the more vulnerable members of society who are targeted.
In this case, the journalists could not bring those responsible to justice, but in my stories I make sure they face the consequences they deserve!
If you’re new to me and my books, I’ll be revisiting some of my earlier stories this year and looking back at how my characters first began their sleuthing journeys. Look out for promotional deals on Keya’s Waterwheel Café Mystery series later this month. It’s a satisfyingly bingeable complete series.
✨ Coming Soon
Georgina accompanies Aunt Beanie to the Mediterranean island of Malta for a historic exhibition. Trouble begins when a rare exhibit is stolen and the body of the thief is discovered in the island’s grand cathedral.
“The familiar, likeable characters make this an easy and enjoyable read. I especially loved the Maltese setting and the background details woven into the story, continuing the series’ tradition of exploring a new country each time. Oh, I just want to go where Georgina goes!” Thank you, Marja
🫖 🕰️ Tea and Trinkets: First Footing
In parts of the UK, especially Scotland and northern England, there is a tradition known as first footing. The first person to cross the threshold after midnight on New Year’s Eve is believed to set the tone for the year ahead. Traditionally, they might carry coal, bread, or a coin as symbols of warmth, food, and prosperity.
Thank you for reading, and I wish you a wonderful start to the year ahead,
Best wishes
Victoria