What’s in Mrs Hale’s Receipts for the Millions 1857?

4097. Letter-writing. – Great care and attention should be devoted to epistolary correspondence, as nothing exhibits want of taste and judgment so much as a slovenly letter.

A wish fulfilled

Last July, before Twitter devolved, I saw a tweet from the master of crime , Ann Cleeves, announcing an early bird ticket to a crime festival in Shetland. I have always wanted to go to Shetland because of its WWII history, Now I’d have another reason to go–to meet Cleeves and her fellow crime writer and festival partner, Marsali Taylor along with fans and other crime writers. I hit the buy button and immediately got a phone call from my credit union asking what I had just done. What had I done? I was going to go on the adventure of my life. I began a search for housing in Lerwick right away and secured that before my next step.

Shetland is not the easiest place to travel to, but I also was going to finally see the sites where the Shetland Bus originated, something I write about in my historical thriller, The Jøssing Affair. I was over the moon to be asked to be on a panel and be able to talk about my novel. I just had to get there

Pre-fun

Though arriving a day later than I had planned (due to flight delay out of Seattle and missing all my original connections), I arrived in time for the first evening’s preliminary activities for those participating on panels. First, I made a stop at the Lerwick Library bringing greetings from my library in Bellingham, WA. What a surprise to find that the library was a major partner with Shetland Noir. Even found a wanted poster with my name on it. Many thanks to Karen Fraser, head librarian, for the bag of goodies I’ll be delivering to my library. The evening was topped off with a visit to a fish and chips shop and then a tour of the waterfront led by Marsali Taylor herself. Of course, we had to go by Jimmy Perez’s house, but he wasn’t home. The following day we got a grand bus tour of the main island which included Viking lore, peat cutting sites, Shetland ponies, sheep everywhere and cake fridges in the middle of nowhere. Good times.

Shetland Noir

June 15th was opening night at Shetland Noir and Ann Cleeves welcomed us all to an evening of music and local food. Many of us hung around in the endless sunlight.

The following day, Friday, the fest began in earnest. First, we did some speed dating with attendees. I had two minutes to give an account of my novel and why they should come to my panel and more importantly, buy my book. Then wonderful conversations with writers such as Val McDermid and Martin Edwards and many panels. It as a thrill to see my books on the shelf with just great mystery and thriller writers.

My big day was on Saturday. Our panel was entitled, Travel in Time. D.V Bishop who writes about a gay police officer in Florence during the Medicis (excellent) and Lisa de Nikolits (She writes about the future) joined me on the panel. We were so fortunate to have Dr. Noir, Jacky Collins, be our moderator. I attracted a lot of interest in my novel, The Jøssing Affair. Shetlanders were interest in how this American came to write about the Shetland Bus, the SOE operation set in Shetland during WWII. I think I held my own. Later that day I was interviewed by Mary Balance for her radio book club. I think the most touching part was when I was signing books. I had sold all I brought, except one I did the reading from. A young woman was really sad to learn they were gone. A relative had been on the Shetland Bus. I was so happy to say that she could have it.

Summing Up

Shetland Noir was a dream come true in so many ways: the friends I’ve made, the chance to visit a beautiful place rich in history and story, and getting my WWII in Norway novels known. I met wonderful local people, too. Looking for a place to get coffee as it was too early at a place next door to my hostel, a total stranger invited me to his house on the waterfront for coffee. I accepted! Lovely man whose been all over the world, yet he’s a Shetlander through and through. Native born. The staff at the Mareel, where the event was held, were friendly and helpful, too. They said we were the nicest group to come to the arts center. We were thinking, “But we kill and torture people.”

Will I go back? I’d love to. If not, at least now when I see a map of the UK, I can see the wigglly shape of Shetland with all its islands hovering high off the right shoulder of Scotland. And I’ll have wonderful memories.

Book News:

I’ve finished draft of The Brisling Code, a prequel to The Jøssing Affair. It’s with an editor. I hope to have it formatted by the end of the month. It launches in September. Cover reveal will be soon. Good times indeed.