New year, new beginnings
So here we are, another year is upon us. Is it just me, or are we repeatedly saying to ourselves, I hope this one is better than the last? I think after a rough few years I approach each new year with bated breath and hope for a peaceful, healthy and happy twelve months. My year was quiet, yet productive. I remained close to home with my three gorgeous boys, andspent time with my beau family and some dear friends who I cherish. When lockdown began my husband began working from home alongside me, and that has continued since. We’ve managed to get into a nice little routine, he off to the former spare bedroom now study, me on the sofa with my boys or at my desk, French television keeping me company as I drift off to my make-believe worlds.
I’ve been touched by the lovely messages sent to me after each new book, it really gives me the boost I need to keep going. As 2023 kicks off there are now three books completed and I’ve just started a new novel. I’ll go into more details about each of the books as they approach publication, but I thought I’d give you a little hint of what’s to come.
First up is ‘Chemin de Compostelle’ (the way to Compostela) and this is a brand new Hugo Duchamp Investigates book (number 12, can you believe?). This time Hugo has to track down a missing Irene and also Ben who sets off to find her but ends up mysteriously disappearing himself. It was a fun book to write, it’s dark and ominous, set mainly in a village cut off from the outside world by a terrible storm, and it isn’t long before the dead bodies start piling up.
Coco returns in ‘Séance de Spiritisme,’ which finds our intrepid and wonderfully chaotic Parisian detective up against the world of clairvoyants and the afterlife. Can the dead really communicate? I hope you have as much fun as Coco does trying to answer that question.
And that brings us to ‘Hugo & Madeline.’ The final volume in the Hugo prequel trilogy. I have literally just finished the first draft, so I can’t really talk about it too much, other than to say it was sad to say goodbye to the wonderful Madeline. Her presence was always felt in the Hugo books. She is first mentioned in the very first chapter of ‘un homme qui attend,’ and often afterwards. It was always clear they shared a special bond, so when I embarked on the prequels I was very conscious of doing right by such a strong and influential character in Hugo’s life. I hope you’ll think I have, but be warned, keep the hankies ready, the ending is a bit of a tearjerker!
Now as we begin a new year, I am also excited to say I am also beginning work on a brand new series of books. ‘Les Enquêteurs’ (The Investigators) will focus on four young amateur detectives. You may have met some of them before, but some will be new. The investigators is also a bit of an umbrella term, meaning different characters will appear in different stories, this also gives me a chance to also feature characters from my other books. Hugo, Coco, Etienne, Cedric et al, will all pop up from time to time.
The next book I’m writing is the fifth Coco book (Quatre Semaines) and ‘Les Enquêteurs’ will make their first appearance, they’ll also spin off into the next Hugo book (Hotel Beaupain) before making their debut in their own story, ‘Asile de Fous’ (The Asylum). I’m incredibly excited about this new series and can’t wait to get going on it.
And that’s not all. As well as all these new books we also have three brand new audiobooks all due for release. I’ve had a chance to listen to most of them, and if audiobooks are your thing, I think you’re going to love them. More details soon.
Sorry for the long blog, but lots to report. I’ll end it there and wish you a happy, peaceful and healthy 2023. Thanks for everything, I honestly do appreciate it.
Love always,
Gxx