Month: September 2023 (Page 3 of 3)

The Murder Awards. Introducing the Characters. #1 Karen and Beth

September 22, 2023 / T. A. Belshaw / 4 Comments

Living in abject poverty. Karen and her daughter Beth scratch a meagre living doing other people’s washing. Read their touching back story in The Murder Awards, the third Amy Rowlings Golden Age mystery. OUT NOV 5th. ‘The stories are as much as social commentary as a murder mystery.’

The Murder Awards. The third Golden Age, Cosy Crime Amy Rowlings Mystery. Published by SpellBound Books. Nov 5th 2023.

A SAD ANNIVERSARY

September 15, 2023 / T. A. Belshaw / 6 Comments

Today, 15th Sept 2023 marks the eighth anniversary of my beautiful wife’s funeral. Doreen, if you’re reading. You’re still missed as much as that first day.

I’d like to mark the anniversary by posting the poem that I wrote for her. It was read on the day by my daughter, Tamsyn who did a wonderful job. I was a gibbering wreck and couldn’t have got the title out let alone the rest of the poem.

Anyway, here it is. To you, Doreen. Until we meet again in one of those multi-universes or dimensions we all move into after we pass.

For Doreen. The Bench (remembering)

The blossom’s gone for this year,

the seat beneath the tree,

is empty now, devoid of life

for anyone but me.

I still feel your presence here

I never feel alone, in

our special nook, our secret spot,

the place we made our own.

I make this journey every week,

it isn’t hard on me.

I’m happy knowing you are here,

sad, things weren’t meant to be.

The tribute plaque was fitted

without a lot of fuss,

the sun reflects upon the words

as I reflect on us

‘In memory of Doreen,

my beautiful, best friend,

you’re with me in this lovely place

until the very end.’

And when at last my life is done

we’ll make that final climb,

my ashes strewn along with yours,

together for all time.

Soft winds will blow us through the grass,

the rain will make us whole

Autumn leaves will hide us, ‘til

spring breezes free our souls.

Our bond will be eternal and

whenever lovers meet

they’ll feel our love around them

unified, complete.

New Amy Rowlings Mystery. The Murder Awards

September 10, 2023 / T. A. Belshaw / 2 Comments

Attention Golden Age Murder Mystery fans.

In just under 8 weeks time, Amy Rowlings will be setting about solving the latest mystery to cross her path. The eagerly awaited, Murder Awards will be released in eBook format by SpellBound Books Ltd on November 5th. The paperback will follow shortly afterwards which means there should be plenty of time to order author signed copies for Christmas.

Every Amy Rowlings story is as much a social commentary as a murder mystery.

If you haven’t yet met Amy, you will find her previous mysteries here. At only 99p they’re a bit of a bargain. https://bit.ly/3UgN6hc

Here’s the back of the book material to give you a taster.

The Murder Awards

May 1939

When Amy Rowlings and Inspector Bodkin are invited to a black tie, civic awards ceremony at the Town Hall, they expect to be met with the usual boring speeches and toe-curling sycophancy, but when the recipient of the night’s ‘Businessman Of The Year Award’, Nelson Kelly, is found stabbed to death after being called from the stage to answer the telephone, the evening begins to liven up.

Nelson’s company has just won a lucrative contract to build a new armaments factory and many of the town’s elite, having backed a rival bidder, aren’t happy at missing out.

When the CID department at the local police station is suddenly reduced in manpower, Bodkin is told he will have to manage the murder investigation alone.

Into the breach steps young Amy Rowlings, the twenty-one-year-old with a mind every bit as sharp as her fictional hero, Hercule Poirot.

Amy, an avid crime fiction reader, movie buff and collector of American records, brings her insight and intelligence to the aid of the overstretched inspector, as he attempts to find a way through the morass of lies, deception and corruption.

Once again, Amy must utilise all the investigative techniques she has learned from Agatha Christie’s famous detective to help bring a brutal killer to justice.

Tales on Trent Author Book Signing Event. Sat 2nd Sept. 2023

September 4, 2023 / T. A. Belshaw / 8 Comments

TALES ON TRENT AT THE KING’S HALL STOKE ON TRENT

I would like to thank the organisers, support staff, the book buying public and my fellow attending authors for making the Tales on Trent Author Book Signing Event such a fantastic experience. It was truly wonderful to get to speak to so many people and I know I have made some new friends in the author community.

Special thanks go to organisers Claire Birkin and Hayley Bibbey. Also to author, promoter and panel host, Donna Morfett who, despite the loss of her voice, still managed to host all those meet the author sessions on stage.

Much fun was had at the after event party in the Glebe. As if he hadn’t been noticeable enough in his flouro-yellow suit during the evet, Author Darren Walker upstaged everyone again by appearing at the party in a kilt. Well done mate.

I can’t end without mentioning the forces of nature that are James Biddulph and his wonderful nine year old granddaughter, Nunu, who stole all our hearts. Amongst her other remarkable achievements, Nunu runs her own library from a telephone box, she also does a lot of work in the community getting books to families that otherwise would never get to see one. She is quite a remarkable young lady and has the wonderfully supportive grandfather she so thoroughly deserves.

Thanks for the company my fellow writers, Esther Chilton, her partner Greame Cummings and the fabulous author Jon Richter among many others. Many thanks to the members of the public who took time to speak to me at my table, big wave to Isobelle Cate, and last but not least, huge thanks to Claire’s mum for supplying me with the copious amounts of coffee that helped get me through the day.

Looking forward to next year already.