Weekly round-up: one launch, two reviews and three bookshop visits!

July 5, 2014

It’s been another wonderful week for Murder Most Unladylike! Last Friday I went on a mini bookshop tour of south London with the wonderful Mo O’Hara (she of Zombie Goldfish fame). We visited Village Books Dulwich and Tales on Moon Lane (both of which are very much worth a visit, if you are in the area. And if you’re not in the area, they’re worth the trip), and I signed lots of Murder Most Unladylikes.

Mo and me at Village Books Dulwich - photo by Hazel — Mo and me at Village Books Dulwich – photo by Hazel.

Signing at Tales on Moon Lane – with help from Hugless Douglas!

Zombies and Murder at Village Books! Photo by Hazel.

On Saturday, I visited the wonderful (and very supportive) Blackwell’s Bookshop Oxford.

blackwell oxford choice theprettybooks — The book in Blackwell’s Oxford. Photo by theprettybook.

Blackwell’s were kind enough to let me hold a launch for Murder Most Unladylike in their Norrington Room – and since I began the book while I was working in the store, in 2011, it was an incredibly special event for me. I baked a cake, and did a reading, and had an absolutely brilliant evening. Thank you again to everyone who came!

M for murder (cake) — M is for murder (and cake)

With a table of books at my Oxford launch - photo by Rebecca Waiting. — With a table of books at my Oxford launch – photo by Rebecca Waiting.

Reading at oxford launch 2 by Rebecca Waiting — Reading at my Oxford launch. Photo by Rebecca Waiting.

My parents enjoy my launch. Photo by Carolyn Smalley.

This week, Booktrust was kind enough to mention Murder Most Unladylike in their Best Book Guide 2014. There are so many fantastic books in there – and lots of my personal favourites – so I’m honoured to be included.

The book was also reviewed in Teach Primary – it’s a lovely piece, and I’m thrilled to bits. And reader Poppy, 13, has posted a great and very thoughtful review on her blog. Definitely my review of the week!

And finally, I went into Cambridge yesterday and stopped into Heffers. Rather wonderfully, Murder Most Unladylike is in the window, along with the newest book by fellow local author Helen Moss. I love The Phoenix Code – an archaeological mystery about ancient Egypt, with awesome kid detectives: what’s not to like? – so I’m delighted to be sitting next to her. Thank you, Heffers!

Murder Most Unladylike and The Phoenix Code in the window of Heffers!

Before I go, just one small plea. If you’ve read Murder Most Unladylike, and enjoyed it, it would mean a lot to me if you took the time to post a review of it on Amazon.co.uk. This might seem like a small and slightly pointless thing to do, but it actually has a huge effect. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon notices it – and that really matters. Please don’t feel you have to, by any means – but if you do want to, you would make me a very happy author!