Donna Fletcher Crow, Novelist of British History, has written more than 50 books specializing in British Christianity. These books include: The Monastery Murders, clerical mysteries; Lord Danvers Investigates, Victorian true-crime; The Elizabeth and Richard series, literary suspense; and Glastonbury, The Novel of Christian England. She loves research and sharing you-are-there experiences with her readers.
Read More Articles:
A Wind in the Hebrides Progress Reveal Adam Graham Old Time Detectives Attending the Jane Austen Festival Disney World Reflections Jane Austen Seashore Tour Japan Journey King Richard III Kishanda Fulford Newsletter Posts by Fay Sampson Regency World Short Stories The Celtic Cross Series The Power of Story The Writing Life Trans-Canada Adventure Uncategorized Writers in France Then and Now
Follow This Blog Subscribe to Newsletter
The Authorized Version
Donna Fletcher Crow, Novelist of British History
A traveling researcher engages people and places from Britain's past and present, drawing comparisons and contrasts between past and present for today's reader.
Day 6 at the Jane Austen Festival, Ladies and Gentlemen on Parade, Tea and Games at Parade House
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 19, 2025
Day 5 at the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, a Walking Tour of Her Homes
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 14, 2025
Day 4 Jane Austen Festival: Mr. Collins and High Tea at Highbury
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 6, 2025
Sunday in Bath: Regency Church Service, Canal Boat Cruise with Cream Tea
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 28, 2025
Jane Austen Festival, Day Two, Signature Events, Promenade and Ball
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 22, 2025
Reliving the Regency at the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, A Dream Come True, Day One Getting There
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 15, 2025
Where would you go if you had a time machine? I wouldn’t be the least bit interested in going into the future—but I would relish a journey into the past. Imagine being able to walk the streets, wear the clothes, eat the food, listen to the music of your favorite historical period! That is exactly the experience attending theA Wind in the Hebrides on its way to Publication
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 6, 2024
Progress Report, the LastProgress Update: Historic Events, Places, and Vehicles Drive the Action in A Wind in the Hebrides, Book 7 the Monastery Murders
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 11, 2024
A Wind in the Hebrides Progress Reveal 3: The Lewis Chessmen
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 6, 2024
Progress Reveal 2 A Wind in the Hebrides visits the Isle of Lewis
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 10, 2024
Persistently Popular: Hot Cross Buns in the Middle Ages, Regency, and Pizza flavor in Australia
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 28, 2024
A New Monastery Murder, Progress Reveal for A Wind in the Hebrides, Invitation to My Research Trip
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 12, 2024
Did Jane Austen Celebrate Mothering Sunday? or, Thoughts Whilst Making Simnel Cake
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 4, 2024
Christmas Shopping for Booklovers: New Releases, Jane Austen, Kishanda Fulford and More
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 8, 2023
It should be easy, shouldn’t it? Everyone knows books make great gifts, so that should be all you need to know for your friend who loves to read. Right?Going There, Tales from the Riviera and Beyond available for preorder
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 17, 2023
Did Jane Austen Celebrate Thanksgiving?
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 17, 2023
A silly question, you say? Maybe or maybe not—hear me out.The AI Wars ChatGPT vs Bing, Which is better for a Creative Project?
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 29, 2023
Asteroid Apocalypse Shuffle: A Monty Python Fluxx Odyssey by ChatGPT
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 29, 2023
.jpg)
Inspiring Statue Unveiled at Idaho Capitol Celebrates Courageous Women
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 18, 2023
The Kamikaze Pilot Who Lived, New Book by Brett Eshelman
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 18, 2022
DonnaJane Austen Takes Viewers to Portsmouth and Lyme in Video Portrayals
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 28, 2022
"Hello, I'm Jane. I have recently made brief returns from Paradise to embrace your amazing YouTube video technology for taking my friends to places I loved during my time on Earth. Portsmouth and Lyme were places dear to my family and to me."
Finding Sanditon on the Map
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 6, 2022
Yes, we all know that Sanditon, Jane Austen’s fictional seaside resort in the novel fragment of the same name, which is currently a smash hit television series, is just that—fictional. Jane invented the location, just as she did her heroine Charlotte Heywood, the developer Tom Parker, wealthy Lady Dedham, and all the people she placed in it.Free Now Through Thursday April 7 Irish regency History
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 3, 2022
I am delighted to be able to offer my readers a free copy of my most recent release
Culinary Disaster and Success, Spatchcock Chicken Round 2
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 10, 2022
Well, OK, it’s really Round 3. Those who read myToasted Cheese--The Dish Purported to be a Jane Austen Favorite
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 31, 2022
On August 27, 1805, Jane Austen was staying at Goodnestone Park, the family home of her sister-in-law Elizabeth Bridges. Elizabeth’s brother Edward dropped in unexpectedly for a late dinner. Jane reported the occasion in a letter to her sister Cassandra: “It is impossible to do justice to the hospitality of his attentions towards me; he made a point of ordering toasted cheese for supper entirely on my account.”Tour of Canterbury Cathedral, Then and Now And A Free Book
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 10, 2022
Happy New Year to all my Readers!Playtime for Janeites, Jane Austen Memorabilia
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 4, 2022
One of the wonderful things about being a lover of all things Jane Austen is that she can be appreciated on so many levels.Did Jane Austen know Spatchcock Chicken? A Heritage Recipe for Your Christmas Dinner
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 21, 2021
Looking for something different and easy that your family will love for Christmas dinner? Try this Regency-period method of preparing a super-succulent chicken.Interview Today
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 30, 2021
November 30, 2021 I talk about my passion for telling the stories in the Celtic Cross Series in a 15 minute interview--have a listen live all day today.A Reason to Give Thanks, Picture of a Pioneer Thanksgiving
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 24, 2021
Last year I offered my readers a Thanksgiving story titled “
Kishanda Fulford on Reading Jane Austen, Ghosts, and Life in a Stately Home
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 29, 2021
I first "met" Kishanda Fulford when my co-blogger Fay Sampson reported onThe Blue Train: Paris to the Riviera with Elegance and Murder
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 6, 2021
Sailing to Saint-Tropez with Alexandre Dumas
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 13, 2021
Well, no, I wasn’t actually with the great French novelist Dumas père. In reality I was with my food writer daughter-in-law Kelly, who had planned our fabulous Riviera escape. Our excuse was our “chaperoning” my granddaughter/Kelly’s daughter in her ballet intensive in Monaco. But it turned out to be something of an intensive for us as well, as we discovered writers and gorgeous food at every location.New Blog series: Writers in France, Then and Now, Villefranche
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 7, 2021
We were so fortunate. In late July of this year it seems that the planets aligned and a brief window opened after travel restrictions eased and before the Delta variant ramped up—and we managed to dash through like Alice through the looking-glass.
New Video Jane Austen from Paradise to Lyme Regis
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 3, 2021
The writing life can be a crazy ride, especially because one never knows what’s next. That’s certainly true for my latest venture of making videos in the persona of Jane Austen. In
Prayer of Sir Francis Drake as Known to Brothers of Jane Austen
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 27, 2021
New Venture Launched: “Jane Austen from Paradise to…†Videos
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 11, 2021
A worldwide pandemic isn’t a career move, but in the past year many of us have been forced to reinvent ourselves due to the strictures of not being able to travel, hold meetings, or speak to groups in person. That’s what happened to me when I was barred from taking research trips, speaking at book festivals, and meeting with readers’ groups.Register for Free event this Monday: Jane Austen in Portsmouth
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 23, 2021
Here's all you need to know to register for my upcoming gig—Monday March 1, at theRemembering Katharine Whitehorn
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 3, 2021
As a “recovering lawyer” my husband has always read obituaries routinely. He needs to know if a client for whom he wrote a will has died. Only in the last few years, however, have I taken routinely to reading obituaries—those on the last page of
Holding on Through the Covid Tunnel. Thoughts to Help
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 16, 2021
"I wonder if any year before 2021 has been greeted with such a universal sigh of relief? The feeling that ‘We made it!’ and ‘Things will surely get better now’ seem to be everywhere.
My Favorite Christmas Fantasy
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 10, 2020
For all of my adult life I have had a cherished fantasy. I see myself, with all my preparations done, lying on the sofa in front of the Christmas tree reading a Christmas novel. No matter that it never happens, I continue to hold to the shining image.Kishanda Fulford, Janeite?
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 3, 2020
I have recently been paying more attention to those so-important Search Engine Optimization stats for my website. In checking the analytics, I have found some very helpful information—some encouraging, some not so, and some downright puzzling.A Turkey Jane Austen Would Recognize
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 28, 2020
I had decided. This Thanksgiving I would take it easy. We all know what a difficult year it has been, and only family members who live closest to us would be able to come for dinner. Definitely a good time to let the deli roast my turkey for me.
Quick Update--Free for Halloween
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 27, 2020
My Halloween readJoin Me in Great Autumn Reading
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 7, 2020
Autumn is my favorite time of the year—I love the crisp days, the colorful foliage; I love taking walks in crunchy leaves, savoring that special tang to the autumn air; I love celebrating Harvest Festival at church, and handing out candy to our neighborhood spooks for Halloween.Launched!
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 3, 2020
Well, even NASA has delays to their launches, so I shouldn’t have been surprised that mine was delayed. And the thing is—once it happens, it’s all the sweeter for the previous days of frustration. (There must be a life lesson in there somewhere.)
Perspectives from History and Literature on Epidemics, Pandemics and Plagues
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 28, 2020
Saint Patrick Ignites the Flame
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 17, 2020
`About the year 425
The Power of Story, Thoughts at Disney World Princess Breakfast
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 6, 2019
My Love Affair with Niagara-on-the-Lake, On Stage at the Shaw Festival
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 5, 2019
Day 5, Trans-Canada Train through Cottage Country, Arrival in Toronto, and Onward
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 23, 2019
Trans-Canada Journey Day 4: Land of 30,000 Lakes
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 14, 2019
Almost all Americans are familiar with the Minnesota motto “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” And even just driving through the state, one finds that is an impressive number of lakes—especially to someone who lives in a desert. So, you can imagine how impressed Stan and I were as the Canadian rumbled through lake-spangled eastern Canada.Persistence Brings Success: Anne McDonald and Love's Refining Fire
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 12, 2019
Donna:Day 3: The Sweep of the Canadian Prairie, Saskatoon to Sioux Lookout
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 6, 2019
Yoan, our lovely steward, born in Brittany, but now from Vancouver, brought me my morning tea somewhere along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border.
A Bodacious Bounty of Free/99 Reading
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ August 27, 2019
This month I have a bounty of specials to offer. Readers liking a chilling edge to their reading will want to take a look atHome Again, Home Again; Jane Austen in Chawton
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ August 16, 2019
“Home is the sailor, home from sea”. Well, okay, we haven’t really been sailing—just contemplating the sea from the shore and sometimes thinking of Jane Austen’s sailor brothers. But we are concluding our journey today where Jane concluded her later seashore journeys—at her home in Chawton.Jane Austen and Margate
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ August 7, 2019
Margate is just five miles north, across the Isle of Thanet, fromJane Austen on Ramsgate
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ August 1, 2019
Ramsgate, like last week’sJane Austen and Brighton
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 24, 2019
It’s one of those ironies of history that even though Jane Austen apparently did not like Brighton—she never went there as far as we know, and only bad things happened to her characters who did go there—her writings have enhanced the fame and popularity of this seaside resort.Worthing as Jane Austen's Sanditon, Then and Now
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 11, 2019
Jane Austen’s connection with Worthing was completely unknown until late in the 20Bognor Regis: The "Real" Sanditon?
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 5, 2019
Unlike Lyme Regis, for whom its royal ascription was ancient but had simply fallen out of use in Jane Austen’s day, Bognor was just Bognor until King George V went to nearby Aldwick on the advice of his physician in 1929. Queen Mary accompanied him and shopped in Bognor. The monarch found his lodging uncomfortable and did not enjoy his time there. He did, however, recover from his lung infection, and so granted the town permission to append Regis, meaning “of the king,” to its name.Portsmouth: Reliving Jane Austen's Mansfield Park
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 27, 2019
In my series following in the footsteps of Jane Austen at the seashore I have presented the resorts as they are situated geographically from west to east. Actually, though, I started my adventure right in the middle, at Portsmouth. That’s appropriate because Portsmouth comes rather in the middle of Jane’s own story since she lived in nearby Southampton before moving to Chawton, and her novelOn the Jane Austen Trail in Southampton: Humor, Gardens and Balls
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 14, 2019
Jane Austen in Lyme Regis: Reliving Persuasion, Part 2
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 7, 2019
Because Lyme Regis was such a favorite seaside location for Jane Austen and because it offers such a pivotal location for her beloved novelJane Austen in Lyme Regis: Reliving Persuasion, Part 1
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 29, 2019
Of all the sites on our Jane-Austen-led itinerary, Lyme Regis is the one I have most looked forward to visiting. Probably becauseSidmouth: Jane Austen Romance and Queen Victoria Shoes
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 22, 2019
A lovely bus journey continues our Jane-Austen-led seashore tour to Sidmouth. Of course, Jane would have been in a carriage, but the views through the pleasant, rolling countryside must have been similar. And when rain splattered the windows I was glad for the comfort of my modern conveyance.Jane Austen Gives Literary Advice as her Seashore Tour Continues to Dawlish
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 17, 2019
Young (and experienced) writers are always advised to seek outside help for their work—join a writers’ group, find a good editor, acquire beta readers. But can you imagine a budding novelist being able to receive advice personally from Jane Austen?Jane Austen's Seashore Tour Begins at Teignmouth
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 7, 2019
The explosion of popularity that gripped Georgian seashore resorts was perfectly timed for Teignmouth, whose fishing industry was declining. The first stirring of elegance came in 1787 when a tea house opened “amongst the local fishermen’s drying nets”. Tea rooms, which are not as thick on the ground today as they once were in England, continue to feature in Teignmouth.
Books and an Invitation
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 20, 2019
My abject apologies to my highly valued Newsletter Subscribers for whom the pictures failed to come through! I don't know whether I'm more frustrated or disappointed, but I knowDonna Fletcher Crow Finds Hope for 2019
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 2, 2019
Britain's Re-Told History Of Tragedy And Triumph Offers Hope For UK In 2019 As It Is Torn Apart By Brexit, Says Donna Fletcher Crow, Author Of The Award-Winning, Epic Novel 'Glastonbury'Christmas Decorations, Books and Joy
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 28, 2018
Ah, the
Award Winning Novelist of British History, Donna Fletcher Crow, Announces Release Of 'A Most Singular Venture', An Elizabeth And Richard Mystery
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 6, 2018
Jane Austen Society Offers Fun and Erudition: The Universality of Jane
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 4, 2018
Something Different for Your Book Club: An Unholy Communion
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 10, 2018
Are you looking for a new angle to stimulate discussion in your book club? As we near Halloween and spooks and goblins begin appearing in store windows and front lawns, many thoughts turn to ideas of the paranormal, so why not prompt a discussion of "things that go bump in the night" by readingWRITING HALF THE BOOK
By Fay Sampson ~ July 31, 2018
The Author is the one with authority. So you may think that we are fully in control of the books we write.#MysteryExchange Tatias Tattoo by Linda Brendle
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 25, 2018
#Mystery Exchange continues today with a book that tackles the horrific specter of sex-trafficking. Welcome, Linda Bredle to tell us about your book.#Mystery Exchange Cathy Perkins, In It For the Money
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 24, 2018
Welcome, Cathy Perkins to answer that age-old question:#MysteryExchange The Romance of Resorts by Avery Daniels
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 20, 2018
Today I welcome mystery and suspense author Avery Daniels to #Mystery Exchange. Avery and I both write mystery novels with amateur sleuths. Here you can get acquainted with her Julienne, then go on over to Avery's blog#Mystery Exchange J.J.DiBenedetto Relaunches Dream Doctor Mysteries
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 19, 2018
Day 5 of my Mystery Exchange--and what fun this is to have such a variety of guests. The never-ending variety of creativity is really amazing. Today my guest is J.J.DiBenedetto to tell us about a whole series he has just re-launched in ebook, print and audio. A huge congratulations is due. I know how much work this is, and i think you'll agree with me that they look great.#Mystery Exchange Sink or Swim with Stacy Juba
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 17, 2018
Day 4 of my month-long Mystery Exchange. I'm especially happy to be exchanging today with the charming Stacy Juba because way back in 2012 (I had to look it up) I was one of 52 novelists and journalists to contribute an essay on what I was doing 25 years ago for her#MysteryExchange - The Murder That Inspired a Romantic #Mystery Novel, with @Kris_Bock
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 7, 2018
Day 3 in my Mystery Blog Exchange. Today meet Kris Bock with her novel#Mystery Exchange with Andi Ramos Gumshoe Girl
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 6, 2018
Day 2 in my July Mystery Exchange tour. My guest is Andi Ramos to tell us about her book#Mystery Exchange with P.J. MacLayne The Marquesa's Necklace
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 5, 2018
Today I am doing a mystery blog exchange with P.J. MacLayne, author ofOLD BOOKS, NEW LIFE Fay Sampson on Rewriting Morgan le Fay
By Fay Sampson ~ June 20, 2018
The great thing about writing books is that they acquire a life of their own after they’re published.
Valentine's Gifts for My Readers
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 14, 2018
What a special day this is—St. Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. At first glance they might seem at opposite ends of the spectrum, but at heart, both are expressions of love—human and divine.Quick update
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 27, 2018
Just a quick note to let you know that
Happy St. Crispin's Day
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 24, 2017
October 25 is the day the church remembers the brothers Crispin and Crispinian, cobblers who were martyred under Diocletian. The day has become more famous, however, as the day of the Battle of Agincourt because of the stirring speech Shakespeare has the young Henry V make to his troops on the even of battle.New Jane Austen Friend Launches Pride and Prejudice Variation
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 19, 2017
As I have said before, one of the best things about attending the annual Jane Austen Society of North America AGM is the delightful people one meets. This year was no exception and one of my fun connections was a sister Austen Author Anngela Schroeder. We met the first day at afternoon tea and then had the fun of making Regency bonnets together.Day 4 Jane Austen's Prayers, John Wayne's Yacht
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 9, 2017
In the intense schedule of this conference our only chance for worship was 7:30 at St. Mary by the Sea,
Watch This Space, An Invitation
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 30, 2017
the time Janeites across America, and, indeed, around the world, look forward to. It is theThe Joy of Being Read
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 9, 2017
"How is your book selling," is one of the most frequent questions authors are asked it is right up there with "Where do your stories come from." And, yes, sales are nice. Who does not need money and feel good about a nice royalty check in the bank. But for very few of us is that the main point.Free/99 Summer Reading
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 19, 2017
My summer project is to get all of my Lord Danvers Victorian true-crime series re-edited and published in all-new editions. I cannot promise to have all 4 books out by the end of summer, but I can report progress.Having Faith in Our Books
By Fay Sampson ~ July 6, 2017
I can remember the time when the main topic of conversation when authors got together was griping about their publishers. On my side, I feel a real debt of gratitude to those who publish me. It is a considerable act of faith to invest money in the work of an author in these often difficult times.Japan Journey Day 8 Bullet Train to the Past
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 28, 2017
We took the amazing Bullet TrainJapan Journey Day 7 Tokyo Tour with a Star
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 26, 2017
We are amazingly lucky today. Our guide is TV travelogue presenterJapan Journey Day 6 Imperial Palace Gardens and More French Connections
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 23, 2017
We began the day at the Imperial Palace Gardens. The area is surrounded by a massive stone wall erected of huge stones that made one think of the pyramids. The wall, in turn, is surrounded by a moat, as it has been since feudal times.Japanese Journey Day 5 Asakusa Temple and Tokyo Skytree
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 22, 2017
Our guide for the day was grandson Thomas who shared some of his favorite bits of Tokyo with us.
First stop was the Asakusa Temple Where even the outer gate is thronged.
I am continually delighted to see people on the street in traditional dress. Especially the women in their kimonos. Everything is season specific in Japan. Therefore almost all the kimonos were ink floral.
Even some men wore traditional garments, but most wore dark suits and white shirts and ties.
I learned that pagodas mark the gravesite of Buddhist priests.
Interestingly, Buddhist worship involves several elements...
Japan Journey Day 4 Thoughts on the Culture and Kitchenware Town
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 21, 2017
.jpg)
Japan Journey Day 3 Graduation and Tokyo Harbor Cruise
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 17, 2017
Grandson Thomas graduated from American School in Japan. I am delighted to say that the ceremony had a sense of dignity that did not include the air horns and raucus catcalls that have become a part of so many graduations.Japan Journey Day 2 Kabuki
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 15, 2017
Went to see the Imperial Palace today, but discovered it is closed on Fridays, so instead walked in the Kitanomaru Park.Variety is the Spice of Life for Christian Romance Giveaway
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 14, 2017
If you love clean romance novels you will not want to miss this.
I am participating in a Christian romance ebook giveaway that offers an amazing variety of reading for your summer pleasure. The collection brings you not only great reading but also a travelogue as well.
Books in this collection will take you to places as varied as the Old West, Australia, North Korea, a Wisconsin winter, Eighteenth century England, and London at Christmas.
You will meet models, musicians, missionaries and cowboys in tales of suspense, history, and...
Japan Journey Day 1 The French Connection
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 14, 2017
I never in my wildest imagination had thought I would go to Japan. But when you have family there what do you do?Kindle Countdown Deal
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 18, 2017
In celebration of completing the huge project of re-editing and republishing the entire Monastery Murders series, I have just enrolled book 1 A Very Private Grave for a Kindle Countdown Deal. I've never done this before, but I'm hoping my readers will find it a fun way to get a bargain.
Here is how it works: On Thursday, April 20, for 80 hours beginning at 8:00 am Pacific Time, A Very Private Grave will be available for .99. At 4:00 pm on April 23 the price goes to 1.99 for the next 80 hours. On April 17 at 12:00 am the price will revert to its original 2.99.
Since that's a lot to remember I'm hoping everyone will simply buy the...
Thoughts on The Crown of Thorns
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 14, 2017
One of the legends of Glastonbury that influenced my writing of the epic of the same name was the story of Joseph of Arimathea taking refuge in Britannia after the Crucifixion of Christ, bearing with him a staff cut from the very tree from which the Romans had fashioned the Crown of Thorns used to pierce Jesus' brow as he hung on the cross. 
The story is that as Joseph stood on the brow of Wearyall...
Nine Novels Free for Armchair Travelers
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 9, 2017
One of the best things about reading a novel is the opportunity to visit new places, or revisit old places through new eyes. Crime Cafe offers a boxed set of nine novels that take you to fascinating settings--Free through March 11.
23 Shades of Black by Kenneth Wishnia is set in New York City in a time especially ripe for a mystery novel:
.jpg)
23 Shades of Black by Kenneth Wishnia is set in New York City in a time especially ripe for a mystery novel:
Nowadays, crime in NYC is down to historic lows, but from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s, it was the Wild West: huge swaths of the South Bronx were burnt out and abandoned, and the subways were filthy, covered with graffiti, broiling in summer and freezing in winter, and late at night the transit cops...
Christmas Reading and Realities
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 10, 2016
Do you have a cherished Christmas fantasy? Mine, which I’ve nurtured for years, but am yet to realize, is that I’ll have all my work and preparations done by the first week in December and then be able to spend the rest of the month sitting by a beautifully lit tree, sipping tea and reading Christmas stories. Well, as the song says, “You gotta have a dream if you’re going to have a dream come true.” So I’m still dreaming.Prayer and the Imagination
By Fay Sampson ~ November 18, 2016
Publishing can be a long road, even for a writer as experienced as Fay Sampson. Today she shares about her new adventure.Stories from the Landscape, Fay Sampson in Ireland
By Fay Sampson ~ October 5, 2016
I love walking through an evocative landscape and finding the stories that belong to it.Keeping it Fresh, Renewing your Backlist
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 9, 2016
In today’s electronic market yesterday is sooo gone. Everything has to be new and fresh and of the minute. That can be exhausting. And discouraging for writers who have a backlist of really good books that just aren’t getting any attention. My advice is, don’t fight the trend—go with it. For all the frustrations of electronic publishing, it does offer the opportunity of instant renewal.
Fay Sampson Mines Riches from Family Research
By Fay Sampson ~ May 16, 2016
It began when my young grandson came home from school saying that his homework was to find out what he could about his family roots. Our son rang us to see if we could help. From then on, both he and I were smitten with the family history bug. It appeals to me for all sorts of reasons.Where Love Illumines, Book 2 Where There is Love Series, Launched
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 13, 2016
.jpg)
Newsletter Launched--Welcome to my World
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 7, 2016
Whee! It's a bit like jumping off that high-diving board. Well, I hope it won't be like my one-time high diving board jump--that ended in a bellyflop. But just the little, jumping-off-the-kiddie-board thing which was ever so hard to do the first time--but once I"d worked up the courage and taken that first plunge, I loved it.
Fay Sampson Discovers Frankenstein and Family Roots in Great Fulford
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 27, 2016
For my husband’s birthday we attended a promenade performance of Frankenstein by the Four of Swords theatre company. This took place in the historic manor house of Great Fulford..jpg)
Fay Sampson Celebrates a Golden Anniversary
By Fay Sampson ~ December 14, 2015
I almost overlooked it. When the hardback of my latest crime thriller,.jpg)
It's a Wrap, Wendy Jones Launches Book 3 in DI Shona McKenzie Series
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 15, 2015
I'm delighted today to be joining in the general celebration over the launch of Wendy Jones' newest book Killer's Cross, book 3 in her phenomenally successful DI Shona McKenzie tartan noir series. Killer's Countdown, Killer's Craft and Killer's Cross have come out at the breath-taking speed of 3 books in 13 months so I've asked Wendy to talk to us about her writing process. Over to you, Wendy--THE BRITISH RAJ, AS EXCITING AS THE WILD, WILD WEST
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 6, 2015
My guest today isA Year of Prehistory
By Fay Sampson ~ October 25, 2015
I’m having a great year for prehistory. I celebrated my 80th birthday at the spine-tingling stone circle of Avebury (Cruise Aboard the Belle of Louisville a perfect end to Conference
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 11, 2015
Began Sunday as Jane Austen would have with Morning Prayers. The vicar read a sermon by the Rev. Thomas Sherlock, Bishop of London in the 18th century, whose sermons Jane read and admired and ended with a prayer Jane Austen wrote.Having a Ball with Jane Austen
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 10, 2015
Another full day of great events at the Jane Austen Society of North America AGM"Living in Jane Austen's World", Day 2, Meeting Old Friends
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 9, 2015
Old Friends from my real life and from my literary life filled my day in Louisville. I began with a quick chat with Tim Bullamore, publisher of the wonderful ""Living in Jane Austen's World" Jane Austen Society of North America in Louisville
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 8, 2015
Cover Reveal--That Breathless Moment
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 2, 2015
Almost a whole year after first sending the manuscript to my publisher, the message appears in my inbox: The Flame Ignites- Final Cover.
Ways with Words at Dartington Hall
By Fay Sampson ~ August 3, 2015
We have just enjoyed our annual literary feast: the nine days Ways with Words festival at Dartington Hall. This is held in the marvellous setting of the 14Farmers Market Comes to Me
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 18, 2015
I love farmers' markets— fresh produce, locally grown, unusual varieties of vegetables not easily found in stores. . . But the truth is, I seldom get myself out to a market. Always in a hurry. Pick something up quickly at the grocery store. . .Cover Reveal: New D. I. Shona McKenzie
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 31, 2015
And here it is! Drum roll, trumpet fanfareRevisiting the Scene of the Crime
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 12, 2015
I’m not sure how accurate the old saw about criminals revisiting the scene of their crime is, but I can testify to the truth of it for crime writers. Last month I had the delight of revisiting the scene of a murder I committed many years ago at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival in Ashland. Well, at least, my villain inMarilyn Meredith, Stamina Beyond Retirement
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 27, 2015
Donna:Wendy Jones, D.I. Shona McKenzie and Dundee
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 22, 2015
Welcome, Wendy. I'm delighted to have you as my guest today on "Deeds of Darkness; Deeds of Light." What a shame that our shring a cup of Scottish Blend tea has to be virtual.Fay Sampson Discovers Recurring Themes in Her Work
By Fay Sampson ~ April 20, 2015
t’s strange how some ideas haunt you, turning up repeatedly in your work, even when you don’t consciously will it.
A Quartet in Springtime— Four Author Event this Saturday
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 13, 2015
Writers, Readers, and All Who Love Books are invited toRichard III Inspires Reflection on Crime Novels
By Fay Sampson ~ March 23, 2015
I have just been watching the opening stages in the reburial of the bones of Richard III, who was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. He was the last of the Plantaganet kings and the last English king to die in battle.
A Visit with the Curator of Jane Austen's House Museum
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 21, 2015
One of the most universally held daydreams of Janeites (perhaps second only to dancing with Mr. Darcy) is a visit to Chawton Cottage, Jane Austen's home where she lived so happily with her sister Cassandra, her mother and their friend Martha Lloyd, and where her writing at last truly flowered. For me, the dream came true in 2012 when I was following the Jane Austen Trail as research for my literary suspenseHappy Birthday, Jane Austen
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 8, 2014
Jane Austen was born on the 16th of December, 1775, at the quiet rectory of Steventon in rural Hampshire. Two Hundred and thirty-nine years later the world is still celebrating her birthday as a heartfelt "Thank you" for the enormous joy her six novel and assorted minor works have brought to our lives.Jane Austen 2015 Calendar, Longbourn to Pemberley
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 19, 2014
It's so much more than a calendar! The hot-off-the-press 2015 Jane Austen Calendar byMavens of Mayhem at Mysteries on Main Street
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 27, 2014
Mavens of Mayhem— what a great name! Mavens of Mayhem at Mysteries on Main Street— even better. (Just try saying it ten times fast.) And what a great event it was.A Visit with Tim Bullamore from Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 24, 2014
Have you ever wished you could get paid to live in Jane Austen's world? In some ways that seems to be what Tim Bullamore, publisher of the delightfulCrow/Crowe Family Migration to Nebraska
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 16, 2014
I have enjoyed Fay Sampson's articles on this blog about how family research led to writing her excellent Suzie Fewings mystery series. I'm doubtful that my foray into the Crow family past last week will lead to a mystery series for me— but then, you never know— and it has certainly led to increasing my already-alive appreciation for the heritage passed on to us by earlier generations and the importance of keeping that legacy alive.Crow/Crowe Family History from Canada
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 15, 2014
Well, we always knew that the Crow/Crowe family settled in Peterborough, Ontario, when they emigrated from County Monaghan, Ireland, and then, a generation later hired a train along with the McCracken family and migrated to St. Paul, Nebraska, near Grand Island.Jane Austen Meeting: An Intellectual Feast
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 13, 2014
Well, yes, certainly there is the funA JANE AUSTEN ENCOUNTER
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 9, 2014
A recent discussion thread on the DorothyL Listserve for mystery readers and writers has been to ask writers "How long will you keep writing?" My answer is: "As long as it's fun."
The Shaw Festival in Lovely Niagara-on-the-Lake
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 4, 2014
Three years ago we were planning a road trip to the eastern US when Stan saw an article in the Wall Street Journal aboutOn the Road, Reading and Listening
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 2, 2014
Thursday, September 25, Ogden, UtahIona, Fay Sampson's "Most Inspirational" Place
By Fay Sampson ~ September 2, 2014
This summer we have been to one of my most inspirational places – Iona. This is a small off the west coast of ScotlandDid Jane Austen Powder Her Hair? Jane Austen's First Love by Syrie James
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ August 17, 2014
.jpg)
Living in the Middle Ages, my Pennsic War Experience
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ August 8, 2014
When writing about an historic period no research can beat actually being there. But how often does a writer have a chance actually to live in their time period when they are writing about the 14th century? Well, that's exactly what I was able to do last week.Just Released: A NEWLY CRIMSONED RELIQUARY
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 9, 2014
Few things can make a usually rational person want to run through the streets shouting or grab perfect strangers and tell them your news like the release of a new book. And that's exactly how I'm feeling at the moment— that breathless bubble in my throat that makes me want to jump up and down and, yes, run through the streets shouting.On the Road with Jenny Milchman
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 18, 2014
The delightful Jenny Milchman and I have been online friends for nearly five years and have theThe Joy of Writing
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 28, 2014
I was recently asked to be part of a mini blog tour. Since the invitation came from Pen WilcockJane Austen and Volcanos in Ecuador: J Dawn King on Her Pride and Prejudice Variation
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 21, 2014
Fay Sampson Reflects on a Journey Through Turkey: A Visit to Santa Claus's Tomb
By Fay Sampson ~ April 12, 2014
I have made no secret of the fact that places are very important to me. They were the inspiration for my very first books, and still inspire my stories.Meet Idaho Author Sherry Briscoe
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 31, 2014
Well, life is busy, but I'd been a member of the Idaho Writers' Guild (A Visit with Judy Alter— My Alter Ego
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 26, 2014
I am delighted to have Judy Alter as my guest today. I "met" Judy through a mystery Writers' listserve we both belong to and was fascinated to learn that in a creative sense, Judy and I have traded places. Judy grew up with an English father and now writes mysteries set in the American West. I grew up riding horses with my western father and write mysteries set in England.Adam Graham Talks About SLIME INCORPORATED
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 19, 2014
My guest today is the ever-creative Adam Graham. Welcome, Adam. Tell us about your new book
Slime Incorporated.
Jane Austen's Regency World Reviews A Jane Austen Encounter
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 14, 2014
Now I can breathe! After months of holding my breath— because one never knows how a book
P. D. James and Me, or The Source of Authentic Writing
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 27, 2014
We’ve recently been having a fun discussion about P. D. James on that wonderful mystery lovers’ loop DorothyL. James is, naturally, a writer frequently discussed among that group of avid writers, readers, librarians, reviewers, booksellers, etc. This round we’ve been focusing (as much as we ever focus) on herA JANE AUSTEN ENCOUNTER Garners Stellar Review
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 24, 2014
At last, at last! I've been waiting since last September (when the ebook came out) to announce that the paperback edition ofSyrie James and The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 10, 2014
I first "met" Syrie James in what is perhaps the best way to meet any author, through reading her book. Others in my local JASNA chapter (Jane Austen Society of North America) recommended Syrie’s bookHolding the Holy Grail: Jane Austen First Editions
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 29, 2014
Ah, a whole week in the California sunshine. And, as if that weren’t enough, I got to have lunch with my daughter-in-law Kelly and author Syrie James.Stories from the Ruins. Behind the Latest Suzie Fewings Mystery
By Fay Sampson ~ January 16, 2014
Lord Danvers Available in Paperback
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 26, 2013
One of my favorite gems of wisdom I’ve attempted to pass on to our children is that life gives you second chances. And sometimes even third and fourth chances.Musings on Social Media
By Fay Sampson ~ November 6, 2013
Welcome back, Fay Sampson, with some thoughts on a topic that is never far from a writer's mind— to what extent should we let the internet invade our lives? And how can we possibly find time to write if we do all the social media we are told we should do?Launching Jane
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 15, 2013
I have dreamed of stepping back into Regency England since I first readHistory and Me
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ August 19, 2013
I would be so thrilled if any of my readers could join me--Why Historical Cozy Mystery?
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ August 9, 2013
Agatha Christie and all the Golden Age English mystery writers are wonderful. But what do you do after you've read all the books and seen all the television adaptations 11 zillion times? I turn to some of the excellent contemporary writers such as Dolores Gordon-Smith who resurrect that age in delightful classic-style mysteries. That's why I've invited my friend Julianna Deering to be my guest today to tell us aboutRising Star Coming to Boise, Meet Jenny Milchman at Rediscovered Books
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 23, 2013
Up, Up and Away with Lord Danvers
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 14, 2013
One of my guiding rules as a writer (which I break only when absolutely necessary) is never to write about something I haven’t actually experienced. Of course, I must hasten to say that being murdered, falling off cliffs and finding dead bodies are a major exception to that rule.Bargain Offers for The Monastery Murders
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 21, 2013
AN UNHOLY COMMUNION will be getting a lot of attention in the next two weeks. This newly released installment in the Monastery Murders finds Felicity and Antony leading a group of young people on an historical philgrimage through mystical Wales. All is as idylic as Antony promised Felicity it would be until the lurking shadows that seem to have been following them take on more substantial form. And then they find a body face down in a holy well.
Many of the websites that will be reviewing AN UNHOLY COMMUNION and posting interviews and articles from the author (me) will also be hosting giveaways. I'll...
GLASTONBURY, The Novel of Christian England, in a Shining New Edition
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 5, 2013
I am thrilled to announce that a beautiful all-new edition of GLASTONBURY, The Novel of Christian England, has just been released by Angelico PressHoly Week Thoughts
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 26, 2013
An Unholy Communion, the third book in my Monastery Murders series, was released in print inPlumbing an Author's Mind, My Morning in Winter Springs, Florida
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 19, 2013
Yes, I'm here at my desk in Boise, Idaho, but I just spent half an hour in Winter Springs, Florida, with the lovely ladies of the Christian Literature Fellowship Book Club. The ladies had already discussed my book A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE and Jean, the club director in whose beautiful home they were meeting, had told them to come prepared with a question for me.Richard III, I Slept With Royalty
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 5, 2013
Lovers of English history around the world were thrilled at the news that "A skeleton found beneath a Leicester car park has been confirmed as that of English king Richard III.
A Christmas in Scotland with Liz Curtis Higgs
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 11, 2012
Donna:The Mystery of St. Cuthbert
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 6, 2012
For almost 14 centuries St. Cuthbert has been inspiring and mystifying people. His simple, holy life lived in as much obscurity as he could manage on not-remote-enough islands off the coast of Northumbria, the amazing account of the 200-year-journey of the Cuthbert Folk guarding his relics throughout northern England and southern Scotland, his uncorrupted body surviving the ravages of the Dissolution. . . the story continues to today, inspiring Believers anew with the power of Holiness.The Writing of UNLEAVENED DEAD, or, Why Everybody Needs a Rabbi
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 5, 2012
Donna:Marketing Guru's Top Tips
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 1, 2012
Award-winning author and marketing guru Lillian Brummet joins us today to share tips for otherAuthorgraph, It's The Latest Thing
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 30, 2012
That's one thing about life in this electronic age— it's never boring. Just when you think you've caught up with the latest thing, along comes something new.Fay Sampson Visits The Dordogne
By Fay Sampson ~ November 19, 2012
I've written before about the joy of research trips: Pennant Melangell, Burnley and Lindisfarne recently. And I'm planning another, rather closer to home, to evocative Cornish churches and pilgrimage sites which I may use in my next Aidan Mystery. More of that later.
A Tincture of Murder, The Next Big Thing
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 11, 2012
I’m playing a new game called blog tag today I’m "it"! I was invited by the lovely Stacy Juba whoAuthor Carole Shmurak on: Dorothy L. Sayers, Lord Peter and Me
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 7, 2012
Jessie Anderson: Writing a YA Novel on a Sensitive Topic
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 6, 2012
Donna: My guest today is the lovely Jessie Anderson whose young adult novel AT WHAT COST about an important and sensitive topic was released this summer. Welcome, Jessie.The Writing Process--It's A Mystery
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 22, 2012
Karen McCullough, one of my fellow authors from the new e-book 25 Years in the Rearview
Mirror, 52 Authors Look Back, and I are doing a blog exchange, so after reading her post here, you can check out my post on her blog at http://kmccullough.com/kblog/?p=376If you enjoy magazine columns and Chicken Soup...
Tracy Krauss on Wind Over Marshdale
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 17, 2012
Today Tracy Krauss one of my fellow authors from the brand new e-book24 Hours in London
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 14, 2012
As much as I love research trips that take me across the water to some of my favorite spots ( I'm often accused of choosing the settings of my books by where i want to go next— which is perfectly true) the down side of that is that I never go any place as just a tourist. if a site isn't on my research list, I don't take time for it.Writing the Modern Gothic Novel
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 9, 2012
I'd like to welcome Vicki Delaney, one of my fellow authors from the brand new e-bookClaire Dunn, Author of Mortal Fire
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 2, 2012
I am so pleased to have Claire Dunn as my guest today. I have just read a magazine article aboutResearching Lindisfarne
By Fay Sampson ~ August 30, 2012
Half the fun of writing novels is the research. But when is the best time to do it? If it's an historical novel, then it's really important to steep yourself in that period before setting pen to paper or opening that new document. You need not only to read what has been written about the period, but things written in that period. You want to capture something of how people thought, as well as lived.
frontcover.jpg)
A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE, Conversation with a Reader
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 31, 2012
I’ve just had one of those exchanges with a reader that can make a writer’s whole week— or maybe even, month. One of the glories of the internet is making conversations like this available around the world. This one is from England, which I especially prize since that’s where my Monastery Murders series is set.Glastonbury Tor
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 28, 2012
"Donna, are you watching the Opening Ceremonies? They just carried the flag to the top of Glastonbury Tor!" My friend rang from England. Another friend sent me a Facebook message from Kentucky.A New Look for The Monastery Murders
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 14, 2012
Preparing for the upcoming launch of AN UNHOLY COMMUNION, the third title in The Monastery Murders, Monarch Books has decided to give the whole series a new, darker, more mysterious look. This is particularly appropriate because AN UNHOLY COMMUNION is a darker book as a quiet Welsh pilgrimage becomes a life-and-death struggle with evil.Writing from Life
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 23, 2012
Be sure you read to the end for details of how to win a free copy of A MIDSUMMER EVE'S NIGHTMARE.Notes from Veronica Heley: Delightful Glimpse Into The Life of a Beloved Writer
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 13, 2012
I always look forward to receiving Veronica Heley’s newsletter. Veronica, the author of something like 72 books) is one of the most gracious ladies I know, and she’s the creator of one of my favorite fictional sleuths— Ellie Quick. I found this month’s newsletter so delightful and so informative I asked Veronica if I could share it with my readers. Besides Veronica’s charming voice coming through so clearly, it also gives a realistic and humorous glimpse into the life of a writer:Celebrating the Sending of a Manuscript, Here's the Story
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 6, 2012
Celebrate with me! I just clicked the send button! With a great "Woo-hoo!" AN UNHOLY COMMUNION, book 3 in the Monastery Murders is on its way to the publisher!Most Amazing Review Ever
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 24, 2012
I’m still shaking a bit--35 years in this business and I’ve just received the most amazing review of my career from "The Bookish Libraria"Highlights from My Pump Up Your Book Tour. . . so far
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 14, 2012
Beginning week 3 of my Pump Up Your Book Tour and great fun it's been so far with two weeksWhat Do I Say to That? Handling the Author Interview
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 3, 2012
Whether an author loves or dreads them, whether you consider them the best part of the job or the worst part, the fact of the matter is that author interviews are part of the job. And it’s important to make the most of every opportunity.What Readers Like Best, Thoughts From a new Review
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 27, 2012
It's always an open question— what's most important in how readers react to your novel: setting, plot, characters. . . ?Polish Version of A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 10, 2012
Just received the Polish translation of A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE. The only words I can read are my name on the front and Kate Charles on the back who gave a very generous endorsement. The cover art is an interesting translation of the picture of Fountains Abbey from the English language version with the addition of Lindisfarne Castle on top— a perfectly valid addition since Lindisfarne does feature in the novel.
Maundy Thursday in A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 4, 2012
In A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH, the second of my Monastery Murders, Felicity, whoSetting as the "Bones of the Plot"
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 30, 2012
Sally Wright is with us again today in her series about the backgrounds for her wonderful BenThoughts on a Writers' Community
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 24, 2012
A writer’s community is an important part of her life. We all need like-minded people to support us, encourage us, weep with us in hard times and celebrate with our successes. When I started out in this business more than 30 years ago my community experiences were limited to a once-yearly writers’ conference and a once-a-month meeting of local writers. Plus an occasional postal letter (written on real paper with a real postage stamp— remember those days?).Sally Wright on Researching in Scotland
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 22, 2012
Donna: Sally Wright is back with us today to share more about the backgrounds of her wonderful Ben Reese Mysteries— all of which are now available in ebook format. Today Sally shares about a passion we share— Scotland— followed by an equally enchanting location— Oxford. Looking at these pictures can give you some idea why I'm such a big fan of the Ben Reese books— reading them is like taking a trip to some of my favorite places.
Sally: Typically, I start with some idea of a basic plot, or a situation I want to explore, or a couple of characters I’ve become obsessed with - and then I go where I think I want to place the book. It’s when I get there and...
Background is Forethought in Ben Reese Mysteries
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 16, 2012
Donna:The Knights of St. John Still a Colourful Presence in London
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 6, 2012
Oh, my goodness, I had this great idea to do a series on the background of A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH, the newest of my Monastery Murder books, and here it is more than two months since my post on the atmospheric, soggy, boggy Norfolk Broads where dead bodies can be washed out of the earth and nefarious villains lurk in ancient church towers. Http://ning.it/wVudAMMaking of a Book and an Author
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 21, 2012
My guest today is debut novelist Becky Lyles whose romantic suspense novel I had the pleasure of reading pre-publication. My verdict:Why I Love my Publisher
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 17, 2012
In the writing world it could be 1776 all over again. Well, except for the reliance on up-to-the-minute technology, that is. But it’s certainly the day of independence and independents. Everything one reads about publishing focuses on the Indies. No, not the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia, but authors who are independently publishing their own books through the miracle of electronics. The idea is that they do all the work and reap all the benefits.Two Great English Mystery Novels of 2011
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 15, 2012
2011 was a great year for the mystery novel, as authors young and old stepped up their game to produce some of the most nuanced and exhilarating works of the genre. While popular U.S. mystery authors like Janet Evanovich and Susan Grafton boast huge sales of their latest novels, lesser known authors published new works that challenged conventions of the genre. Louise Penny’s psychological thriller A Trick of the Light and Rosamund Lupton’s family-twist on the detective story in Sister are two entries that continue to keep mystery fiction continually fresh and exciting.A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH Launch Party at Rediscovered Books
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 13, 2012
Thank you to Laura and Bruce at Rediscovered Books and to all my friends who came out to hear about the latest in the Monastery Murders, have books signed and to be so wonderfully supportive— and to my lovely husband who took the pictures. I love you all!Welcome Ilene Schneider: Clerical Mysteries from a Rabbi
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 9, 2012
Welcome, mystery writer and rabbi, Ilene Schneider. I met Ilene on a mystery writers' loop where I've enjoyed her posts on mystery writing for years. Last summer when I needed research help regarding first century rabbis I turned to ilene. She was wonderfully generous in her help. (You should have fun finding your bits of wisdom whenWelcome YA Author K. Dawn Byrd
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 5, 2012
Today I'm doing a blog exchange with K. Dawn Byrd. K. Dawn is a multi-published author whoA Letter From the Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter of a Murder Victim
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 1, 2012
One of the wonderful things about sending"A Memorable Mystery Novel"
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 9, 2012
First the shouting and champagne cork-popping (or at least a can of Sprite) and then the nail-biting. After all the months of planning, researching, writing, editing, rewriting, comes the waiting. Then you see the page proofs and the cover— something akin to seeing the photos from an ultra-sound. Then more waiting. At last the book launch. And there is much rejoicing.The Norfolk Broads: Researching A Darkly Hidden Truth 1
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 6, 2012
Mystery Night in Calgary
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 23, 2011
I have blogged before about the vibrant mystery writing and reading scene in Calgary: recounts my delight in meeting Louise Penny and Peter Robinson at last year's Calgary Bookfest andLest We Forget: Remembrance Sunday
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 13, 2011
I have twice had the experience of spending Remembrance Sunday, AKA Veteran's Day, in other
it's Time to Start Thinking Christmas
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 1, 2011
I know, we haven't had Thanksgiving yet. But Halloween is over, although our neighbor's ghost is still blowing in the tree outside my window along with all the lovely autumn leaves. Still, it really is time to start thinking about your Christmas shopping— there's nothing worse than leaving that until the last minute.Idaho Book Extravaganze; An Extravagant Weekend
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 29, 2011
Welcome, Novelist Donn Taylor
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 26, 2011
My guest today is novelist Donn Taylor whose novelWelcome, Staci Stallings, Multi-Genre Writer and Mother
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 24, 2011
We did it! Thank you all!
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 20, 2011
Thank you so much, dear, loyal friends, for voting for me in the Authors Show contest to beGuest Noir Writer Chris Nickson
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 19, 2011
My guest today is Chris Nickson, writer of noir historical mysteries set in Leeds. I met ChrisWriting a Series of Tudor Mysteries
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 9, 2011
The first drawing I ever entered to win an advanced reader copy of a book on the mystery loop 
DorothyL was for Peg Herring's Her Highness's First Murder and I won! It was a delightful read,...
Three Clicks to Fame and Fortune
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 3, 2011
Dear Friends and Readers,Back in The Ruins
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 29, 2011
Sally Wright, one of my favorite authors, celebrating the ebook release of Out of The Ruins, #4 in
her superb Ben Reese mysteries, recalls the serendipitous experiences and the extraordinary people that brought her to the writing of this book and draws some valuable life lessons. Welcome, Sally, it's always an honour to have you visit "Deeds of Darkness' Deeds of Light."
A Book Club Evening: Tea, Scones and A Very Private Grave
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 28, 2011
A good time was had by all. Especially by me.
The ladies of the Cross of Christ Lutheran book club couldn’t have given me a warmer welcome
or more gracious hospitality. The scones were made from my own favorite recipe (but I didn’t have to make them) and each lady was given the recipe printed on peach paper rolled with a blue ribbon.
Once I had piled as much lemon curd, orange marmalade and 
perfectly whipped cream (thank you, Cynthia) on my scone as I could manage— setting a good example for the others— we sat at long, white damask-covered...
My Bestselling Weekend
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 11, 2011
Neither my husband nor I took Saturday off— that's one of the less felicitous things about both being self-employed and both working from home. We tend to work pretty much nonstop.Twenty Years in Print: The Fascination of Glastonbury
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 10, 2011
I’m celebrating early!Shining God's Light on Dark Subjects
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 6, 2011
My guest today is Kathi Macias. Kathi is known for writing award-winning books that tackle tough subjects. I'll let Kathi tell you about it in her own words:A Shout From the Housetops Moment: Lord Danvers Arrives
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 2, 2011
I'm in The Economist!
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 23, 2011
Well, sortof. "Holy Writ," an article in the July 16-22, 2011, issue of The Economist (p.62) reportsMother Versus Daughter
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 19, 2011
I have long been a fan of Ellie Quick, Veronica Heley's gently determined, overage detective. When I heard that Veronica has a new Ellie Quick adventure just out I cheered and then asked Veronica to share some of Ellie's background with my "Deeds of Darkness; Deeds of Light" readers.The Letter that Made My Day
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 14, 2011
Some days, well, let’s face it— most days— are pretty slogging: get up, get organized, morning prayers, exercise, read email, get to work. . . But once in awhile one gets a boost that gives energy to the whole day, maybe the whole week. I had one of those recently in the form of a letter from a reader. With her permission, I share:Celebrate the Fourth of July with a Novel of Political Intrigue
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 30, 2011
Looking for a politically-themed novel to go along with your Fourth of July weekend relaxing? STEPHANIE, Days of Turmoil and Victory, book 3 in my Daughters of Courage trilogy, might just be the mustard in your potato salad. (Actually, I use vinegar, but you get the image.)New Mystery Novels to Watch For
By Fay Sampson ~ June 17, 2011
I’m proud to announce that we have agreed a deal for The Hunted Hare to be published next year by Monarch as the first in a new crime series, The Aidan Mysteries.What's in a Name?
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 14, 2011
Continuing the series suggested to me by my friend Rob Walker on how I titled my books, I moveA Rose by Any other Name
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 3, 2011
A very wise and generous writer friend, Rob Walker by name, advised me, "Donna, your titles are extremely good. You should, one by one over a period of time, discuss how you arrived at the title of each of your books."A Visit to Pennant Melangell
By Fay Sampson ~ May 26, 2011
Researching books can take you to some wonderful places. Some years
ago, I was at a course on Celtic history and beliefs in North Wales. One of our field trips took us to a medieval pilgrimage site at the end of the road in the Berwyn Mountains.
K Dawn Byrd Visits
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 16, 2011
Welcome, K Dawn. I just realized what fun this is to have a Byrd guesting on a Crow's blog. And, as a fun turnabout, I'm also guesting on K Dawn's blog later today:Blog Exchange with Marilyn Meredith
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 10, 2011
What a fun idea. Mystery Writer and blogger Marilyn Meredith and I are exchanging blogs today. Please stay right here and enjoy Marilyn's story of the influences on her writing life and learn about her latest bookThe Joys and Challenges of Research
By Fay Sampson ~ April 30, 2011
Note from Donna: I'm delighted with this article on research from my co-blogger Fay Sampson because the superb period detail she uses was one of the first things that attracted me to her books.Writers' Day Out in York
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 27, 2011
Eboracum, the ancient Brigantian settlement which was garrisoned by a Roman legion in AD 71 and became capital of the province of Northern Britain, better known today as York, was the perfect meeting place for a group of history-loving mystery writers from three continents.Might I Crave a Boon?
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 24, 2011
(As Jeeves said to Wooster.)Library! Spring Author Series
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 23, 2011
I’ve long said, and even before on this blog, that "Librarians are my best friend." It’s true for any reader, of course, but even more so for writers. Especially a writer of historical novels most of which are set 7000 miles away from home and require extensive research.That All-important James Bond Opening
By Fay Sampson ~ March 14, 2011
James Bond hangs from the undercarriage of a helicopter spinning dizzily thousands of feet above an active volcano. Dodging hot lava spewing at him from below and bullets fired from above, he scrambles into the cabin, wrestles with the villain as the chopper, now pilotless, spirals toward the abyss. At the last minute Bond defeats the enemy and rights the 'copter. All without wrinkling his French cuffs.MURDER BY THE BOOK
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 8, 2011
With the expense of travelling these days and the easy, wide reach of the Internet, physical book tours and in-person book signings are becoming rarer and rarer. But there are still a lot of advantages to a real live author event.Kate Charles, Queen of Clerical Mysteries, Welcome!
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ March 2, 2011
Interview with Rebecca Jenkins, AKA Martha Ockley
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 28, 2011
International Book buying Postage Free
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 24, 2011
In response to my earlier post regarding the long wait between book releases from one continent to another I had such interesting replies from friends around the world— with my undying gratitude— that I decided the conversation is worth being pulled from the comment box to its own post.What's Next? Book 2 in the Monastery Murders
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 21, 2011
An enormous "Thank you!" To all you who have asked, "When is the next one coming?" afterEscape from the Glasgow Lunatic Asylum
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ February 14, 2011
Donna: My guest today— who isn't herself an escapee from a lunatic asylum, you undersatnd— is Debra Marvin. Welcome, Debra.Blogtalk Radio, Podcasting, Skype Interviews: An expert Helps sort out the Confusion
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 31, 2011
Of late I've become aware of an even newer, more immediate method of reaching readers than the virtual blog touring, which I enoy so much and had thought was cutting edge. In recent weeks I've been interviewed over Skype twice, once as a video interview and once audio only, but including a Second Life connection, and I'm booked to do a podcast interview over the telephone.Seattle book Signing: A Grand Day Out
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 26, 2011
What a great day yesterday! A book signing for A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE at The Seattle MysteryHas a Library Changed your Life: A Tribute
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 24, 2011
A mystery readers loop I belong to has been discussing the question, "Has a library changed your life?" Since my answer is such an emphatic "Yes!" I want to share the story in detail.Top Ten!
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ January 6, 2011
Okay, life, even the writing life, isn't a popularity contest, but I'll admit to scanning TOP TEN lists just on the chance I might find one of my books there. Well, it did happen in 1996. So you can imagine my delight when I learned from Shannon Taylor Vannatter that my fictional romantic interview made the Top Ten list on her INKSLINGER Blog.Family Relationships: In Life and in Novels
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 10, 2010
My guest today is New Jersey mystery writer Chris Redding. Chris is visiting Deeds of Darkness; Deeds of Light as part of her blog tour for her new book Incendiary which releases in electronic format next week. Welcome, Chris, Best of luck with your new release and thank you for your timely holiday thoughts on family relationships.
My "This is Your Life" Signing
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ December 4, 2010
It was great at Rediscovered Books last night. The additional snow held off long enough that the roads were reasonably clear and there was standing room only for my Boise launch party for A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE.
Where Ben Ends and Life Begins
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 19, 2010
Donna: My guest today is one of my favorite authors, Sally Wright, creator of the exquisitely written Ben Reese Mysteries. Sally, tell us about Ben— the man in the books, the real-life man and the man who lives in your head.
Local Authors' Road Show
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 15, 2010
Jason Wilcox, Angela Abderhalden and I had souch a great time sharing a book at the Idaho Book Extravaganza we've decided to take our show on the road. We'll be appearing at Hastings in Meridian this Saturday from Noon to Five.Murder Case: Truth is More Complicated than Fiction
By Fay Sampson ~ November 9, 2010
One of the best meetings this year of our Devon Writers Group was an inside view of a murder enquiry. Detective Superintendent Nigel Boulton talked us through 13 years of leading such investigations.
Did you know, for instance, that bodies, or, more usually, bits of bodies are routinely picked up by fishermen in their nets? That has something to do with our living at the westerly end...
Sam's Club Giveaway
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ November 3, 2010
I was thrilled when my publisher told me that Sam's Club is sellingIdaho Book Extravaganza
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 25, 2010
Meeting readers, connecting with writers, teaching classes on publishing, selling books. . . The First-ever Idaho Book Extrvaganza was an impressive success for all who participated. The mayor of Meridian's opening speech set the theme for the weekend as she expressed her amazement that the Boise Valley was full of so much talent. "We need to do more to get the word out," she declared. Everyone heartily agreed.Louise Penny and Peter Robinson at Wordfest
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 21, 2010
The glorious conclusion to my month-long stay in Calgary was getting to attend Wordfest with my mystery writer friend Linda Kupacek, author ofCanadian Thanksgiving
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 19, 2010
One of the great pleasures of a visit to Canada is how Canadian culture is such a skillful blend of American and English heritage and yet so distinctly Canadian. This seemed especially apparent to me in experiencing my first Canadian Thanksgiving.Book Signings in Calgary
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ October 18, 2010
Canadians are known for their open, welcoming hospitality and after my two book events there last week I can certainly vouch for that being a much-deserved reputation.
A Day in the 1800's
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 27, 2010
Writers of historical novels--mysteries or otherwise--are often accused of living mmore in the past than the present--at least, this historical writer is. One of my favorite stories is of taking a chauffered punt ride Cambmridge with my teenage sons. Throughout the ride I discussed the scenes on both sides of the Cam with our escort. Afterwards my sons came up on each side of me and put their arms around me: 'Mom, you're amazing. You know everything.'A Calgary Autumn day
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 24, 2010
A perfect autumn day in Calgary, sunny, golden and crisp.First Wild Card Tour
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 22, 2010
Greetings from Calgary where we had a glorious sunny day--at last! ThisCalgary Report
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 18, 2010
A month in Calgary for a grandchild fix, a chance to do a bit of book promo and enjoy some lovely autumn color long before it comes to our trees south of the border, although I've learned that the iconic red maple leaf doesn't appear in the Alberta praries.What I Learned on my Summer Vacation
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 15, 2010
We have had a string of delightful guests recently on Deeds of Darkness; Deeds of Light, and today I bring you another one. Marian Allen and I have become friends through the wonders of virtual communication. I especially admire her Flash Fiction— telling a short story in two or three sentences— because I am incredibly long-winded. If you ash Marian about it below, I'm sure she will tell you how to get it on your Ereader for free.History and Mystery with a Dash of Romance in the 30's
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 13, 2010
I am delighted to have as my guest today DeAnna Julie Dodson, author of the poMy Life in Crime
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 10, 2010
I am so delighted that today our guest is Veronica Heley, an author much read and loved on both sides of the Atlantic. Veronica has three mystery series which she will tell us all about. Do leave her a comment or ask a question and be on the look-out for her books.And the Winners Are
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ September 4, 2010
A huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to all who entered my giveaway drawing to celebrate the NorthA Hero for All Seasons
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ August 31, 2010
My guest today, coming to us all the way from Manchester, England, is Dolores
The Reward of Patience
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ August 25, 2010
My mother, a very wise woman, always said one should never pray for patience because the Bible says, "Tribulation worketh patience." So she always prayed for strength instead.The Hawk and The Dove
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ August 16, 2010
Way back in the early 1990's when myGentle Reads
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 30, 2010
Dear Gentle Reader— Ah, that lovely phrase snatched from Victorian novels— who would have expected to encounter its like in last Friday’s Wall Street Journal? (7/23/10) The "Dear Book Lover" column by Cynthia Crossen replied to a writer asking for "mysteries. . . for adults that aren’t, well, excessively adult" by saying that many libraries call them "gentle reads".My Rip Van Winkle Experience
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 10, 2010
After more than 20 years as a professional writer and more than 30 books published, I spent 10 years in the wilderness of the unpublished. Coming back has been like starting a whole new career— at a time when most of my friends are retiring. Ten years ago there was no Facebook, no Twitter, there were no Ebooks and no blogs. It’s little wonder, then that I feel like Rip Van Winkle.Edgy Christian Fiction: The Tour
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ July 1, 2010
What is Edgy Christian fiction, and why does it make for the very best in summer reading? A group of exciting and excited-about-our-topic authors will be exploring that subject this month in a first-of-its-kind blog tour which we invite our readers to follow with as much anticipation as we feel.Assault on Mt. Amazon
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 30, 2010
"Pick a date and we’ll do an Ebook push," my publisher said. This was my new, young, cutting edge publisher who tells me we’re here to "embrace the technology."My Life on Second Life
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ June 17, 2010
My children raised me right. Our sons grew up playing Dungeons and Dragons with their friends in our basement and our second son and his wife are enthusiastic members of The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) so I get it about roleplaying. But I really had no idea what I was getting into when I responded to a note on one of my mystery-reading loops offering author interviews on Second Life.
Free personalized autographs available for print and ebooks!