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.
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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.
Fay Sampson Reports from The London Book Fair
By Fay Sampson ~ April 17, 2013
I’m just back from my first trip to the London Book Fair. It’s a tremendous event. 27,000 publishing industry representatives over three days. I didn’t know whether to be excited to be part of it or dwarfed to insignificance by the scale of it. http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/
The trick was to focus on the people I really wanted to see. I was glad to meet with Lesley Pollinger, the head of my literary agency, and with their rights manager. Both introduced me to potential clients dealing with such extras as large print editions and talked about getting my backlist into print.
But the highlight of the day was the reception at the Lion Hudson stand to
celebrate the launch of Lion Fiction. It was great to come face to face with so many of the staff who have worked on my books. It was the first time I had met my editor, Tony Collins.
celebrate the launch of Lion Fiction. It was great to come face to face with so many of the staff who have worked on my books. It was the first time I had met my editor, Tony Collins.I was also delighted to make contact with Claire Dunn, who also writes for Lion Fiction, and whose novels I really admire. The tables were piled high with books by Lion authors, including yours, Donna.
Andrew Hodder-Williams, the new publishing director, spoke first about Lion Fiction, and then it was over to me. This is, more or less, what I said:
"I’m delighted to be here celebrating the launch of Lion Fiction and the
publication of my latest book, Death on Lindisfarne, this week.
publication of my latest book, Death on Lindisfarne, this week."My connection with Lion goes back a long way. In the 1980s they published Pangur Bán, the first in a series of Celtic fantasies for children – though it has many adult fans too. It was the start of a long and, certainly on my side, a happy relationship. I was only saddened when Lion dropped out of children’s fiction.
"But it didn’t end there. They also re-issued Visions and Voyages, one of my rare excursions into non-fiction. It’s a narrative history of the Celtic churches.
"I have also written many adult novels, and worked with different publishers. A few years ago, my career took an unexpected turn when I strayed, almost 
accidentally, into crime fiction. I set out to write a story about a woman researching her family history, but before I knew where I was, dark deeds in the past became entwined with dark deeds in the present, and I found I had a crime novel on my hands. This developed into the Suzie Fewings series with Severn House. I was still getting used to the idea of myself as a crime writer when, out of the blue, Tony Collins of Lion rang to ask if I would write a crime series for them. Would I? Of course I was delighted. The second in the Aidan Mysteries, Death on Lindisfarne, is the one which is being published this week.
accidentally, into crime fiction. I set out to write a story about a woman researching her family history, but before I knew where I was, dark deeds in the past became entwined with dark deeds in the present, and I found I had a crime novel on my hands. This developed into the Suzie Fewings series with Severn House. I was still getting used to the idea of myself as a crime writer when, out of the blue, Tony Collins of Lion rang to ask if I would write a crime series for them. Would I? Of course I was delighted. The second in the Aidan Mysteries, Death on Lindisfarne, is the one which is being published this week."These may seem very different genres: children’s fantasy, church history, adult crime novels. But you may have noticed a common theme running through them: my personal enthusiasm for the Celtic Churches.
"I’m not a great fan of crime fiction which is solely about the detection of a murder. The ones I really enjoy have an extra dimension to the writing. I particularly like the novels of Tony Hillerman. These are set in Arizona, and one of his two policemen is a Navajo. Each of the books has a lot about the culture and beliefs of the Navajo. It’s that extra dimension which adds richness to the read.
"I want that “extra dimension” for my own books. In the Suzie Fewings series it’s the many ways in which you can research family history. You’re getting get
two detective stories for the price of one. With the Aidan Mysteries, that extra dimension is a sense of place. The books are set around the sacred places of the British Isles. For the first one, The Hunted Hare, it was Pennant Melangell, a remote pilgrimage site in North Wales. Death on Lindisfarne is obviously set on Holy Island off the coast of Northumbria. Blood in the Well, which is currently taking shape, will visit some of the holy wells of Cornwall. The extra dimension here is the sense of sacred space.
two detective stories for the price of one. With the Aidan Mysteries, that extra dimension is a sense of place. The books are set around the sacred places of the British Isles. For the first one, The Hunted Hare, it was Pennant Melangell, a remote pilgrimage site in North Wales. Death on Lindisfarne is obviously set on Holy Island off the coast of Northumbria. Blood in the Well, which is currently taking shape, will visit some of the holy wells of Cornwall. The extra dimension here is the sense of sacred space.But this is not just about my books. I’m delighted that Claire Dunn, who also writes for Lion Fiction, is here today. This “extra dimension” holds true for all Lion Fiction authors. Whether we write crime or romance, fantasy or history, we seek, not just to create books which will stand comparison with the best in their genre, but which bring to the reader the richness of that “something extra”.
Fay Sampson (UK) is a writer of adult and children's fiction and non-fiction, including A MALIGNANT HOUSE, #2 in the Susie Fewings series, a British Crime Club Pick. http://www.faysampson.co.uk
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Reader Comments:
What a lovely tale of publication. And the sacred places of Britain would certainly attract me to the books. I have very fond memories of visiting Lindisfarne
-Sheila Deeth, April 17, 2013
Thank you somuch for this great report, Fay! How i would have loved to be there with you! Your cover for DEATH ON LINDISFARNE is stunning and I know from reading it that the story is just as good.
-Donna, April 17, 2013
Interesting post. Donna - have tweeted it. :-)
-Geraldine Evans, April 18, 2013
Thank you, Geraldine. I got your BAD BLOOD this week. I'll do a mini review when I've read it.
-Donna, April 18, 2013
Book fairs are so exciting! Crime and sacred space. Sounds wonderful.
-LeAnne Hardy, April 18, 2013
Ah. Thanks, Donna. That's great. Look forward to reading it. :-)
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