Category: The Sans Pareil Mystery

News: 'The Sans Pareil Mystery' reaches 100,000 sales

30/6/2018

Sales Milestone for The Second Book In The Lavender Series

I received a lovely surprise in the post today from my publishers - a plaque marking 100,000 sales of my second book in the Detective Lavender Series, The Sans Pareil Mystery.
I've now got a matching pair on the wall in the study.
The same plaque for The Heiress of Linn Hagh arrived two years ago.
I'm a very happy little author today.

News: Amazing sales for 'The Heiress of Linn Hagh'

23/12/2016

'Heiress' Reaches Milestone 100,000 Sales

Santa came early to me this year with some amazing news about the Detective Lavender series. THE SANS PAREIL MYSTERY passed its 50,000 sales milestone and THE HEIRESS OF LINN HAGH passed an incredible 100,000 sales! My publsishers sent me a commemorative plaque to mark this milestone which now has pride of place under my kitchen Christmas tree until I can find it a permanent home.
My publishers are delighted with the continued success of the series - and the fabulous reviews 'The Sculthorpe Murder' has achieved in the UK.
I'm a very happy author and I sincerely hope that Christmas 2016 turns out to be as wonderful for you as it has for me.
Take care, and thank you for all your support. Karen xxx

News: 'The Sans Pareil Mystery' is one year old

6/10/2016

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY TO
‘THE SANS PAREIL MYSTERY’

One year ago today, The Sans Pareil Mystery was published. This was a huge moment for me. Yes, The Heiress of Linn Hagh had enjoyed significant success when I self-published it in 2014 and had gathered wonderful reviews – but could I do it again with this second book in the Detective Lavender Mystery Series?

Sans Pareil was the first novel I’d written in three years. During that time, my beloved husband, Chris, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died. After a year of grieving, I’d started to run out of money and needed to return to teaching. Recklessly, I abandoned that plan and pursued my creative dream instead.

I also had new publishers to worry about. Thomas & Mercer had taken over Heiress earlier in 2015. Could they repeat its success with The Sans Pareil Mystery? Would they want any more books in the future? Everything from the mortgage payments to my dream of remaining a full-time author depended on the successful publication of this new novel and I was full of nerves on publication day. What would the fans of Heiress make of Detective Lavender and Constable Woods’ latest adventures? Could I really make it as full-time author?

Fortunately, the answer was ‘yes’. Sans Pareil gained wonderful reviews, sold well and was long-listed in a prestigious historical fiction competition. Thomas & Mercer published the third book in the series, The Sculthorpe Murder last month. I’m now writing the fourth book in the series and my teaching career is definitely over. I’ve so much to be grateful for, and the publication of The Sans Pareil Mystery was a turning point in my life.

A series of novels on Amazon or in bookshops always look very similar to the reader. They have book covers in the same style and the same font and typesetting throughout. Homogeneity is the key to success in publishing.

But to the author, each novel is as individual as a child. Born and created out of a unique set of real-life experiences, often written in difficult circumstances, each one holds a special place in the author’s heart and is loved for different reasons. The Sans Pareil Mystery is a precious baby to me.

Happy first birthday, sweetheart.

News: 'The Sans Pareil Mystery' on Award Longlist

23/3/2016

THE SANS PAREIL MYSTERY' IS A SEMI-FINALIST IN PRESTIGIOUS HISTORICAL FICTION COMPETITION

This week just keeps on getting better and better! I have just been notified that 'The Sans Pareil Mystery' is on the long-list in the M.M. Bennetts Award for Historical Fiction in a competition run by the Historical Novel Society. This is so exciting! The Finalists will be announced in May and the overall winner in the Autumn. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

News: Karen Featured In Local Newspaper

21/3/2016

There's a lovely article in Middlesbrough Gazette today, written by Bethany, Lodge - one of my former pupils!

News: 'The Sans Pareil Mystery' entered for Competition

3/2/2016

CWA ENDEAVOUR HISTORICAL DAGGER

I've just learnt that my publishers have entered 'The Sans Pareil Mystery' into the 2016 Historical Dagger Award at The Crime Writers' Association.

This is the UK's most prestigious award for Historical Crime Fiction. Please keep your fingers, toes and everything else crossed for me. I would love to be short-listed for this. To learn more about the competition please click here.

News: Publication of 'The Sans Pareil Mystery'

6/10/2015

The Sans Pareil Mystery

The Second Detective Lavender Mystery

...is now published by Amazon.

Order on amazon.co.uk

Order on amazon.com

News: 'The Sans Pareil Mystery' complete

4/2/2015

THE SANS PAREIL MYSTERY

After five weeks of editing, revisions and tinkering, I'm finally satisfied with the manuscript of The Sans Pareil Mystery.' I am about to press that button to send it to my publishers on the next stage of its journey. Five of my closest author friends from the Hysterical Fictionistas have read it and sent me invaluable constructive criticism. Now it is time for my latest baby to venture out into the colder, more critical world. Wish it luck.

Writing Update: Jane Scott and The Sans Pareil

3/9/2014

A sister of gore

The Sans Pareil Theatre

The Second Detective Lavender Mystery is called 'The Sans Pareil Mystery' after the Regency theatre in London. Stephen Lavender and Constable Woods have a new case to solve when the body of a beautiful, young actress from The Sans Pareil is found in mysterious circumstances.

I love the theatre and always intended to set this second whodunnit in the heart of Regency London's theatre district, the lively but seedy streets of Covent Garden. Originally, I wanted to feature the world-famous Drury Lane Theatre. However, I soon discovered that in 1810, Drury Lane was shut for rebuilding after yet another devastating fire.

Swallowing my disappointment, I quickly switched the action to The new theatre on the Strand, The Sans Pareil - and what a fortunate decision that turned out to be. My research has revealed that in 1810, the Sans Pareil (now known as the Adelphi) was run and operated by a woman: Jane Scott.

Miss Scott not only wrote most the burlettas and Gothic melodramas they performed, but she also starred in them too. For a historical fiction author who likes strong, independent women characters, I have just landed on my feet. I've got a real-life historical trail-blazer in my book.

If you would like to read more about this amazing woman, whom history has obviously forgotten, then please follow this link:

The Seven Sisters of Gore

Update: 'The Sans Pareil Mystery'

24/8/2014

'The Strand' in Fiction

Feeling good today because that's another 1,000 words written of 'The Sans Pareil Mystery.' The trouble is though, that we Historical Fiction authors seem to spend three hours researching to every one hour writing. I've been battling away trying to work out the shape, architecture and business landscape of the famous London street, The Strand, in 1810. I'm determined to recreate the noise, sights, sounds and smells of this location in the Regency era to make the experience as authentic as I can for my readers. And what do I end up with after two hours research? Only enough information to embellish three short paragraphs of prose....(sigh)