Dear Reader #15

Dear Reader,

Most of my writing is planned, but occasionally you have to go with the flow, and the flow at the moment is taking me towards Spain and the Spanish language.

I’m delighted to say that soon sixteen of my books will be available in Spanish, with more to follow. Thank you to my wonderful translators for making this possible.

Also, I’m absorbing Spanish culture and history through my research for The Olive Tree: A Spanish Civil War saga.

Maybe Sam will visit Spain, or a Spanish speaking country one day. That’s a lovely thought.

I’ve just completed the storyboard for Snow in August, Sam Smith Mystery Series book sixteen. For Sam, this will be an emotional story, the most emotional story since Sam’s Song.

Bernie Taupin once compared one of his later lyrics, I think it was I Want Love, to Your Song, contrasting writing with youthful exuberance to writing with experience. Snow in August covers some of the same themes as Sam’s Song, but through the filters of fifteen previous novels and Sam being older. This offers a fresh perspective on those themes. I’m very pleased with the story, and hope readers will enjoy catching up with Sam again.

A shame Boris Johnson doesn’t believe in this.

Some exciting personal news. My eldest son has been identified as ’one of Wales’ brightest students‘ and has been invited to join The Seren (Star) Network for high achievers. The Seren Network connects students with staff from leading universities to offer guidance as the students make their way through school and on to university.

This is a nice feature from Smashwords that shows where my books have sold over the past ninety days. My top five are:

America

Bulgaria

Canada

Australia

Britain

My books have also sold in:

Ireland

New Zealand

Norway

Mexico

Germany

Spain

Zimbabwe

South Africa

France

Netherlands

Italy

Greece

Singapore

Philippines

Dominican Republic

Brazil

Maths Made Simple

Lesson One: Family Finance

If your wife has £100 and you have £400 how much money does your wife have? The answer is, of course, £500. Award yourself ten points!

Ever looked at your laugh lines and thought, nothing’s THAT funny?! 😆

As ever, thank you for your interest and support.

Hannah xxx