Attic Whispers from my Attic in the Blue Mountains [April 2021 Edition]

The threatening shadow of Covid 19 is still hovering above us, and we have to be vigilant. However, there’s good news on the horizon with the rollout of vaccines. I am receiving my first shot in two weeks, with the second to follow in 3 months’ time. Just as well, because I am planning to travel across Australia by train at the end of June, and you are coming with me! But more of this a little later. Exciting times ahead; promise.

As Covid 19 is changing our lives, I have noticed something quite interesting: More people than ever before are turning to reading, especially fiction. This is understandable, as people are spending more time at home and are looking for some entertainment and distraction.
Obviously, as a writer, I always monitor closely how my books are received, and how my readership, namely you, respond to my latest book release, in this case The Lost Symphony which was published late last year.
Judging from the many excellent reviews the book has received so far – over a hundred five star reviews on Amazon alone – the book is, thanks to you, doing exceptionally well and has been given a delightful five star review rating by Ruffina Oserio for Readers’ Favorite in the US, you can read the full review on Readers’ Favorite website.

You will remember that in my last Newsletter I indicated that we were updating and redesigning our website and social media banners. As I greatly value your opinion, I provided an example and asked you to let me know what you thought of it and how it resonated with you. A big thank to you all for your enthusiastic replies. One reply in particular, written with great eloquence and wonderful humour, stood out. It is by Paul from North Yorkshire:

Hi My Favourite “Fiction” Author!

Thank you for your latest e-mail showing your redesigned web page banner. I really liked this banner. It resonated with me in such a way that I thought the arrangement of the books told part of a story (far removed from the originals!) as follows:-

The empress held the key but then Anna Popov disappeared and people thought this was caused by hidden genes. They found a curious missing head in which was contained a lost symphony. This had been mentioned in some letters in the attic that were hidden behind a forgotten painting. Kimberley had kept this secret!

From this, the banner certainly does contain elements of mystery. The style is also unusual in that the books are at an angle rather than full-on as they are with most pages and this attracts attention. The cover designs are also good which gives it an air of quality. It draws the reader in and it would probably cause them to find out more about this series of books.

Best Wishes
Paul

Thank you, Paul, for this delightful seal of approval. It is for that reason that I have decided to have 2 Readers of the Month this time and you, Paul, are one of them. Congratulations!

Reader Of The Month is one of my favourite newsletter segments because it allows me to single out special readers who have encouraged and supported me along the way. And for a writer like me, connecting with readers is not only essential, but in my view, one of the most rewarding experiences that make writing books meaningful and enjoyable.

Apart from Paul mentioned above, the other Reader Of The Month is Helen, a dear friend of mine. I have known Helen and her husband Bob who is well into his nineties, for almost forty years. Sadly, Bob’s eyesight is failing and he has now difficulty reading. He has read all of my books, but when it came to the Lost Symphony, he just couldn’t manage it any more. So, what did dear Helen do? She read the entire book to Bob out loud! Apparently, this took quite some time, but they did read and discuss the whole book that way. I was deeply moved by this and took this as a huge compliment. And that is why you, Helen, and of course Bob as well, are Readers Of The Month! Thank you for your wonderful friendship, encouragement and support over the years. It’s readers like you, who make it all worthwhile!

As mentioned in my previous newsletter, due to Covid 19, overseas travel will not be possible this year. That doesn’t mean of course that we will not travel at all. Far from it. Instead of my usual overseas research and book launch trips, we will explore Australia! I have already told you about the first trip planned for June , the legendary ‘Ghan’. This is one of the great train journeys of the world which will take us on a 3000 km journey from Adelaide in South Australia, to Darwin in the Northern Territory.

The next trip, which will be in September, is a private charter plane air safari with only 50 passengers. This exciting trip will take us to remote parts of outback Queensland, like Longreach where Qantas, our national airline was founded. There, we will visit Camden Park a famous working cattle station where the Queen and Prince Philip spent some time during their royal tour in 1970.

Another highlight of the trip will be Winton, famous for its extraordinary collection of dinosaur bones of scary pre-historic creatures like this one: