Proof-reading

I’m finally at the proof-reading stage and of course, I find a typo, straight out the bat, which says more about how tired I was when I added in this little piece during the week. I inserted the wrong date. Why? It’s a simple mistake. I am in the middle of writing book 2, set in 1814 and I switched gears – to add a piece in as a prologue on book 1. I forgot to tell my brain I’m back in 1812! That’s how easily it’s done. Now, to read the other 65k words. Wish me luck!

Well, it’s been a while! That’s because I have been flat-out writing, editing and propelling the Of Social Standing series forward. I’m happy to announce that Lady Dixon’s Niece is almost ready for release …. Averill Buchanan – my editor – is polishing up the manuscript as I type 🙂

So what have I been up to? Writing-wise, I focused on the competition scene during the summer and was thrilled to be long-listed for the Writers by the Sea Festival Competition. I was long-listed in the memoir category and short story category, which gave me a lovely boost, I must admit. Then, in the autumn, my flash fiction piece, Clean Cut, was selected by Midland’s Science Curious Words for inclusion in their Science Week publication. I was thrilled with the validation. As a writer, one can face a lot of rejection, and it can be hard at times to motivate oneself to keep going. These little boons were just the reminder I needed that I can write and that readers actually enjoy what I have to say.

I started job-sharing in September at work which has given me a lot more time to commit to writing. The year is flying but so are the words! I’m beavering away on Baron Bovingdon’s Son – the second instalment in the Of Social Standing series. Lots still to do so I best get back to it! 🙂

Yes it’s 2025! It’s a New Year and with that I am delighted to announce that this is the year you readers will finally get to be introduced to my fictional babies. My goal is to release Lady Dixon’s Niece this YEAR!

I could have self-published it last May, truth be told but I hung on, and hung on, and hung on, not to mention made some major timeline shifts after fantastic feedback from publishers. While I was a little heart-broken (not going to lie) I gave myself thirty minutes to wallow and then took myself off to the drawing board to make the necessary revisions. The timeline shift threw me a massive curveball but I’m running with it and not looking back. A bit like the other massive cancer curve ball that knocked me for six in late 2023 but I’m also happy to announce that I am officially clear of TNBC. And just like I’ve soldiered on the health battlefield, I’ve also soldiered with Of Social Standing. I’m currently at the half-way point in writing the first draft of the second instalment. No rest for the wicked in my fictional world!

Yes. It is that time of year, and I’m back at the writing bureau, putting words on paper to the motion picture running in my head. I’m back writing with gusto, and the working title is Baron Bovingdon’s Son. Of course, this may change; that’s the nature of W.I.Ps. I can’t wait to share this literary world with you, but while we are waiting for Lady Dixon’s Niece to hit the shelves, here’s a little plot synopsis for the second instalment of the Of Social Standing series. Enjoy 🙂

Baron Bovingdon’s Son follows the Honourable Mister Emmett Rosland in 1814 as he attempts to prove his innocence after finding himself the prime suspect in the fatal poisoning of opera singer, Maria De Londinium. As the evidence mounts against him, Baron Bovingdon’s son is thrust from the revered halls of the courthouse into the disreputable world of criminal investigation. Fearing that he was the intended subject of the poisoning plot, Emmett immediately sets out to warn Annaliese Schmidt that the deranged Heir Schulze could be at large and seeking retribution. The former nemeses must work together to protect the ones they love and bring Maria De Londinium’s murderer to justice. 

Emmett is such a juicy character to write, and my first reader’s response to him has been fantastic, so I can’t wait to delve into his hidden past and let readers have a true insight into his world.

The complete manuscript of Lady Dixon’s Niece is complete and in the querying stages with publishing houses.

I have been very fortunate to have full manuscript requests and I’m watching this space (fingers and toes crossed that they too will love the story and characters of Lady Dixon’s Niece as much as I do!)

In the meantime I had some fabulous ‘first readers’, as I call them, preview the novel and I am absolutely over the moon with the positive feedback and food for thought that has come out of the experience. My first readers included an Amazon number one best-selling author, another published writer and founder of a wonderful writing group, an avid reader with a degree in English who very much is my target audience, and a head of Policy and Strategy in local government in the UK with a PhD in Science to boot, who has a keen eye for catching typos. I’m extremely grateful for these four readers giving me their time and their insights. It is fantastic to hear each reader’s perspective and which character gave them the warm and fuzzies or the ick!

Please find the link to Lady Dixon’s Niece prologue on Inklings website https://inklings.ie/chele-crawley-prologue/ I hope you enjoy the teaser 🙂

https://inklings.ie/a-chance-encounter/ Enjoy 🙂

https://inklings.ie/give-it-up/ Enjoy 🙂