Dotty Sayers is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about a special edition of Daffodils and Deadly Deeds, the latest novel in the Dotty Sayers Antique mysteries series.

Welcome, Dotty. Let’s get started, shall we?

Tell us about the novel that you live inside. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

Hiya, I’m Dotty Sayers and I’m delighted to be back to tell you about my new book Daffodils and Deadly Deeds.

But shoosh, this is special and not everyone knows about it.

You see, this is a custom Easter and springtime themed book. And although I’ve seen my first snowdrops pushing out of the wet earth, the blossom and buds of the new season are still a few months away.

But my author and I wanted to offer you a unique early edition which will never be available on retailers. It includes a hand-drawn map of Alnwick, Northumberland, where the story is set, a selection of my author’s research and book commentary notes, and an Easter egg hunt.

An Easter egg hunt I hear you ask. Yes, certain chapters will have custom Easter egg header images and below these you’ll find themed trivia questions to answer. I told you it was special!

And the fun doesn’t stop there. If readers back this project on Kickstarter they can also receive Easter themed puzzles, to enjoy with their friends and family, and themed recipe cards 😋

Let me tell you more about Daffodils and Deadly Deeds and my Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series.

Does the writer control what happens in the story or do you get a say too?

Daffodils and Deadly Deeds is a joint effort. At the start of the book, I’m pondering what to do next with my life, both professionally and personally.

When Zach, an American colleague I met while working in Yorkshire, asks me to join him in Northumberland, to help him research his family’s history, I don’t have a reason to refuse.

I found Alnwick and the surrounding area fascinating, and I met some lovely people and quickly made new friends. But when one of them disappears and her body is found in a secluded cove, I know I have to find out what happened. The problem is, Inspector Thorn is not as accepting as some police officers, and refuses to include me in his investigation.

How did you evolve as the main character?

This is the eighth story I’ve been involved in, nine if you include the prequel, Hour is Come, which you can download here for free.

We started while I was living in the Cotswolds, but we’ve also visited Edinburgh and Yorkshire, and here we find ourselves in Northumberland.

What’s the place like where you find yourself in this story?

This was my first visit to Northumberland, England’s northernmost county. I was captivated by the history, the scenery, and the generosity of the local people.

Central to the story is Alnwick, a market town dating back to AD 600, and the imposing Alnwick Castle, ancestral home of the Duke of Northumberland. There are over 70 castles in Northumberland, and I also visited the coastal ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, only accessible by a footpath from Craster, a small fishing village famous for its smokehouse.

With Zach, I also took rugged coastal walks, explored ruined country estates, and, of course, enjoyed a cup of tea or a delicious meal in one of a variety of restaurants and cafes.

And we mustn’t forget Barter Books, a wonderful, quirky bookshop in Alnwick’s converted Victorian railway station.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about you and the book?

I hope, like me, you’re excited about Daffodils and Deadly Deeds. So how do you get hold of a copy of the special early edition?

We’re offering it first on Kickstarter, a crowdfunding platform for creators. This means that as well as the custom book, with its hand-drawn map, Easter egg hunt and author notes, you can pledge for a pack of Easter themed puzzles and themed recipe cards.

Even if you only buy on Amazon, or read through Kindle Unlimited, please check out my campaign so you can see what I, and other authors, plan to offer our readers more of in the future.

Thank you.

Thank you for answering my questions, Dotty, and good luck to you and your author, Victoria Tait, with this special edition of Daffodils and Deadly Deeds, the latest book in the Dotty Sayers Antique mysteries series.

The Kickstarter campaign closes on 11^th February. You can find it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/victoriatait/daffodilsspecialedition

About Victoria Tait: Victoria was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and never expected to travel the world. She’s drawn on her life’s experiences of following her military husband, and a love of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries. Her determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and evocative. As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world of intrigue, surprises, and humour, as well as a delectable helping of mystery, because tea and intrigue are a perfect blend.