Your Latest London Dispatch (June 2025)
Betwixt and between edition
The funny thing about being an author is there isn’t a set career path. We all come to writing in different ways and for different reasons. Some of us have full-time jobs outside of publishing, while others don’t. Some of us rely on writing for all of our income, while others do other things to pay their mortgage or rent.
There are so many ways to become an author, so it shouldn’t be surprising that there are a lot of ways to actually be an author when it comes to the day to day. I write full-time, so for me it usually looks like working on whatever the most pressing project is while juggling a few other things that also need attention. For instance, I might be writing a first draft for a new book while also handling proofreading pages for the next book up on my release schedule while also thinking about what I’d like to write after that first draft is done. It can be very fulfilling and very busy in equal measure, and there is no roadmap to follow as to what the ideal working day should look like.
However, there are sometimes moments where magically the calendar opens up. I’ve have submitted the first draft of my next historical novel to my editor and am waiting for her edits. Meanwhile, the next Evelyne Redfern book, A Dark and Deadly Journey, is all proofread and done ahead of its September 23rd release day. I have some ideas churning in the back of my mind when it comes to what to write next, but I’m playing a bit of a waiting game to see what feedback I get from those projects. Basically, everything I owe people is in, and now I’m just waiting—a rare thing in publishing!
So what does an author do when they have more time than usual on their hands? Well, for me it looks like planning ahead by writing some articles that tie-in to A Dark and Deadly Journey that I hope you’ll enjoy; getting ahead of scheduling some social media, which is always one of my big weak spots; and sometimes venturing out into the world for some indulgent adventures.
The other day, Mum, Dad, and I piled into the car and drove to Albrighton in Shropshire to visit the David Austin Roses Plant Centre.
Those who have read The Last Garden in England will know that I love gardens—particularly English gardens. I first visited the David Austin show gardens when I was a girl making summer trips to England to visit family. Now, many years later, it was a treat to go back and see the beautiful, abundant blooms in person again. The garden smells as good as it looks, with some varieties like Olivia Rose Austin and The Gentle Gardener really standing out.
I am still living with family as my husband and I (hopefully) near the end of our house-buying journey so I was very restrained and didn’t make any purchases, but I did get a chance to browse with an eye to our future garden. Dad, however, didn’t have to be so restrained and bought several Elizabeth roses (a beautiful pink variety) as well as a creamy apricot climber called Wollerton Old Hall.
Book News
As I mentioned above, I’m a bit betwixt and between when it comes to works in progress, but that means that this is the perfect opportunity to remind you of what’s coming up for this year.
September is a huge month because I actually have two books coming out!
September 14th - Betrayal at Blackthorn Park (Evelyne Redfern #2) comes out in paperback so if you’ve been waiting to grab the paperback edition that will be your chance! (Don’t forget, the paperback is available for preorder now.)
September 23rd - A Dark and Deadly Journey (Evelyne Redfern #3) comes out in print, audiobook, and ebook for the first time, and it is also available for preorder!
For those of you who are waiting for my next historical novel, I’m hoping to have a proper update for you soon. Right now, I’d say pencil in a 2026 release date!
In Case You Missed It
I’ve been out and about on several podcasts recently talking about my books, and I wanted to be sure to let you know so that you didn’t miss them!
Postscript
What I’ve been reading: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
What I’ve been watching: The Lincoln Lawyer season 3
What I’ve been knitting: Vignette by Helen Steward
Love the photos of the David Austin gardens. I have Gertrude Jekyll (incredible scent) and Boscobel (a hundred petals), both in full bloom. I always enjoy your emails.
Thank you so much for the newsletter. Especially glad to see real pictures of the garden from the book that introduced you to me! Enjoy your reset time!💕