Your Latest London Dispatch for January 2025
New year, new beginnings
Normally I love the new year. I know that some people talk about how New Year’s Day is just another day, but I always enjoy the feeling of a new beginning.1 There is something refreshing about it, like turning to a blank page.
Although there is a lot going on at the beginning of this year leading up to the release of my latest book The Dressmakers of London that is truly exciting, January has had a somber side. If you read my bio on one of my books, you’ll see it says, “Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London with her husband.” I grew up in LA, specifically in Altadena and San Marino, before going off to college. Then my parents moved to the Pacific Palisades, and that is where I returned for holidays and vacations before they again moved to the UK.
Although it’s been years since I left LA, I have always felt a strong connection to and a deep love for the city. However, it doesn’t take that level of connection to a place to understand why I continue to be so shocked and sickened by the unbelievable destruction of the Pacific and Eaton fires last week. Over the past week, my family and I have spent a lot of time watching news coverage and checking in on friends. Although everyone we know was able to evacuate safely, homes were lost and the communities in the Palisades and Altadena that we loved have been lost or forever changed.
I have been speaking to a fellow LA expat living here in the UK, and we both shared how helpless we’ve been feeling. I am the kind of person who would rather act than remain frozen, and I have tried to parlay some of that helplessness into donations to organizations like the Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Canyon Fire Relief Fund, the American Red Cross and the Pasadena Humane Society (where my family adopted a number of pets). If you are able to donate to help the many people who have lost their homes and livelihoods in Los Angeles, I would encourage you to do so.2 People will need help long after the stories about the fires are gone from news headlines.
If you are a reader who has lost your home and your personal library in any of the recent Los Angeles fires, please contact me by replying to this email. I would be happy to send you books to help you build your library once again whenever you are able to receive them.
Book News
Okay, this is a hard right turn, but the rest of this newsletter is going to be focused on the business of books.
The Dressmakers of London
We are just over a month away from the release of The Dressmakers of London, which is truly exciting! ARC copies of the book arrived on my doorstep just before Christmas, and finished copies arrived in January.
I shared a sneak preview of the book courtesy of an exclusive excerpt available to subscribers of this newsletter. If you missed it, here’s a link.
Keep an eye out for much more about The Dressmakers of London in the coming weeks, and don’t forget that there is still time to preorder your copy!
If you are in search of signed copies, there is a limited number of editions with signed bookplates available from a number of independent bookstores. Click the button below for more details.
The Evelyne Redfern series
Some very exciting new is afoot for Evelyne Redfern! Both A Traitor in Whitehall and Betrayal at Blackthorn Park are now available in Australia! This is the first time my mysteries are available in Australia, and I’m thrilled to introduce Evelyne Redfern and David Poole to a brand-new group of readers!
Events
As promised, there’s a lot going on in the lead up to The Dressmakers of London, including several virtual events! Just click on the event title to find out more and RSVP.
Live reading from The Dressmakers of London (Facebook Live), Wednesday, February 12 at 1 p.m. ET
Live Release Day Q&A for The Dressmakers of London (Facebook Live), Wednesday, February 12 at 1 p.m. ET
In Conversation with Heather Webb hosted by Warwick’s Books, Saturday, March 1 at 10 a.m. PT (an RSVP link and further details to come)
Don’t forget, you can find all events listed on my website.
Goodreads Giveaway
In anticipation of The Dressmakers of London coming out, my publisher is hosting a Goodreads giveaway! There are 75 copies up for grabs, so be sure to enter!3
Postscript
What I’ve been reading: I have been reading a lot of books ahead of their release dates in order to provide endorsement quotes.4 So far I’ve read and loved Sarah James’s Last Train to Union Station and Genevieve Graham’s On Isabella Street, and I can’t wait to dive into Kelly Rimmer’s The Midnight Estate.
What I’ve been watching: January is all NFL all the time in my household.5 We are a household of LA Rams and Washington Commanders fans, so it’s gearing up to be a very interesting upcoming weekend for us.
What I’ve been listening to: After a strong recommendation by my sister and brother-in-law, I’ve begun listening to the What Went Wrong podcast. Each episode takes a deep dive into what went wrong during the production of some of your favorite (or least favorite) movies. It’s a great listen for movie fans!
What I’ve been knitting: I am happily back in the land of cables, making The Gentleman a Moby Sweater by PetiteKnit! This is one of those great patterns that looks really complicated but actually is easy to memorize and has a nice rhythm to it.
I get the same feeling around September with back to school too, even though I haven’t been in school for years.
Mutual Aid Los Angeles also has a great library of resources of places looking for donations.
This giveaway is open to US readers only.
The quotes you see on the fronts and backs of books from authors and reviewers.
Yes, The Gentleman is an NFL fan although he follows a different team, which is something I try not to hold against him.
I'm so sorry about these fires and the great losses. Thank you for suggesting a place to donate.
So sorry to hear of what's happening to your childhood home, Julia. It must be heartbreaking to witness. I wish you and all your loved ones in the area well.
And on a more positive note, Happy Birthday!!