Friday, August 2, 2019

Debs Gearing up for A BITTER FEAST

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Oh my gosh, we have a lot going on at Jungle Red these days. Lucy's newest Key West mystery was out in May, new books from Hallie and Rhys are coming next week, then Hank later in August, Jenn in September, me in October, and Julia in April! It's a fabulous REDS season!! And we are all in some stage or another of promoting these books and writing the next one (or "ones" in Jenn's case!)

Here's where we are on A BITTER FEAST, Kincaid/James #18, coming October 8th!



Here's the first review, and it's STARRED! I am over the moon!

*A Bitter Feast.
By Deborah Crombie
Oct. 2019. 384p. Morrow, $25.99 (9780062271662); e-book, $12.99 (9780062271686)
A weekend in the country turns into more work than play for Scotland Yard detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. Melody Talbot, Gemma’s detective sergeant, invites the couple and their three children to the Cotswolds estate of her parents, Sir Ivan and Lady Adelaide Talbot, on the occasion of an upscale charity luncheon to be catered by local chef Viv Holland. Things go awry from the start when Duncan, traveling to the Talbots’ alone in the family car, is hit broadside, and the other driver dies as the slightly injured Duncan holds her hand. But attention centers on the passenger in that car, identified as former London celebrity chef Fergus O’Reilly, who’s found to have died before the crash. So, what was intended to be a relaxing sojourn turns into a murder investigation. As the detectives pitch in to help at the luncheon and confer with local authorities, another person close to Viv becomes a victim, and the history between the chefs is gradually revealed. The eighteenth entry in this best-selling series is notable for its portrayals of Duncan and Gemma’s children (especially the oldest, Kit), and for the addition of food as an item of interest, a factor that will extend the appeal from the series' procedural-loving fan base to the foodie mystery crowd. This character-driven series just continues to get better.
—Michele Leber


It is so incredibly nerve-wracking, as we can all attest, waiting for the reviews to come out.

The social media banner are up, yay!  Here's the one for Facebook.



This one was quite a trauma, I can tell you, as the first pass from the publisher was BROWN. All over. Background and cover. I had a good bit of help from my painter sister-in-law, and together we came up with the red overlay behind the gold cover. What do you think? Hopefully it's much more eye-catching.

Today I'm meeting with my publicist at Morrow to talk about the tour schedule, so more on that soon.

Next week, I tackle updating my web page. And maybe (whispering) even contemplating a newsletter. 

So what am I actually writing, you ask?




Seven hundred and sixty of these. These are called tip-in sheets, and they will go in specially bound books for Barnes and Noble. I've done these for independent bookstores before, but never nearly as many, and never for B&N, so I'm pretty tickled. (But boy do I have writer's cramp.)

And there is terrific news coming soon about Duncan and Gemma's next adventures, so stay tuned!

Readers, how important is it to you to have a signed copy of a favorite author's book? I'm not a big collector, but I have a few I will never part with, like my signed Dick Francis and James Herriott books.

Tell us about your most precious signed book, and I'll send one of the very last ARCs of A BITTER FEAST to one lucky commenter!

And just for one more bit of fun, here's Castle Coombe, the beautiful village in the book jacket photo. Anyone who has been there will recognize it instantly. It makes me want to go back to the Cotswolds!










88 comments:

  1. Congratulations on the wonderful review, Debs! I can’t wait to read this book . . . .

    The special signed Barnes and Noble books sound like a terrific idea.

    I NEVER write in books . . . I don’t put my name inside the front cover, I don’t highlight passages, I don’t underline sentences. I don’t dog-ear pages to mark my place. But I love signed books! There’s something very special about having the author’s signature in the book. My most precious signed book? That’s tough . . . every signed book is a treasure . . . but it’s particularly special to have one signed by one of the Jungle Red ladies. Scott Crossfield signed a book for me and I have a couple signed by astronauts . . . they’re pretty special, too.

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  2. Yes, the red is fabulous. The signed books sound cool! And people are in for a huge treat with this one.

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    1. Thanks, Edith!! We tried quite a few different colors on the banner, and then a variety of reds, and sent our favorite off to the art department. Whew!

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  3. Brown?! Just no. The red is outstanding! I would take a dog-eared, highlighted, written all over the pages copy of this book if that was the only copy I could find to read. Having a book signed by the author doesn't really matter to me--it's what's between the covers that is important to me. I have a few signed books--given to me by friends--and that's why I cherish those particular books.

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    1. That's exactly what I said, Flora. What were they thinking???? Anyway, I'm glad I have some input on these things. And, yes, most of the signed books I keep are by friends.

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  4. I love having signed books from authors that I like. However, if the opportunity to have a book signed doesn't present itself, I don't lose my mind over it either.

    I keep my signed copies as well. They are all important to me.

    It has been a very interesting week so far reading about what everyone has been writing. I've been busy the last couple of weeks as well. No books, but plenty of other writing was done.

    I've done two articles in my series The Cassette Chronicles, including the 100th article in the series.

    I've done three book reviews that I submitted to Mystery Scene and I got to write my review (over on Goodreads and then shared to Amazon as well) of Edith Maxwell's outstanding "Strangled Eggs and Ham".

    And though I originally didn't plan to review last night's Iron Maiden concert, the show was so outstandingly spectacular that I just might do up a piece on that as well.

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    1. Congrats on your productivity, Jay! And I will check out your review of Strangled Eggs and Ham!

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  5. Darling Debs, I know how disappointed you were with the first cover, and I'm glad you've got that problem solved. I thought it was gorgeous, and my copy of the ARC is one of those treasured books I'll never give away. Your brand is great in my opinion. Your books are so easy to pick out, even from a distance, with their distinctive design.

    Since I read on my Kindle pretty much exclusively, my signed copies tend to be pristine, except for the well thumbed ARCS. And I'm saving each and every one, particularly those of the Reds.

    On another note, I saw my dentist on Monday. He is a reader, and he couldn't stop talking about a book he'd just finished. No, it wasn't a JR book. But he insisted I read it, so for tickles and grins I ordered a sample, and then I bought the book. It is THE HEART'S INVISIBLE FURIES by John Boyne.

    My dentist was right. I can't put it down. Its a gut wrenching Bildungsroman, and my gut is duly wrenched.

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    1. Oh, my, Ann, I just went and bought the John Boyne book. It sounds fabulous and a recommendation like that from you is to be taken, never mind your dentist:-)

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  6. I’m looking forward to reading this next one, Deborah, but it’s ordered in my Kindle so, like Ann, the author’s signature isn’t an option. That’s like much of my fiction reading these days. However, I do have one non-fiction book signed by the author I won’t easily part with — All the President’s Men. I shook Carl Bernstein’s hand at a journalism conference and asked him to sign my ancient second-hand copy of the book. He did so graciously. Bob Woodward wasn’t at the conference or I’d have asked him, too!

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    1. Amanda, what a treasure!!! That would definitely be on my keeper's list!

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  7. Congrats on that fantastic review Debs! I am still hoarding my copy until the release gets closer...I love signed books and I hoard them too. Since we have Judy Blume and Laurent de Brunoff living in Key West, I've also given away a lot of signed copies of their books. I don't know whether they've survived the children:(

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    1. Lucy, you know I can't wait for you to read this one so we can talk about the food:-)

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  8. If only I could get over the addiction to autographed books, my house (and husband) would thank the Lord.

    In an effort not to name names of folks in the mystery community, I would say my most precious signed copies are by: Toni Morrison, George RR Martin, Jane Smiley, Lois Lowry, and Diana Gabaldon.

    I will say that the most precious inscription I have is from John Connolly in an edition of his amazing "fairy tale" fantasy novel, THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS, where he wrote: "May life always treat you gentle" in the most elegant handwriting you have ever seen. (He wins for penmanship as well.)

    The new Duncan/Gemma book creeps ever closer to the top of my scheduled pile. I can't wait.

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    1. Aw, Kristopher, that inscription is truly lovely (as is John.) And I swear I am going to get around to reading that book one of these days.

      And I can't wait for you to read A BITTER FEAST!

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  9. The banner looks great. I love having signed books by my favorite authors! I have a collection...I have been to book signings (which is always fun) and have ordered quite a few online.

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  10. I stood in line for two hours at the National Book Festival to have Toni Morrison sign two copies of Song of Solomon for my kids' favorite HS English teachers.

    And then I stood in line for another hour to meet Tomie dePaola and have him sign Strega Nona.

    Both authors gave great tent talks. Tomie would only take questions from children.

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    1. Toni and Tomie, how wonderful. Isn't the National Book Festival wonderful? I was invited the last year Laura Bush was in the White House and my daughter went with me. That was a life experience neither of us will forget.

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    2. Tomie and I were speaker at a conference years ago. We laughed so much while waiting outside for our turn to speak that they came out to shhhh us!

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  11. First, big congratulations! I was very late to the party but I am working my way there and I will get to the finish line. Not in time to read A Bitter Feast as soon as it comes out, although it sounds so good I am tempted to skip ahead just so I can read it now.
    My only signed book, as I may have mentioned before, was A Wrinkle in Time, signed not only by the author but also by her husband who was an actor on a soap opera I used to watch.

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    1. Judi, don't skip ahead if you are reading in order! It's much more fun that way.

      You have a signed Madeleine L'Engle??? So jealous! I have my old tattered paperback copy.

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  12. Congratulations on your starred review, Debs! That is fantastic. Love the Cotswolds photos; they only increase my desire to read the book. I bet that was fun research trip. :)

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    1. Cathy, I went three times! Now I'm sad because the book is finished and I don't have an excuse to go back... I loved the Cotswolds so much.

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  13. I have been lucky enough to read A Bitter Feast, what a great story Debs, thank you! In fact I enjoyed it so much that I went seeking more of your work which I have enjoyed too. I love finding a new to me author. Well yes, I have been to Castle Combe, it is a perfect little village. I stayed there one New Years Eve with my beloved, and thereby hangs a long of pure embrassement. So, what goes down in Castle Combe, must stay in Castle Combe, at least for now.

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    1. Celia, now our curiosity is piqued. Maybe someday you will tell us the tale!

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  14. Oh, I did miss on the signed book thingy. Hard to choose. I have two of Dick Francis books signed by him and they are the English editions. I have Julia’s signature on her books which I love, and I have a signed copy of the book Scott Simon wrote of his mother’s final weeks and her life, which is a wonderful story.

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    1. I have a couple of Dick Francis books, signed in person. My dad and I were both huge fans and took any chance to see him speak. Sadly, mine are not the English editions.

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  15. It is not a signed book, but a signed letter from Paul Gallico. When I was 12 and totally overwhelmed by his books, I wrote a letter to “The Most Beautiful Man in the World.” (I was a bit melodramatic in those days.) The letter actually reached him, and he wrote me back, commenting on my unusual nickname and saying he might use it in a future novel. I appreciate that he took the time to write to a little girl whose head was always in books.

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    1. Deborah, I don't think I've ever run across anyone else who loved Paul Gallico! We have more in common than our names, it seems!

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    2. I'm very curious! what was your unusual nickname?
      I'll go first: my grade school nickname was "Beanie"--likely something to do with being the smallest girl in school who wasn't Asian, meaning I was just scrawny, not petite or graceful. Bless her heart, my mother told me to ignore and it would go away. Well.."Beanie" was the name my teachers wrote on my college applications, and now, at 55 years old, when the senior citizen parents of my grade school best friend come to visit me, you can probably guess what they call me. I hope your nickname was more exotic if it stuck with you as long as mine has. :)

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  16. I have a number of signed books now, and I do not lend them to anyone. If I think someone might like one of my signed books, I’ll buy a new one and give it to the person!

    With all these new books coming out that I want to read, I think I might need to just hand over my checkbook to the bookstore!! I do a lot of reading on my Kindle, except when it comes to books written by the Reds and a handful of other authors. It’s still painful to hold a print book, but there’s always Tylenol, plus a pillow to put under the book.
    I don’t make these sacrifices for just ANYONE!

    DebRo

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    1. You know we appreciate it, Deb! But I like Ann's method, read on Kindle and keep those signed copies pristine. Actually, I have all of Deb Harkness's books in signed hardcovers AND on Kindle, because the books are long and heavy to hold, especially if you like to read in bed. The same with my Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling) books, although, alas, those are not signed.

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  17. Congratulations, Debs!! I adored A BITTER FEAST! Great mystery and a foodie's delight!!
    I love my signed books! I've got A DIARY OF A WIMPY KID signed by Jeff Kinney. I'm saving it for my grandson (he's 3) ...

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  18. Congratulations Deborah! I am eagerly awaiting A Bitter Feast. Every novel you have written is captivating and has given me great enjoyment. signed books are treasures which I cherish.

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  19. I'm really looking forward to A Bitter Feast (and all the other upcoming Jungle Reds books). I have a book autographed by Louise Penny that has a special place on my bookshelf ~

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    1. Louise has a special place on all of our bookshelves!

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    2. What a lovely thing to say, Deborah. I love your books and, like you, I especially love Louise Penny as well. Looking forward to reading A Bitter Feast.

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    3. I’m going to An Afternoon With Louise Penny on September 1 and will be getting a signed copy of her new book “A Better Man” there. How wonderful it would be to have an autographed copy by you of “A Bitter Feast” too. ��

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  20. Congrats Deb. What a wonderful new release which I look forward to greatly. I have a signed book from Ray Bradbury.

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    1. How wonderful! Did you meet him? He was one of the authors who inspired me to write.

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  21. My favorite signed book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. My aunt also lived in Monroeville AL and was a friend of the Lee family. When my aunt died, Harper Lee stayed home from the funeral and had lunch ready for our family after the service.

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    1. What a wonderful story! I would indeed treasure that book.

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  22. Debs, I know you've taken some of the photos that appeared on your book jackets yourself. Is that the case with the picture of castle Coombe on A BITTER FEAST?

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    1. They thought about using a photo I'd taken of the mill in Lower Slaughter, but the resolution wasn't high enough, so they picked a stock photo of Castle Coombe. Nothing to do with the book, but still the Cotswolds... Anyway, that is the problem with using a phone camera all the time instead of a "real" camera.

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  23. I have every Kincaid/James book and have read them at least twice and some three times - I can not wait to add this newest one to my collection - my ancestral roots go back to England and Scotland and Ms Crombie’s writings have helped me develop a closer tie to my ancestors. Plus I absolutely adore her writing...70 years old I am and I still love to read her mysteries. Please continue.....

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    1. Thanks so much! And I have every intention of continuing to write about Duncan and Gemma and all the crew!

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  24. I am over the top excited for your new book to come out!! And in the Cotswolds . What a treat. I can still remember my best signed book was one signed by you. I am not near it right now but I am Quite certain it was Justice for All. I had never read any of your books before. I was hosting you on an online chat at iVillage . I became a huge fan and have read and listened to (I have a very long commute) all of your books over and over. Retreading a book you love is like that new word hygge, warm and cozy.

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    1. Barb, And Justice There is None is one of my personal favorites in the series. It's also the one I've listening to while in the bath for a couple of months now (it is a long book!) but I just absolutely love listening to Gerard Doyle read my characters.

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    2. Gerard Doyle is a master. That makes such a difference, I think, in audiobooks and who reads them. I loved the characters in that one. So rich. I love seeing Britney show up in your later books. My favorite book is No Mark Upon Her.

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  25. oh, Debs, CONGRATULATIONS on another great review! Yay, you! And I cannot wait to read it. I wait very impatiently for your books, but they're always worth the wait. All my signed books and personalized books are quite precious to me. IF I had to choose the one that is most precious, I think it is my first edition of "Ammie, Come Home," personalized to me by Barbara Michaels, one of my literary heroes. Margaret Maron introduced me to her at Bouchercon and I cried all over her. She was, as your expect, quite gracious about it all.

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    1. Oh, Kay, I LOVED Barbara Michaels. She was one of my literary heroines, too, and I was thrilled when I met her years ago at Malice. I didn't get a signed book, though:-( But I do still have many of my old paperbacks.

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  26. I'm envious of your copies signed by James Herriot, I do love those books. Waiting patiently for all these lovely new books but they are taking away from my crocheting time. I purchased a book that was signed by the author, before it reached the store, and to be honest, I don't remember his name, just that he is local and teaches/taught at SSU. I will never part with my two books signed by Louise Penny after her visits to Santa Rosa. She was so gracious speaking to each of us, one at a time, and adding more than her signature.

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  27. Deanna, I met him twice when he would sign books at his surgery in Thirsk. Such a lovely man, and I adored his books. Now I'm saving them to read with my granddaughter one of these days.

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  28. Oh, Debs, this is thrilling!!! Your cover is stunning! Personally, the only books I keep are books signed by my favorite authors, well, those and knitting, cookbooks, and TBR books, of which there are plenty.

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  29. Congratulations on your new release! I treasure my autographed books. I have signed books from Janet Evanovich and Andy Cohen.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  30. I have only two signed books. One I happened across in a used book store (J.A.Jance), and one that my sister had specially inscribed for me when she met Katherine Hall Page. I cherish them both. A signed Deborah Crombie would be a treasure!

    I'm looking forward to this new one; they never come fast enough for me!

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  31. The banner looks great and congrats on the starred review.

    Most precious autographed book? I couldn't even say.

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  32. Congratulations on the wonderful review. I can hardly wait to read your new book. The red looks great behind the cover on the poster and we know that sometimes an author has to fight to get things to look the way they should! I finished rereading "A Finer End" this morning after breakfast. I'd forgotten how very spiritual that book is. I actually have a signed copy of one of your books which I bought second hand when I was trying to locate all of them, for the purpose of rereading them. I just noticed the signature page when I reread it last month. I guess my best signed copy is of my cousin Laurel Leff's book, Buried By The Times, a non-fiction about the way the NY Times treated stories of what was happening to the Jews of Europe during WWII. It certainly makes one wonder about the way in which journalists influence what the public knows and believes. I also have several books signed by James R. Benn. I love the Billy Boyle WWII mysteries. His new book comes out next month.

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    1. Judy, I love the Billy Boyle books, too, but am behind. Too many books, too little time!

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  33. My favorite book signing was with a young adult author. I brought a very shy student with me, who desperately wanted to ask her a question, but couldn't speak. I asked for him, she answered, then signed his book with something like, "Face your fears." He spent the entire ride home telling me he couldn't believe he had a personal note from the author. The next day he took her advice and signed up for our middle school poetry slam. The boy who couldn't speak, reading his heartbreaking poems in front of 300 8th graders! And of course, he won! Our signed copy has succumbed to the repeated readings a library book gets, but I'm sure Marco's is in a place of honor in his room.

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  34. I also have all of Deborah Harkness’s books autographed and on Kindle and on Audible because I love to listen to them. I also have all of your books on Kindle and Audible, but no signed hard covers, alas. I also have one of Sharon Kay Penman’s books autographed, King’s Ransom, and I have Alison Weir’s first two Tudor Queen books autographed (English version) because she was giving a talk in Stratford-upon-Avon when we were there. It was one of those unforgettable moments on that trip that told me Someone was watching over me. I have already preordered your book and am waiting impatiently for it.

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    1. Alison Weir! Wow, how great was that?

      I am a huge Deb Harkness fan and have all of her books, including a copy of Time's Convert she signed for me when she was here in Dallas a month or so ago. Did you know she was a big fan of Duncan and Gemma?

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    2. Yes! I found your books after reading Deb Harkness’s The Book of Life. I was sorting books in the library as a volunteer and saw To Dwell in Darkness in hardcover. I immediately put it aside and bought it myself when I realized that this was the Duncan and Gemma team mentioned in Book of Life. I’ve preordered your signed B&N hardcover so. I will have two hardcovers of your books now.

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  35. Last week I found a signed copy of one of Carol O'Connells books at the book sale at my local library! So exciting!

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  36. I have a number of signed books, some deliberate on my part, some happy accidents. All are from contemporary authors. My great aunt Rose Huston published her translation of a Christian Chinese woman's story. Aunt Rose became a missionary in the 1920s, probably after her brothers returned from WW1. She first went to China and was interned by the Japanese later. After WW2 she lived and worked in Japan until she retired. Long story short, she inscribed a copy of her book to me when she heard I was getting married and sent it to me. Of course I treasure it.

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  37. Oh, Duncan and Gemma. Be still my heart. Debs, your series is such a joy in my life, and this year I need some of that for sure. I have been saving A Bitter Feast to read at the end of August or first of September. Knowing that it's waiting for me is so exciting and so comforting. The Barnes and Noble deal is wonderful, and even though I have the ARC, I'll be buying the hard cover, too. And, that's related to having books signed by authors. I am collecting all the hardbacks in your series, Debs, and trying to make sure I get you to sign them. That will be a mission in Dallas. Back in 2013 when I started reading Gemma and Duncan, I was doing it through paperbacks, but then I started finding early hardbacks in the book rooms at Bouchercon, so it's now a collecting goal of mine to find these early hardbacks for the whole series, hopefully first edition, but sometimes cost can be prohibitive. Of course, I try to have all my Jungle Red books signed, and they are precious to me.

    A note about my most unusual and probably collectible signed book. I think I've mentioned it here before. It's The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman. He not only signed it for me, but he drew a wolf's head, too.

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  38. I like having signed copies, when I can. But I also like to keep local indie stores going so sometimes will order there. So glad to know about B&N signed copies! My most precious is Dana Stabenow's Breakup, signed at a bookstore reading several years ago. It's my favorite book in that series, though the last two are excellent too. P.S.: Speaking of Paul Gallico, I have Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris borrowed from the library last week.

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  39. Congratulations on the starred review. I've visited Castle Coombe, It is lovely as is your banner.
    I don't have a lot of signed books but cherish them all. Reading mostly on my E-Reader and IPad because Red's Books are not available around, I was happy to get signed copies from you and Hallie and Hank and Edith at Toronto Bouchercon.
    Hoping to have more in Dallas.
    Living not so far from Louise Penny, I have almost all of her books signed and some personalized.

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  40. Deborah, looking forward to reading the new Gemma and Duncan adventures. My favorite part of your books are the maps! And the characters!

    So glad I have Internet access now!

    Still have the Maisie Dobbs novel signed by Jacqueline Winspear. I love seeing the signed editions because it reminds me of when I actually bought the books.

    Diana

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  41. I'm so excited to read this book! I agree with the reviewer - your books keep getting better and I love the way that the characters grow and change and how you bring in characters from various parts of Duncan & Gemma's lives in such a natural way.

    My favorite autographed book is one of Dorie Greenspan's cookbooks. She's my favorite baker, I love reading them - her personality comes through so well - & I love to bake myself.

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    1. And I buy your books in hardcover from my local bookstore (Literati - please come & visit!).

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  42. We saw and listened to Mr. Bradbury speak at an author's panel at UCLA. It was part of the Los Angeles Times Book Fair, which was held on the campus. My daughter and I attended each of years she was there attending college. He was a fascinating speaker and very funny too. He wrote his first book at one of the UCLA libraries because it was quiet and he could rent the use of a typewriter for ten cents a week.
    Congratulations on there starred review of A Bitter Feast.
    I have several signed books, most happy accidents while supporting local independent books stores here in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have several from the original three women private eye writers, Sue Grafton, Marcia Muller and Sara Paretsky. I don't buy many hard cover books, it is easier to read on my kindle white running. I do have several of yours and other reds as well. Looking forward to reading A Bitter Feast.
    For the first time my daughter and I are attending Bouchercon in Dallas this year, it will be a great experience. Any tips concerning full enjoyment of Bouchercon gratefully accept4ed. I hope to meet some of you there this year.

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    1. Hope to meet you, too, Susan! We should do a post on how to enjoy Bouchercon a little nearer the date.

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  43. Have read all the books in this series and also love the Cotswolds. What could be a better combination?

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  44. I’m looking forward to October - my favorite month and A Bitter Feast is finally out! I reread the last 5 in your series in the spring to prepare. I have a signed bookplate (is that the correct term?) from Elizabeth Peters that I treasure. I reread the Amelia Peabody series this summer.

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    1. I love the Peabody books, as did my mom. So I have kept all mine to reread.

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  45. First of all the cover looks great and I can't wait to read it!

    My most precious signed copy is not a book but a script of Jaws my son got for me. He worked hard to get it, let me tell you! It is signed by Steven Spielberg, Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfus. I will treasure it always.

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  46. An autographed book I treasure is one of Mark Strand's books of poetry. It means a lot to me not so much because it is signed but because it reminds me of the night I was able to hear him read his poetry and talk about the process of writing it. That night I was able to thank him, in a few words, for the poems and for the body of his work. When I see his signature, that night in Irvine, CA comes back to me, those tender emotions still right there.

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  47. I have enjoyed all your books. I absolutely love this series. My favorite signed book is pretty recent. I got to meet Kimberly Belle. She signed my copy of Dear Wife. I will treasure it!

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  48. Shalom Reds and fans. Deb, I love the wine red banner. The color matches that of my new Converse trainers which everyone remarks about. I had 3 books with signatures of the authors. I gave two of them away to friends. The most famous author was James Michener and the book was The Source. Michener is Doylestown PA’s favorite son. I have a favorite friend of many years and she is a constant reader as well as a native D-towner. The second book was signed by Robert Schuller and his wife Arvella. I stood in a queue on Fifth Avenue to meet and shake their hands and the autographs. I can’t remember who I gave that one to. The last one I am pretty sure I still have. It was by a radio personality. Wayne Monbleau had a noon time radio program called Let’s Talk about Jesus. This one was given to me by a psychotherapist who was ending our therapy sessions. We both came bearing books as gifts. I think I decided to give her a copy of the Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency. It’s funny I can’t even remember her name now. I bet those Barnes and Noble special editions will be snapped right up.

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  49. Good morning, Reds!

    The new cover is gorgeous, Debs. Your covers always are, but this is probably my favorite.

    I have a lot of signed books, many by Reds, luckily. An unusual one is Judy Collins's autobiography, Sweet Judy Blue Eyes. She was signing and speaking here in Cincinnati at Books by the Banks, and I happened to walk by when there was no line in front of her. She was lovely in person, too, striking even now, having let her hair go pure silver.

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  50. I have several signed books and each one is precious to me. I feel it an honor when an author sends me a signed book or I get one at a book fair. It is a pleasure to read your blog and find out new info about books and authors.

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  51. I've been fortunate to collect many signed books over the years, including all of Julia Spencer-Fleming's! I'm looking forward to the next mystery in this Kincaid/James series (signed or not), because it's one of the few mystery series that I have read from the beginning in its entirety.

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