The Celwyn Newsletter Issue 26

Celwyn’s Cats             Mr. and Mrs. Distraction

Mystery romance author Jody Brettkelly writes twisty tales about women who won’t give up. Interview with Jody Brettkelly. Bio:  Jody Brettkelly, a former barrister and journalist from New Zealand, worked as a writer for national newspapers in London for fifteen years. She now lives in California with her family.  1. For your own reading, what genre do you read and why? If it isn’t the one you write in, would it be someday? I am a voracious reader of both mysteries and romance, often reading up to one book a night. (And yes, most days I do wake up with a major book hangover, lol 🤕) My Kiwi family tease me because I grew up on an idyllic surf beach 🏖️ 🏄 but instead of learning to surf I stayed indoors all day reading about murder most foul (!) Right now, I’m trying to learn as much as I can about showing emotion on the page and am nose-deep reading regency romances. I want to capture the way these clever writers know how to make us read, feel, and fall in love. 2. Will there be a sequel to Bay of Plenty, and if so, what will it focus on? And will it have a solid ending or leave things open for more? The sequel Martyrs’ Convent comes out mid-July 2025, though all books can be read as standalones. Back in London, journalist Isla Joyson races against time to find a connection between a drowned nun, a sinister convent, and a manipulative aristocrat. Sort of like, Saltburn gone even more off the rails if you know that movie… And yes, there will be a third. Poor old Isla goes through the wringer. 3. When you need a new villain, what criteria do you consider? Do you model him/her after a real person? My criteria for a villain: You don’t have to like them but you have to understand them. While I’m writing them, my villains look and act like a combination of about ten people I know, and then they become their own selves. I am currently editing my fourth book, a mystery set in London and Cornwall, where the bad guy, Dr Ecce, is almost totally colorless in his skin and eyes, punctuated by black hair, like a washed up sea creature. Yes, he almost sounds like a cartoon character! To make him more three dimensional, I gave him a home life and buried pain. He is doing a really bad thing, but it turns out for an understandable reason and for someone he loves. To learn more about Jody’s characters, upcoming books and various shenanigans, sign up for her newsletter at jodybrettkelly.com. Link to Bay of Plenty

An Interview with M. Daniel Smith Bio:  As a writer and poet of sixty-eight years of age, M. Daniel Smith has read novels throughout his life. He provides stories with third person, multi-view storyline in different genres. Also, he has written poetry from his early years onward, which lends a prose-like flavor to his novels. He enjoys producing poetry to meet others needs, often basing them on five disparate words the requestor has been asked to supply, which leads to a flow of creative energy, shared. The ideas for his novels are sent to him in the characters in the early morning hours, guiding him as he reveals what they have to say and what they bring in their stories for him. All of his writing brings emotions to the fore, often with tears or soft laughter between smiles. M. Daniel Smith’s latest novel is The Cedar Cross. Blurb: Paul, a resident of a small town in Down-East Maine, discovers a deceased child tied to a cedar cross on a remote island. Adrian, a former investigator with the FBI, enlists Paul in the search for the killer. Adrian has spent several years tracking down an unknown murderer; one she believes to be responsible for the deaths of dozens of youthful victims. Their bodies were found in remote sites, forming the center and four cardinal points of a cross-shaped killing field. A desperate search begins, with the two of them working together to identify where the next sacrifice will take place. The chase between good and evil leads to a violent confrontation. Follow Paul and Adrian as they search through remote areas in the Maine countryside, hunting an emotionless killer before he strikes again. Two short examples of M. Daniel Smith Poetry: In this age of imagination, Where life requires bravery of spirit, And clarity of mind, we cast our hopes and dreams, Into the future, where unknown opportunities lie in wait…. In the mellowness of morning light, Tinged with secrets that descend With night’s soft flight…. Revealing themselves with charm And careless flattery of day…. I wrap my arms around my Self, Joining in the capricious fray…. M. Daniel Smith can be reached at: @mdanielsmith.bsky.social One of the people M. Daniel Smith has written poetry for is Mira, a gifted photographer. His poetry for her and some of her posted images can be found at: @deepgreens.bsky.social link to The Cedar Cross

An Interview with S. J. Bennett Bio: SJ Bennett grew up reading mystery stories and travelling the world as an army child. She writes the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series, which has been published in over twenty languages. Sophia lives in London, where you can find her in her city garden, on Instagram as sophiabennett_writer, and at www.sjbennettbooks.com. Blurb for A Death in Diamonds The story follows Queen Elizabeth II as she combines her royal duties in 1957 with trying to solve a double murder in Chelsea, where someone close to her is trying to use her as an alibi. She teams up with Joan McGraw, an ex-codebreaker from Bletchley Park, and together they use their unique, female insights to penetrate the mystery. 1. Do you have advice for an author tackling a new genre? Read it obsessively. Love it. Know it intimately. 2. How important is it for your books to have a British flavor, and what degree of English details do you think is essential? My books certainly need a very British flavor, but luckily, that comes naturally. I’m grateful that my US publishers are great at respecting the Englishness of my prose, and don’t insist on changing ‘pavement’ for ’sidewalk’ etc. In books set in the Queen’s world, that sort of vocab would stick out like a sore thumb. 3. Will there be a sequel to A Death in Diamonds, and if so, what will it focus on? and will it have a solid ending or leave things open for more? The next book in the series will be called THE QUEEN WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD. It’s set in 1961 and goes from the era of the steam train to the age of the space rocket and James Bond. Elizabeth’s reign covered both, but these events were concentrated into just a couple of months! The book starts on the royal train and ends on the royal yacht in Venice. The Queen’s long reign leaves room for the series to continue for a while. 4.  When you need a new villain, what criteria do you consider? Do you model him/her after a real person? I met somebody recently whose behaviour shocked me so profoundly that it’s definitely going into a future book. My villains often don’t want to be villainous, or consider themselves as such. They can be quite charming. This person craved my goodwill, and I now realize would do anything to get it. 5. If it could be anywhere in the world, where would you write from? I’m researching the island of Tobago, and it has a hotel made up of hillside cabins overlooking the Caribbean Sea. I definitely spent a long moment thinking how much I’d love to be there right now, working. But I have a son at home taking exams, so I’m where I need to be: which is near my kitchen, making tea and nourishing meals between chapters.

Editing!!! Jennie Rosenblum is an independent editor for small publishers and indie authors. Since 2014, she has been happily self-employed helping authors. Feel free to reach out to her at www.jenniereads.com.     What Do Librarians Really Want? Getting your book into libraries boosts visibility and credibility, but libraries have specific criteria. By following these steps, you’ll increase your chances of getting your book into libraries and into readers’ hands. Happy pitching! Must-Haves A Professional Look – Libraries prefer books that look polished and professionally produced, with a well-designed interior and exterior. A Cover That Fits Your Genre – Your cover should align with current genre trends. Check displays at major retailers like Barnes & Noble, Costco, and Target. A Complete Copyright Page – Include ISBN, publisher info, copyright details, legal disclaimers, author’s name, Library of Congress catalog info, printing history, and design/editorial credits. Strong Comparable Titles – Have at least three comp titles that align with your book’s style, theme, and audience. Be ready to discuss them. A Compelling Blurb – Keep your book description short, engaging, and hook-driven. Avoid blurbs made up of only questions. Trusted Reviews – Libraries rely on reviews from sources like Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Horn Book. Customer & Website Reviews – Aim for at least 50 reviews from readers on platforms like Amazon and Goodreads. A White Page (Sell Sheet) – Prepare a professional sell sheet with: Book details (title, author, ISBN, genre, length). A brief, compelling summary, Praise or reviews, Author bio & contact info, Ordering details Making Connections & Pitching to Libraries: Leverage Your Network – If you know someone at a library, reach out. If not, start building relationships at library events and book fairs. Offer Value to Librarians – Librarians are busy—offer something in return: Host an event like a signing or panel. Children’s book? Provide a craft activity and a helper. Use Social Proof – Mention if another library has your book—peer recommendations matter. The Best-Kept Secret: Patron Requests – Many libraries buy books based on patron requests. Encourage friends, family, and readers to request your book through their local system.                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`Absence and hopefully only a temporary farewell from Jennie: I’ve loved sharing with you all through this newsletter, but I’ll be taking a break from my column. Around here, we believe in saying YES and figuring it out later—so when the hubby suggested we take over daycare for our brand-new grandson, I didn’t hesitate. The “figuring it out” part, though, has meant trimming my workload, and sadly, this column ended up on the chopping block. But honestly… have you seen that face? How could I say no? Keep writing, keep reading, and I hope our paths cross again soon!

One of my favorites:

At the end of the day, book blogging is a passion project, but you need food too. Gina’s blog, https://ginaraemitchell.com/, consists of book reviews, articles, food, and crafts.  Today, she is talking about food.        Thinking About Growing Your Own Food? With the price of groceries rising every day, many people are looking into growing their fruits and vegetables at home. Whether you have unlimited space for your garden or are confined to small areas, these five books will give you a strong foundation: “The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible” by Edward C. Smith – A fantastic beginner-friendly guide focusing on raised-bed gardening, crop rotation, and organic techniques. “The New Organic Grower” by Eliot Coleman – A classic that covers sustainable and organic gardening principles, even if you’re working on a small scale. “Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening: A Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Healthy Garden” by Deborah L. Martin – A straightforward, step-by-step introduction to organic gardening. “The Gardener’s Journal and Record Book” by Peter McHoy – An excellent tool for tracking progress, learning from experience, and planning future gardens. “Square Foot Gardening” by Mel Bartholomew – A must-read for beginners who want to maximize space and simplify gardening with an easy-to-follow system.I wish you much joy and contentment in your new garden…no matter what the size.

ENGIN A non-profit helping Ukrainians learn English Are you looking for an impactful and engaging volunteer opportunity?  ENGin volunteers provide plenty of communication on topics you’re passionate about while you meet new people. Volunteers like you are not necessarily professional tutors. A good grasp of English and a desire to help is all that is needed. The themed Telegram hubs are becoming popular, but are not required. ENGin online communities use Zoom to teach Ukrainians English. Most of the students wait up to a year for a volunteer. Per student per week, you would lead a one-hour class with your student. ENGin provides training, lessons and supporting information and materials. In just a few short weeks, their new initiatives have taken off in amazing ways: Over 3,600 people have tried ENGin’s new video chat feature on the ENGin platform, with improved sound quality and more positive feedback! If you haven’t tried holding your sessions directly on the platform yet, give it a try and share your feedback with us! Over 760 students and volunteers have joined ENGin’s themed Telegram hubs, sparking new conversations and connections across four online channels: the Language Learning Hub, Arts & Entertainment Hub, Career & Personal Development Hub, and Community Service & Global Issues Hub. If you’re looking to connect with more ENGin students without taking on a new buddy or contributing your skills to support Ukrainians in other ways, this is a great way to do so! There are fantastic ENGin Meet-and-Talks for Students & Volunteers, with nearly 140 participants joining these sessions focused on the topic of building connections and friendships at ENGin! This brand-new event format is designed to bring our community closer together. Attendees appreciated the unique opportunity to connect students and volunteers, the engaging themed breakout rooms, and the chance to hear ENGin updates and have their questions answered.💙 ENGin encourages you to engage with these exciting new opportunities when you become a volunteer. Together, we are creating a more vibrant and connected community!

The Celwyn Series YouTube channel Link to Celwyn’s YouTube channel

What is New with the Celwyn Series? What is new with the Celwyn Series? I’ll make this short and sweet, and blame it on the Celwyn cats.  A touch of writer’s block struck, again catis interruptis, and indecision. Yet, there was progress, just not enough or self-approved enough, to mention here. When I resolved all the initial issues with book 8 (I’m sure there will be many more), the tentative title will be. Arwen’s Time. Upcoming, in addition to book 7 later this year, is The Cyclopedia of Celwyn, an ebook companion to the series that contains all characters, their backgrounds, and everything Celwyn. There is no release date yet, and I’m about 80% complete, all without losing any of it. Amazing! In case you need some background: Book 6, Swango Mini-blurb: The adventurers find Mrs. Nemo. Her twenty year- estranged husband, Captain Nemo, is a bit upset. The magician’s first encounter with Swango is also told as they plan for the Nautilus’ journey to the Castell de Ferro in Spain where Doctor Jurik Lazlo is hiding. Captain Nemo has been searching for him for a long time. For book 7, Lucky and Mrs. Nemo, here is the unofficial blurb. On Findbar, they’ve added another scientist. Dr. Martha Gluck (aka Lucky) who is a character, literally and figuratively. She enjoys a lively gunfight, doesn’t faint at the sight of magic, and accepts danger as a jolly good time. She finally draws the line when she meets up with the broadsword wielding ghost, Mrs. Spencer. An educated guess is that it will be out by the end of 2025.