132 ratings | 28 reviews | avg rating:3.92

Celina’s Year In Books

Celina’s 2022 Year in Books

Take a look at Celina’s Year in Books. The long, the short—it’s all here.

Go to Celina’s 2022 Year in Books

Celina Grace’s Followers (441)

Celina’s Bookshelves

read (138)
currently-reading (18)
to-read (11)

Celina’s Friends (260)

Karen Kovacs

288 books | 11 friends

Kathy Clark

1,062 books | 7 friends

Kriss

2,917 books | 3,388 friends

Marlin Williams

24 books | 1,204 friends

Melissa Foster

237 books | 4,999 friends

Karen Docter

761 books | 4,109 friends

Mark Edwards

128 books | 1,026 friends

Kirstie

1,045 books | 113 friends

More friends…

Celina Grace

Goodreads Author

Website

http://www.celinagrace.com

Twitter

celina__grace

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers, Horror, Literature & Fiction

Influences

Ruth Rendell, Barbara Vine, Lesley Glaister, Erin Kelly ...more

Member Since

March 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/celinagrace

edit data

I’ve been trying to get published as a writer since…. um… er…um…see, it was that long ago I can’t remember. A long time. I make it fifteen years and counting….

I’ve also been writing for as long as I can really remember. I wrote my first story, The Blue Ruby, when I was about seven (if I can find that deathless prose scribbled in an exercise book somewhere, I might upload it here for a bit of light relief). Throughout college and university, I experimented with screenplays and scripts (I was studying Film and English at the time at the University of East Anglia), as well as other more short stories. In my twenties, I started my first novel, finished it, then my second, then my third. In my thirties, I was slightly side-tracked by the birth I’ve been trying to get published as a writer since…. um… er…um…see, it was that long ago I can’t remember. A long time. I make it fifteen years and counting….

I’ve also been writing for as long as I can really remember. I wrote my first story, The Blue Ruby, when I was about seven (if I can find that deathless prose scribbled in an exercise book somewhere, I might upload it here for a bit of light relief). Throughout college and university, I experimented with screenplays and scripts (I was studying Film and English at the time at the University of East Anglia), as well as other more short stories. In my twenties, I started my first novel, finished it, then my second, then my third. In my thirties, I was slightly side-tracked by the birth of my son but, leaving aside that trifling distraction, managed to write my fourth..

I didn’t bother trying to get the first novel published as I saw it as more of a practise run at this business of being an author. With the second, I entered the 2004 Lit Idol competition and got to third place. That was my ticket to publication, I thought, surely? Hah! Just the first in a long line of disappointments, of which every writer must be familiar… hopes built up to then be smacked down again. I had an agent approach me after the competition and on their encouragement, I finished, edited and polished the manuscript, sent it off to them with happy hopes – to be told months later that they didn’t think it was quite right for them..

Gutted, but enthusiasm relatively undimmed, I started on a new novel, inspired in part by the dramatic events of 2005 – the London bombings. I also wrote a short story at the same time on the same subject – it was on my mind a lot that summer (unsurprisingly. Freedom Fighter is the story – available on Amazon as part of The Mourning After short story collection). This novel The House on Fever Street (written under my maiden name Celina Alcock) was shortlisted for the 2006 Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award. Aha, I thought, a fairly prestigious and industry recognised award. This will get me published. Did it? Did it buggery!.

The House on Fever Street was also longlisted in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award of that year, which garnered me some nice reviews and a much needed ego boost but didn’t advance my career as a published author much further..

So what next for our doughty heroine? She ups and writes her fourth novel, gains an agent and thinks now, now I have finally made it as a published author! And she waits. And waits. And waits some more. And then waits a bit more. And a bit more. Finally, for variety, she waits a bit more..

So, after two years of waiting, reading about self-publishing on Amazon and other platforms, I believe a phrase that ends in ‘…for a game of soldiers’ passed my lips and I decide to publish myself. So I did. And here I am on Amazon, making sales. No publisher. No agent. Just me..

And that makes me VERY happy.
...more

74 posts
Celina Grace's Blog

The opening chapter of Death at the Theatre, just for you…

Chapter One

I saw it as soon as I came up the steps at Oxford Circus. The words were there, booming black on still-white paper; the glaring headlines, the name that had been on everyone’s lips for the last three weeks. Even if I’d been suddenly struck blind I wouldn’t have been able to escape it: the paperboys were calling out the headlines in those half-musical tones that rang out like

Combine Editions
Celina Grace’s books

Average rating: 3.91 · 35,392 ratings · 3,069 reviews · 44 distinct works • Similar authors

	Hushabye (Kate Redman Mysteries, #1) 3.68 avg rating — 8,359 ratings — published 2013 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Murder at Merisham Lodge (Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate, #1) 3.86 avg rating — 2,963 ratings — published 2016 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Requiem (Kate Redman Mysteries, #2) 3.92 avg rating — 2,825 ratings — published 2013 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Imago (Kate Redman Mysteries, #3) 3.90 avg rating — 2,607 ratings — published 2013 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sanctuary (Kate Redman Mysteries, #8) 4.09 avg rating — 1,872 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Chimera (Kate Redman Mysteries, #5) 3.99 avg rating — 1,863 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Lost Girls 3.74 avg rating — 1,771 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Echo (Kate Redman Mysteries, #6) 4.20 avg rating — 1,575 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pulse (Kate Redman Mysteries, #10) 4.12 avg rating — 1,470 ratings — published 2016 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Siren (Kate Redman Mysteries, #9) 4.20 avg rating — 1,290 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Celina Grace…

Series by Celina Grace

Kate Redman Mysteries (14 books)
by

Celina Grace (Goodreads Author)

3.94 avg rating — 27,760 ratings

Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate (5 books)
by

Celina Grace (Goodreads Author)

3.85 avg rating — 5,110 ratings

The Asharton Manor Mysteries (4 books)
by

Celina Grace (Goodreads Author)

3.58 avg rating — 1,707 ratings

Celina is Currently Reading

Celina Grace is currently reading

The Lost Man

by Jane Harper (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Dec 24, 2019 06:07AM

Celina Grace is currently reading

A Dark-Adapted Eye

by Barbara Vine

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Aug 28, 2019 01:27PM

Celina Grace is currently reading

Copycat

by Alex Lake

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Sep 09, 2017 09:08AM

rss
Celina’s Recent Updates

Celina Grace rated a book really liked it 100 Ways to Enjoy Self-Care for Gentle Wellbeing and a Healthy Body Image by Fiona Ferris (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 09, 2023 04:12PM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of 100 Ways to Enjoy Self-Care for Gentle Wellbeing and a Healthy Body Image by Fiona Ferris. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — 100 Ways to Enjoy Self-Care for Gentle Wellbeing and a Healthy Body Image by Fiona Ferris <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Celina Grace wants to read The Hollows by Mark Edwards (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 26, 2023 04:41AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Hollows by Mark Edwards. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Hollows by Mark Edwards <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Celina Grace rated a book it was amazing The Sober Diaries: How one woman stopped drinking and started living. by Clare Pooley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 21, 2023 10:18AM · 2 likes · like
Celina Grace rated a book really liked it I'm Never Drinking Again: Maybe It's Time To Think About Your Drinking? by Trish Taylor (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 20, 2023 04:16PM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of I'm Never Drinking Again by Trish Taylor. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — I'm Never Drinking Again by Trish Taylor <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Celina Grace rated a book it was amazing Hallowe'en Party (Hercule Poirot, #41) by Agatha Christie	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 30, 2022 05:53PM · 5 likes · like
Celina Grace rated a book it was amazing A Year of Puttery Treats by Alison May (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 23, 2022 06:23PM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Year of Puttery Treats by Alison May. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Year of Puttery Treats by Alison May <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Celina Grace rated a book it was amazing Let Sleeping Vets Lie by James Herriot	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 07, 2022 05:12AM · 5 likes · like
Celina Grace rated a book it was amazing Vet in a Spin by James Herriot	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 02, 2022 04:36PM · 1 like · like
Celina Grace rated a book really liked it Sourcery (Discworld, #5) by Terry Pratchett	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 10, 2022 03:20AM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Sourcery by Terry Pratchett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Sourcery by Terry Pratchett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Celina Grace rated a book really liked it Asta's Book by Barbara Vine	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 08, 2022 04:57PM · 1 like · like

More of Celina's books…

Quotes by Celina Grace (?)

“For three weeks it had rained every day. For those past three weeks, daybreak was a gloomy affair. The skies gradually moved from a thick blanket of dingy white clouds to the deepest shade of grey, peaking here and there in ominous black thunderheads”
― Celina Grace, Echo

1 likes

“His dad’s very old school. He’s proud of Nick, of course he is, but they ain’t got much in common anymore. Makes them both feel a bit lonely, I think, when they’re together.”
― Celina Grace, Hushabye

0 likes

“all these supposedly high-born, well-bred people brawling like dock-workers.”
― Celina Grace, Murder at Merisham Lodge

0 likes

See all Celina Grace's quotes »