Robin Stevens's Blog, page 49
March 17, 2017
Cream Buns and Crime in Ireland
The wait is almost over. Cream Buns and Crime, my Murder Most Unladylike series companion, is out in the UK and Ireland in only SIX DAYS!
To begin the celebrations, I’m going to be heading to Ireland to do a week of events.
I’ll be in Cork on Monday, doing a school event at Cork Library, and then on Wednesday and Thursday I’ll be at Dun Laoghaire’s Mountains to Sea Festival, doing three events (both school and public) over two days.… Read more
March 15, 2017
Daisy and Hazel are going to the Czech Republic!
I have some wonderful news to share this morning: Murder Most Unladylike and Arsenic for Tea have just sold to Albatros Media in the Czech Republic!
This is exciting enough on its own – it never stops amazing me that my books are travelling to countries I have never visited, and speaking to readers who I couldn’t say hello to without lessons.… Read more
March 13, 2017
March Update – Cream Buns and Crime is here!
Hey, detectives: there are less than TWO WEEKS to go until Cream Buns and Crime is released in the UK and Ireland!
To celebrate this, my update video for March has a special treat for you: a reading from one of the brand new short stories in the book!
It also features a bit more info about what else will be in Cream Buns and Crime, and how I’m doing with Book 6 – so if you’re excited about what’s next for Daisy and Hazel, watch now!… Read more
March 9, 2017
It’s a new look for my website!
Hello detectives! As you may have noticed, this website looks a bit different today.
We all loved the old-look website, but everything needs to be freshened up sometimes, and I think the new design is absolutely gorgeous. It highlights Nina Tara’s beautiful illustrations even more, it makes information about different books and editions easier to access, it adds some fun new activities and it makes my blog a lot more swish.… Read more
March 2, 2017
Cover reveal – The Guggenheim Mystery!
Happy World Book Day! This day is all about celebrating books and authors, and so it’s absolutely perfect that today I’m sharing with you something really exciting: the final cover for my upcoming book The Guggenheim Mystery!
The Guggenheim Mystery is a story I’ve been working on for quite a while. It’s the first book that I’ve written that isn’t about Daisy or Hazel at all – it’s not even set in the 1930s. Instead, it’s the sequel to the wonderful Siobhan Dowd’s classic children’s book The London Eye Mystery.
Siobhan created her detective Ted Spark and his family in The London Eye Mystery in 2007. She always meant to write another story about him, but tragically she died of cancer before she could even begin planning it, when The London Eye Mystery had barely been published.
I think The London Eye Mystery is one of the best children’s mystery stories ever written, and I was proud to write the introduction to its new edition last year. I’m even prouder to now have written its sequel, The Guggenheim Mystery, which sees Ted, Kat and Mum visit Salim and Aunt Gloria in New York – where they encounter a shocking art theft at the famous Guggenheim Museum that will have consequences for the whole family.
I’m also a huge fan of David Dean’s iconic cover for The London Eye Mystery, and when I saw his cover for The Guggenheim Mystery it brought genuine tears to my eyes.
And now you can see why!
Cover by David Dean
I’m delighted and honoured to be working with the Siobhan Dowd Trust to carry on Siobhan’s legacy, and I very much hope you enjoy The Guggenheim Mystery. It’s going to be published in hardback on the 3rd of August – which means that if you haven’t read The London Eye Mystery yet, you’ve still got five months to prepare yourself for its sequel.
Enjoy World Book Day!
Save
February 23, 2017
World Book Day 2017 – Dress Like Daisy and Hazel!
Hello detectives! If you live in the UK, you’ll know that there’s a big week coming up. 27th February – 3rd March is World Book Week, when authors visit schools, and children get to dress up as their favourite book characters.
I’ve already heard that some of you would like to dress up as Daisy, Hazel and their friends, and I couldn’t be more pleased. Thank you so much for choosing my characters – it’s an honour!
If you would like some tips, I have good news: a Deepdean uniform is super easy to put together.
All you need is a grey pinafore (or grey skirt) and a white blouse, plus a grey jumper or grey blazer to put on over it. On your legs you can wear tights or long socks, and you should have a stripy tie to wear around your neck. If you want, you can wear a hat, to make you look just like you come from the 1930s, and for the finishing touch, all you need is a Deepdean crest!
Below are two that my wonderfully talented friend Dustin Hansen drew for me. One shows the real colours of the crest, and the other is left black and white, so you can colour it in if you like. You can print both out, and stick them to your jumper or blazer – and just like that, you’re a Deepdean girl! Put your hair in plaits or a ponytail, and you’re ready to go.
Happy World Book Week!
February 17, 2017
Cream Buns and Crime is coming in March!
I’ve got some good news for you, Detectives!
I know you’re all excitedly waiting for Cream Buns and Crime, my series companion that’ll be full of detective tips and tricks, code breaking exercises and bunbreak recipes.
It was scheduled to come out in the UK and Ireland on April 6th – but my publishers and I have decided that you deserve to get in a whole two weeks earlier – on March 23rd!
If you’ve already pre-ordered, don’t worry. You don’t need to do anything – the book will just arrive sooner!
And if you’re still waiting to buy it, this is good news for you too. Cream Buns and Crime will be available in all good bookshops from the 23rd of March – if you want to reserve a copy, visit the Waterstones website now.
March just got a whole lot more mysterious!
Save
February 16, 2017
Jolly Foul Play in the South China Morning Post
As you probably know, I’m currently working on the sixth book in my Murder Most Unladylike series, which is set in Hong Kong. So I was particularly delighted to read Hong Kong newspaper the South China Morning Post‘s review of Jolly Foul Play – it’s wonderful that they’re behind the series so strongly!
The whole review is fantastic – you can read it all below – but my favourite part has to be the last paragraph. John Millen says ‘Agatha Christie may be the Queen of Crime, but Stevens is fast becoming the Queen of Junior Crime. Long may she reign!’
Thank you, John, and thank you South China Morning Post!
February 15, 2017
Foreign rights news – Daisy and Hazel are going to Russia!
I’ve had some more good news this week: Daisy and Hazel are going to RUSSIA!
Not literally – although a Russian murder mystery would be incredible – but the publisher AST has bought Russian language rights to Murder Most Unladylike and Arsenic for Tea.
This is the ninth foreign territory for my series, and I am so pleased and proud. I love knowing that my books are spreading across the world – it feels like my detectives have friends in each of the countries they’re published in.
Huge thanks to Jenny Bent and Gemma Cooper from the Bent Agency, who are behind this, and thank you to my new publisher AST!
February 14, 2017
Mistletoe and Murder shortlisted for the FCBG Children’s Book Award 2017!
I have an extra-special announcement today: I’ve just heard that Mistletoe and Murder has been shortlisted for the FCBG Children’s Book Award 2017 in the older readers category!
This is incredibly special to me, for several reasons: first, and most importantly, because this award is entirely voted for by children, and so that means that lots of you have already said how much you like it! If you did vote, thank you so much – you’ve made me very happy.
It’s also wonderful, because Mistletoe and Murder was one of my favourite books to write so far. I love its story, and I am so proud of it – but, because it’s a sequel, it isn’t usually eligible for awards. This was a big surprise, and a very nice one!
Voting is open now, and it will close on the 12th of May. If you’d like to vote, go here – Mistletoe and Murder is up against two other great books, but if you do decide to vote for it I would be really pleased!
Thank you so much to the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, and to Toppsta – they’ve made my month!
