Robin Stevens's Blog, page 50
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!
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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!
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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!
February 13, 2017
February update video!
Hello Detectives! It’s time for my February update video.
Find out more about what copyedits are, watch me get very excited about Hong Kong history (and tell you the story of Ah-Lum and the E-Sing Bakery poisonings) and Book 6’s Teal Reveal, and listen to me tell you about my favourite books from this month (Nightlights by Lorena Alvarez; Who Let the Gods Out by Maz Evans; Bone Gap by Laura Ruby; The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters by Nadiya Hussain and Ayisha Malik; Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers). Finally, I talk about Hidden Figures and why history is way more than white. Enjoy!
February 10, 2017
Cover Colour Reveal: Book 6!
Hello detectives! I’m sorry I haven’t posted anything for a while – I’ve been too busy writing! The good news is that The Guggenheim Mystery is almost finished, and so I’ve been able to start planning Murder Most Unladylike Book 6 (and planning its title, too … but that’s for later).
What I can tell you RIGHT NOW, though, is that we have chosen a colour for the book’s cover. We’ve been asking you to guess what it will be, and I can tell you now that everyone who guessed purple was wrong.
Because the real colour is …
TEAL!
I absolutely love it, and I hope you will too. I think it’ll look gorgeous on shelves, and next to the rest of the books (remember, by the time it’s out in the autumn, Cream Buns and Crime will already be on your shelves, and so you’ll have a beautiful rainbow!)
And finally, if you want updates from me on how the writing is going, follow my Instagram account and my YouTube channel today!
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January 12, 2017
January update video!
It’s 2017! Happy new year, Detectives – and if you’re wondering what’s coming up for me this year, then this is the video for you!
December 31, 2016
Cream Buns and Crime – Cover Reveal!
Hello detectives! I hope you’ve all had lovely holidays, and you’re looking forward to 2017. There are a lot of exciting things on the way from me: The Guggenheim Mystery in August, Daisy and Hazel’s sixth adventure in October . . . and, of course, Cream Buns and Crime in April.
Cream Buns and Crime isn’t a full Murder Most Unladylike novel – it’s the companion to the series, full of tips, tricks, recipes, short stories (old and new) and detective facts. It’s absolutely brilliant, and you are going to adore it.
And today I have the very exciting task of revealing its gorgeous cover for the first time!
Are you ready?
Here goes!
Isn’t it beautiful? So purple, so distinguished, so delicious. I am delighted, and I hope you are too! It’s by Nina Tara, who creates all of my covers. She’s amazing!
You can pre-order Cream Buns and Crime NOW from Amazon, Waterstones, Blackwell’s, Eason’s and many other excellent bookshops!
The countdown to April 6th begins now . . .
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