Robin Stevens's Blog, page 9

The Very Merry Murder Club is November’s Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month!

I’m thrilled to be able to say that The Very Merry Murder Club, the anthology of children’s mystery stories I co-edited last year with Serena Patel, is now out in paperback – and it’s been chosen as Waterstones Children’s Book of the month!

This is such a delight for me and for the 13 authors in the anthology (I didn’t contribute a story, since at the time we needed to be working on them I was very pregnant and very behind with the first draft of Ministry) – I love each of the authors we chose, and I adore our illustrator Harry Woodgate. It’s been such fun to work with our publisher Farshore and this has felt like a brilliant win for us all.

I did a quick tour of London bookstores on the 1st November to say hi to booksellers and sign copies of the book – those have all been sold by now, but the 13 contributors and Harry have also been signing, so it’s very possible to get out there and find special signed copies!

The special Waterstones sprayed editions at Waterstones Covent Garden!

I think VMMC is the perfect Christmas gift for the young detective in your life – and if you like my books, I hope you’ll discover a lot of new and exciting mystery writers!

Get your copy of the sprayed edge edition in your local Waterstones store, or online – and join the frosty foul play now!

Ministry of Unladylike Activity – thanks for a lovely tour!

Hello Detectives! I’m sorry I haven’t been updating this website much lately – I’ve been very busy on the Ministry autumn tour!

It was the first time I’ve really traveled since the beginning of the pandemic, and it was amazing being back on the road – I went to Manchester, Liverpool, Norwich, Dublin, Cork, London, Sevenoaks, Cheltenham, Birmingham and Bath. It made me so proud to be able to speak to fans face to face again, and to hear directly what my books have meant to people during the difficult times we’ve all been through.

I was delighted to meet a new generation of fans, and also to see some of my original readers again after so long – my very first Detective Society members are now at university, which is absolutely incredible to think about.

Speaking at my old school – the real Deepdean!

Huge thanks to everyone who was part of the tour – all the booksellers and festival staff who ran the events, my wonderful Puffin UK and Ireland teams, and all of the fans who came along to my events and signings! If you want to see what I’ve been up to, check out my Instagram and TikTok channels.

I’m now back in the office, and starting work on a very exciting project – the second Ministry book! I’ll share more about that when I can, as well as sharing some updates that have happened while I was on the road. A lot is happening right now in the MMU world, and I think 2023 will be amazing!

Happy publication day, Ministry of Unladylike Activity!

Today’s the day! The wait is finally over, Detectives, because Ministry is OUT NOW in the UK and Ireland!

This has been such a long time coming – I first had the idea for the book around the time I began to write Death Sets Sail, in 2019. I spent years researching and planning out my characters – Eric and Nuala both went through about five different names and backgrounds before I worked out exactly who they needed to be.

Then my writing was made more difficult by life events I never could have imagined back in 2019 – the pandemic, the death of my father, and my pregnancy. My life has changed in so many ways since I made up the concept of this story – it’s not surprising that the book is about new beginnings, teamwork and the way every person can work to make the world around them a better place. And, of course, spying and murder!

I am so proud of this book, so grateful for all of the people who helped make it a reality (check out my acknowledgements – possibly my longest ever?!) and so excited that you finally get to read it!

Here’s a picture of me and Ministry at last night’s celebratory dinner for the book – happy publication day, everyone, and here’s to a brand new generation of the Detective Society!

Ministry of Unladylike Activity – audio edition!

Last week I went into London to visit my publisher Puffin – and to record the author’s note for the Ministry of Unladylike Activity audiobook! It was a very emotional experience for me – I put a lot of myself into this book, and into the author’s note, and I hope that comes across when you listen to it!

Me, all ready to read!

I’m so delighted to have been able to do it – and so excited to hear my new audio narrators! This book is narrated by Thaddea Graham, who reads May’s voice, and Samantha Shortall, who reads Nuala’s. I’ve listened to samples of both of them, and I know they’re going to do an amazing job!

Because we’re working to get the audio edition just right, there will be a short wait until you’re able to download it – only a few weeks, don’t worry, but it won’t quite be ready on the 29th like the hardback and Kindle editions. I know it’ll be absolutely worth it, and I know we have a fantastic audio team run by the brilliant Stella working as hard as they can on it – but I wanted to let you know in case you’re wondering why your download isn’t there tomorrow!

And of course, if you really can’t wait … the hardback is in shops RIGHT NOW, ready for you to buy! Pre-orders will be going out tomorrow (Thursday), so start looking for them landing on your doorstep very soon.

I’m so excited to start my tour, and meet fans all over England and Ireland (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, I have not forgotten you – we have another tour planned in spring/summer 2023!). Happy publication week, Detectives – the wait is finally over!

Two reviews for Ministry!

I’m delighted to say that Ministry of Unladylike Activity got two wonderful reviews last weekend – Imogen Russell Williams picked it in her Guardian children’s round-up, and Nicolette Jones selected it as Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week!

‘A new crew of resourceful children takes the helm in Stevens’s follow-up to the bestselling Murder Most Unladylike series. In war-torn 1940s Britain, young would-be spy May Wong contrives to get herself evacuated to a smart manor house along with her new pal, Eric. Their mission is to investigate its owner – but they don’t expect to stumble across a murder along the way. Meticulous, lightly worn research and sharp character observation will please 9+ newcomers and longstanding fans alike.’

Imogen Russell Williams, the Guardian

‘Household secrets emerge in this emotionally involving, enjoyably logical and engaging narrative. The sense of place, time and voice are carefully created, and whether you solve the mystery before May, Eric and Nuala or not, you will make the 400-page journey – despite deaths on the way – with a spring in your step.’

Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times

Ministry has been arriving in stores in the UK and Ireland this week – if you’ve been able to find a copy, I really hope you enjoy it!

Read the first two chapters of The Ministry of Unladylike Activity now!

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here: PUBLICATION WEEK for The Ministry of Unladylike Activity!

The official release date is the 29th, and that’s when pre-orders will be sent out, but if you’re very lucky you MIGHT be able to spot early copies in stores in the UK and Ireland from today. (If you live in another country where the Puffin edition is published, like Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa, you’ll have to wait another week or so – but I promise the book is on its way!).

But if you just can’t wait a second longer to start reading … you’re in luck! I’ve got a link to the first two chapters of the book, the beginning of May’s story. You’ll find out how she runs away from school to become a spy, and who she finds when she gets all the way to London …

If you want to find out more, you’ll just have to buy the book (or borrow it from a library! I really recommend doing this if you can – it’s free!). And if you want to be the very first to know about exciting things like this, as well as new tour dates, and updates on Book 2 when I begin working on it, remember to sign up to my newsletter.

If you want to see my current tour dates, they’re here – and I will have a few more virtual sessions to add, as well as one more Irish signing date, very soon.

And if you want to pre-order Ministry, this is one of the last days you can do it! Get a signed copy from Waterstones or WH Smith, order from Easons or Dubray if you’re in Ireland, or support indie bookstores with Bookshop.org.

Thank you for all of your support … and roll on Thursday!

Ministry of Unladylike Activity – autumn tour 2022!

Huge news, Detectives – my autumn 2022 tour is now LIVE and available to book!

Drumroll please … here we go!

Saturday 1st October – Bath Literature Festival talk, 2:30pm (NO signing after this one due to venue restrictions)

Saturday 8th October – Cheltenham Literature Festival talk and signing, 10:15am (tickets on sale 7th September)

Sunday 9th October – Easons Dublin signing. Details TBC!

Sunday 16th October – Sevenoaks Bookshop signing, 12-2pm (ticketed entry, get yours asap!)

Saturday 22nd October – Waterstones Altrincham signing, 10am

Tuesday 25th October – Waterstones Piccadilly, St James’s Church talk and signing, 12pm

Saturday 29th October – Waterstones Birmingham, the Glee Club talk and signing, 2pm

And that’s all … for now! Please note that this is NOT final, there are at least two more events in the works, one of which will be virtual for everyone who isn’t able to travel at the moment.

If you’re sad that I’m not visiting your town or city this time around, I really am sorry. This tour has to be shorter than usual because of my baby, and also because I’m still not back to normal after covid. I can promise, though, that when the paperback comes out in May 2023 I will be doing another tour, to places I haven’t managed to get to this time around – and (hopefully) you’ll also be able to spot me at festivals throughout the year in 2023.

A few more things:

We’ve taken the decision to limit the number of books I’m signing for each person to two. This is to keep me from getting too tired while I’m still a bit unwell, and to keep the lines moving! The only exception to this is for the Bath event, which has NO SIGNING because of timing restrictions at the venue I’m speaking in.I’m trying to make this tour as covid-safe as possible. This is to try to do everything we can to make sure I can actually do every event on the list! I’ll be wearing a mask at the signings and we encourage you to do the same – we really want to avoid cancellations due to covid!

And I think that’s it! Exciting news all round – I’ll be back here again with more updates when I can. Publication day is almost here!

Ministry of Unladylike Activity – cover reveal!

Hello detectives! I’m sorry I haven’t updated this site much recently – I got covid just as I was finishing work on the book, and I had to take time away to recover. But the good news is that Ministry is DONE and off to the printer’s, ready to hit shelves on the 29th of September.

And the even better news is that today I get to reveal the cover!

Illustration by Jan Bielecki, copyright Puffin Books 2022

We wanted to create a look that reminded readers of MMU, but also felt fresh and exciting – and also fit into Ministry’s World War Two setting. This series has not two but THREE main characters, and they’re all featured on the cover.

There’s May Wong, who you’ll all know very well. She’s fierce, she’s determined and she’s sick and tired of not being listened to. She wants to help end the war so she can get home to Hong Kong, and she knows she’d be an excellent spy if anyone would let her. Now she just needs to work out how to prove herself to the Ministry …

Then there’s Eric. His full name is Hans Erich Schlossbauer, but you can call him Eric Jones while he’s undercover. He fled from Germany to London with his family before the war began, thinking he’d be safe in England – but now his beloved Papa has been interned by the British Government. Eric’s run away to help the war effort so he can get Papa back – and that means joining the Ministry. Eric’s kind, sweet and sure of himself. He loves animals and cracking codes, and he’s the heart of the new Detective Society. If you thought Beanie was adorable, you’re going to love Eric …

And finally, meet Fionnuala O’Malley. You’d better not call her Fiona. Half Irish, half English and brought up in an American theatre company, she’s totally out of her element in a posh English mansion. Shy, lonely and wrapped up in her own fantasy world, she feels trapped with her cold English family. But when two evacuees turn up who are clearly hiding something, Nuala realises that she has to become a detective to work out what they’re up to. Could they be … spies? And what does their mission have to do with her home?

So those are my detectives – and I can’t wait for you to discover their first mission! You can pre-order Ministry from the following online stores, among others – and of course, you can also ask your local independent bookshop to order you a copy. They might even be able to get you a signed one!

Amazon UK

Blackwell’s

Bookshop.uk

Dubray (Ireland)

Dymocks (Australia)

Eason’s (Ireland)

Waterstones

Waterstones SIGNED EDITION!

WH Smith

WH Smith SIGNED EDITION!

June update!

Hello detectives! I can’t believe it’s already June.

June is, of course, Pride month (hooray!) – here’s an article I wrote in 2018 about Daisy’s coming out scene in Death in the Spotlight, which is still one of my favourite moments from the whole series.

June is also National Crime Reading Month, and I’m delighted to be one of the CWA’s reading ambassadors this year – here’s a new article I’ve written for their blog about the importance of reading crime fiction.

I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to be here as much as I used to be – I’m working really hard on The Ministry of Unladylike Activity, and I’m delighted to say that I’ve just handed in my comments on the copyedited version. This means that I will only see the manuscript TWICE MORE before it becomes a published book, to iron out the final tiny tweaks to the story. It’s really almost done!

The book will be out in hardback in the UK and Ireland on the 29th of September, in Australia and New Zealand on the 5th of October (and in all other territories where the Puffin edition is sold, including India and South Africa, around that time – check your local bookstore for details!). You can pre-order it NOW both online and in stores! It’ll also be coming out in paperback in the UK and Ireland in spring 2023, and in the German language at some point in 2023. Other languages are being added, and I’ll let you know as soon as I can about more editions!

I’m also working hard on the US edition of A Spoonful of Murder, which will be out in the US and Canada this fall, with more of the series following next year. And this summer we have another treat for US readers – a box set of the first five books in the series! I’m so pleased to see more of my books coming to America! No word yet on an American deal for Ministry, but keep on buying the Murder Most series, and who knows what might happen!

I’m only doing one event this summer, before the launch of Ministry, and it’s at Barnes Festival in London on the 25th of June. You can buy tickets now – please note that it’s the day of the national rail strike, so you’ll need to think about alternative routes to get there! Also note that this event won’t be streamed online – but I am going to ensure that as many of my Ministry events as possible are livestreamed this autumn. I know a lot of you are still unable to come back to in-person events, and I completely understand that – plus, I know a lot of you are not in the UK or Ireland, and you still want to hear me talk!

Finally, I know that comments are still not enabled. I’m still working on ways to get them up again, but while I do that, please do feel free to email me or write to me at the addresses on my contact me page if there’s something you’d like to tell me!

First event announcement of 2022 – I’m coming to Barnes!

It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to offer any in-person events, but I’m delighted to say that I’ll be back face to face with London fans at Barnes Children’s Lit Fest 2022!

I’m appearing on Saturday 25th June – the exact time hasn’t yet been announced, and you aren’t able to buy tickets yet, but if you visit their website and sign up for alerts you’ll be told when tickets go on sale.

This will be the only event I’m doing before the launch of Ministry in September – I will have lots more announcements about events in the autumn, so don’t worry if you can’t make this one. I’ll mostly be talking about the MMU series in this event, but there will be a small Ministry teaser section to get you even more excited about the new book!

There will be a signing after the event, but due to many factors (mostly, I need to get back to see my baby at some point that day!) we will have to cap the number of books each person can get signed. I’m hoping this means that everyone who wants to will get to say hi – a win for us all!

I’ve really missed not being able to meet fans, so I hope you’re looking forward to this as much as I am. See you in June!