Ashley Lynch-Harris's Blog
July 11, 2017
Agatha Christie Stamps
Dear Agatha Christie Fans,
As many of you may already know, Royal Mail released an Agatha Christie Stamp Set. They state on their website: "We mark not just the centenary of her writing her first crime novel, but also the 40th Anniversary of her death with a stamp issue that’s full of intrigue. To add even more mystery, the six stamps contain hidden secrets in the form of microtext, UV ink and thermochromic ink."
The stamps depict scenes from the following six novels:
Murder on the Orient Express
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
The Body in the Library
And Then There Were None
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
A Murder is Announced
Fortunately, Royal Mail offered shipment to the United States! I purchased not only the stamp set, but also postcards, the "First Day of Issue" envelopes, and a complete presentation pack. I've created a short video so you can actually see what's available and have a closer look at the details of the stamps. :)
I hope you enjoy!
Sincerely,
https://youtu.be/90KEFUoDBWo
July 18, 2016
Publishers Weekly Review- The Hotel Westend
Dear Readers,I'm very excited to report that Publishers Weekly has reviewed my mystery, The Hotel Westend ! The selection process to receive a review from such a well-respected establishment is rigorous, and I am so pleased to have been selected.
As you may already know, I write present-day mysteries that are reminiscent of the Golden Age of detective fiction. As such, I was thrilled when Publishers Weekly recognized my work as "a charming homage to the classic mystery". This means a great deal to me as I very much respect the brilliant authors who have come before me.
The full review is available on the Publishers Weekly website and retail pages like Barnes & Noble. For your convenience, I have copied and pasted the review below. :) Thanks so much for reading!
Publishers Weekly Review
"In Lynch-Harris’s first novel, a charming homage to the classic mystery, a secretive host summons a number of people to the Hotel Westend in the town of Westend Bay in an unspecified U.S. state. An outlier among the guests is Elsie Maitland, whose meandering voyage in search of adventure results in her unexpected stay at the hotel. The other guests, a pompous millionaire and his newlywed bride, and a grim Mrs. Iradene Hartwell and her younger sister, Marian, are connected by a murder that occurred at the site of the hotel 20 years previous; all were considered suspects at the time. After a maid is poisoned and a reverend also called to the hotel is murdered, it seems the past is replaying itself and a sergeant sequesters the guests. Elsie excitedly consults with her famed mystery writer sister via letters and begins to conduct her own investigation. Lynch-Harris playfully indulges genre tropes, raising readers’ suspicions equally among multiple characters as Elsie plays sleuth and finds romance with a journalist who has his own connection to the crimes."Sincerely,
July 13, 2016
Goodreads Giveaway Winners!
Thanks so much to the over 1,400 readers who entered
The Hotel Westend
giveaway on Goodreads! The ten winners listed below will receive a signed copy of my novel. :)If you didn't win this time, don't worry. There will be future opportunities to win all sorts of prizes, and you can sign up for my newsletter to receive updates. Congrats again to the winners!
1. Sheila K., Spokane, WA
2. Thomas D., Odenton, MD
3. Janet Y., Summerfield, FL
4. Connie H., Sherman, TX
5. Jae P., Lucerne Valley, CA
6. Connie S., Seward, NE
7. Sonia S., Woodside, NY
8. Scott C., Houston, TX
9. Brandie L., Austin, TX
10. Kendyl T., Mountain Home, AR
More...
Giveaways (general) : www.AshleyLynchHarris.com/giveaways
Newsletter: Updates on new releases, EXCLUSIVE giveaways, & sneak peeks. Sign up today! Please visit: www.AshleyLynchHarris.com/contact
Email: contact@AshleyLynchHarris.com
Website: www.AshleyLynchHarris.com
Setting Inspiration: The Hotel Westend (Cliffs & Waves)
I think I speak for many authors when I say that inspiration can come from anywhere. Our life experiences, a stranger’s quirky mannerisms, or even the “feel” of a place can inspire us to tell a story. Often, I find, it’s a combination of all these elements that I’ve woven together to create my mysteries.
In The Hotel Westend , the hotel in which the guests are gathered sits on top of a cliff with waves crashing against the rocks below. I was inspired to incorporate this setting into my novel while visiting Lucea, Jamaica. Please see the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRded...
A bit more about Fort Charlotte in Lucea, Jamaica:
Fort Charlotte was erected in 1761 for the defense of the Lucea harbor in response to the supposed ever present threat of Spanish and French invasion. It was actually one of five forts built by the British in the 18th century to protect the Hanover coastline from invasion (others were at Point Estate and Tryall).
With its impressive embrasures for 23 guns, 20 of which were mounted, one can’t help but wonder how anti-climactic this must have been for the British given the fact that Fort Charlotte was never tested by enemy attack.
Interesting Tidbit: Captain William Bligh, owner of the ship "The Bounty", who is best remembered for introducing the breadfruit and ackee to Jamaica, resided in Lucea between 1783 and 1787. It is said that it was at Fort Charlotte that Bligh met Fletcher Christian who later happened to lead a mutiny against him on the Bounty. Whoops!
More...
Giveaways (general) : www.AshleyLynchHarris.com/giveaways
Newsletter: Updates on new releases, EXCLUSIVE giveaways, & sneak peeks. Sign up today! Please visit: www.AshleyLynchHarris.com/contact
Email: contact@AshleyLynchHarris.com
Website: www.AshleyLynchHarris.com
In The Hotel Westend , the hotel in which the guests are gathered sits on top of a cliff with waves crashing against the rocks below. I was inspired to incorporate this setting into my novel while visiting Lucea, Jamaica. Please see the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRded...
A bit more about Fort Charlotte in Lucea, Jamaica:
Fort Charlotte was erected in 1761 for the defense of the Lucea harbor in response to the supposed ever present threat of Spanish and French invasion. It was actually one of five forts built by the British in the 18th century to protect the Hanover coastline from invasion (others were at Point Estate and Tryall).
With its impressive embrasures for 23 guns, 20 of which were mounted, one can’t help but wonder how anti-climactic this must have been for the British given the fact that Fort Charlotte was never tested by enemy attack.
Interesting Tidbit: Captain William Bligh, owner of the ship "The Bounty", who is best remembered for introducing the breadfruit and ackee to Jamaica, resided in Lucea between 1783 and 1787. It is said that it was at Fort Charlotte that Bligh met Fletcher Christian who later happened to lead a mutiny against him on the Bounty. Whoops!More...
Giveaways (general) : www.AshleyLynchHarris.com/giveaways
Newsletter: Updates on new releases, EXCLUSIVE giveaways, & sneak peeks. Sign up today! Please visit: www.AshleyLynchHarris.com/contact
Email: contact@AshleyLynchHarris.com
Website: www.AshleyLynchHarris.com
Rosemary & Thyme (Mystery TV)
Every now and again I like to share books, TV shows, and movies that I particularly enjoy. This is not for profit or anything like that. I just hope you will enjoy these mysteries as much as I do. :)
Rosemary & Thyme is a wonderful, lighthearted cozy mystery TV show. Besides the mystery aspect, of course, what I like most are the characters. I love their friendship and the beautiful garden settings... where crimes inevitably take place. ;) You can stream it on Netflix, Acorn TV, and Amazon Prime, I believe. If you do give it a try, I hope you enjoy it!
Brief Description of Show:
"Stunning gardens provide the backdrop for this hit British mystery series starring Felicity Kendal (Good Neighbors, The Camomile Lawn) as Rosemary Boxer and Pam Ferris (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Matilda) as Laura Thyme, professional gardeners and amateur sleuths. From their former careers as a university plant biologist and a police officer, Rosemary and Laura bring unique investigative talents to their horticultural and human mysteries.
Locations featured in the series include manor houses in the English countryside; London’s Kew Gardens and Regent’s Park; the French Riviera; Italy’s Ligurian coast; a Surrey vineyard; and the hills of Málaga, Spain. Great fun for mystery fans and green thumbs alike!"
More...
Giveaways (general) : www.AshleyLynchHarris.com/giveaways
Newsletter: Updates on new releases, EXCLUSIVE giveaways, & sneak peeks. Sign up today! Please visit: www.AshleyLynchHarris.com/contact
Email: contact@AshleyLynchHarris.com
Website: www.AshleyLynchHarris.com
Grandma & Reflection
If you follow me on Facebook you might already know that my beautiful Grandmother passed away recently. She was a wonderful woman who lived a long, fulfilling life. :) She was 93 years old...almost 94, in fact! Needless to say, it was a blessing to be able to hear stories from someone who has experienced so much of life.As I reflect on life as a whole, Priscilla Shirer's book, The Resolution for Women, comes to mind. In it she wrote:
“For each season of life, soak in it, relish it, cherish it, celebrate it, appreciate it for what it is. Each season of life is populated with all the things, people, events, relationships, and milestones that would make a once-in-a-lifetime experience– my only chance to fully be the person I’d be at this age and in this season. Only for the coming year would my husband be exactly like this. Only for these fleeting moments would my children talk, look, and act exactly like this. And if I choose to hurry through them in an attempt to avoid the parts I didn’t like, I’d simultaneously miss all the things I’d like about the season.
I recognized that by rushing through life (constantly trying to reach the “next better” thing/ circumstance), I’d be subtly devaluing those around me and the experiences I was involved in, not appreciating the importance and significance they bring to my life and the lives of others at this very moment, not grasping my responsibility for holding dear and treating well these gifts God has entrusted to me… Always looking toward the next moment, the next month, the next event, rarely allowing myself the privilege of fully participating and embracing the happenings that were right before me that day."
May we all experience life to the fullest, and may we have many, many years filled with once-in-a-lifetime moments! <3
Sincerely,
