The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder
Coming in September!!!
A Spooky Victorian Mystery
London 1881. Two older women, lovers living off their spiritualist scam; a beautiful young Lady lost in grief; and a powerful man concealing a hideous crime. Can this outsider couple stop a murder?
Lots has been happening in my own life and the world. But also, with the books.
Joyful news. I started notes on this book in 2021 and THE CROOKED MEDIUM’s GUIDE TO MURDER now exists as a final text. I will self-publish in the autumn and this feels massive. And the first advance comments are coming in.
Seances! Murders! Fraud! ….!
The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder has it all. This is true historical fiction, where the Victorian setting is more than just set-dressing; it permeates the very fabric of the story and the wry, understated character voice. With the perfect mix of meticulous research, emotional depth and a rollicking good story besides, Stephen Cox delivers surprises to the very end. If you, like me, love a crook with a heart of gold, then these queer old birds are sure to capture your heart.
A genuine pleasure from start to finish
Eris Young
I am using professional-quality editing, proofing, formatting, and cover design.
How much do you want to hear about this important book plumbing; how much about the research and inspiration; and how much do you want to help! Do let me know!
I have a dazzling array of practical choices still to make. The book will be on public sale no later than 1st October and available to preorder by 1st September. If I can go sooner I will.
My sister in law Deborah is the first to use the m word “… a wonderful melodrama”
“A bee unknown to science” via artvee.com
Covers and marketing words
A Spooky Victorian Mystery will probably be shelved as historical crime or general fiction - but I’ll also plug it to fantasy readers. “Shelved” includes how Amazon online etc sees it.
My designer and I are close to the final cover, which is fascinating. I will do a cover reveal post about the process and show a few rival versions.
A cover needs to get across the genre and vibe in a few seconds. A cover sells the book – to the reader, reviewer or the bookseller.
Marketing words are hard too - distilling a 90,000 word book into a few lines. It’s a bit like poetry.
Review copies
Some of you review books online
And/or run a newsletter, blog, vlog, or podcast which covers this sort of book. I give good interview.
And/or wouldn’t mind being sent some social media visuals to share (or maybe make some for me!) Last time I produced a book I was asked for these!
Or have another reason for wanting a review copy asap
Drop me a line! I do know some of you, but not all of you. Include what, where you live, web links, etc.
Me supplying you a review copy doesn’t mean you are under an obligation to review it.
“Julia thought Stephen had reduced the print size far too much”
Lady Reading A Book (1876), Attilio Baccani via artvee.com
How will it be available? Definitely…
Both the eBook and the print book will be on Amazon, which is where half the world starts looking for a book. (Alas!) It will be available from other people too.
Using my website to sell posted direct from the printer and I am exploring that not being Amazon.
Signed and dedicated will be through my local bookshop, the All Good Bookshop, who will be able to mail signed and dedicated copies if you want (I’ll check outside the UK?). Will update.
I will have copies at home and when I go to BristolCon and World Fantasy Con in October.
There will be some availability printed and posted overseas. US in particular. And eBooks.
Problems: bookshops generally, audiobooks, hardbacks.
I love independent bookshops - but! Like many self-publishers, I’m struggling to make it available to them through the dominant trade distributor Gardners. If the end customer would pay what I want to charge, it would be lovely. I’ll let you know! Waterstones requires you to be in Gardners but is very selective what it takes.
Audio is great, but I can’t produce an audiobook economically: AI is unethical. Nor will it be in other languages unless someone volunteers. Now, if people want a fancy hardback, I can do that, if people are willing to pay serious dosh.
Thanks for being with me - we’ll have fun.
Stephen