How soon do you share the secret of your next book?
You cannot imagine how wonderful it is to be writing fairly regularly again. I hesitated over the word ‘wonderful.’ Should I have said fulfilling, satisfying, rewarding ~ even therapeutic or a HUGE RELIEF! After eighteen months abstention (predominantly to settle into our new life here in Fife) I am over half way through writing my next novel now and the ideas are flowing. I have made a few false starts over these months but the seeds of this book have laid dormant, waiting for the right conditions to germinate and grow.
Writing my current book, however, is a totally different experience to all the novels I’ve completed in the past where I have involved friends, family and experts in various fields of history from the outset. For my second novel ‘Ancasta’ I even had a fishing lesson!
Why is this different? Because I have shared my ideas with no one as yet. It is a secret burning within and I’m so excited about it. It is like an unborn child.
What I can say is that it is not part of my historical fiction series, which will disappoint many of my readers I know. It is also not memoir but it is a mystery ~ in fact several mysteries. The location? I’m not ready to share that as yet either.
When the time comes I am going to try to find five beta readers, but I don’t think I want these to be friends or family, as I have done in the past. I would love them to be discerning readers and writers.
If you’d like to offer to be a beta reader then please drop me an email diana@dianamaryjackson.co.uk. You would be one of the first people I’d share my secret with. Would you like me to reciprocate too or if you are a reader, would you like a signed copy when it is published? Just let me know.
Many thanks Diana Jackson
ps my reviews of Scottish authors will begin in December.
Diana Jackson 
I would love to exchange beta reading with you. I have four mysteries that need to be read. You would have a choice.
Let me know..,
Karen Dahood
Excellent Karen. I was thinking of you and rather hoping that you’d volunteer. An exchange sounds perfect. best wishes and thanks Diana
Now I’m intrigued… how long do you think we might have to wait?
Hi Margaret. Once it is complete and ready to go out to beta readers I’ll begin to share a bit about it 😉
Happy to be a beta reader. Just let me know if I can help.
Hey thanks Sylvia. I’ve had a good response and I’ll get in touch with you all nearer the time. Best wishes and thanks Diana
Six people offered to be beta readers straight away which, I feel, is a perfect number in order to get valuable feedback. Many thanks to all who responded.