Category Archives: Historical Fiction

One Step Nearer Publication ~ A New Year ~ A New Beginning

Hi folks.

Just a brief update

The manuscript for my new novel is completed, edited, formatted and ready to go. The cover is being designed as I write this blog and so the aim is that it will be released in January 2027.

Although this book is the sequel to MISSING Past and Present, both of these novels are written to stand alone.

A Reminder about MISSING, Past and Present

Just to remind you, here is a blurb for MISSING:

Betrayed by her husband’s disappearance. Destroyed when her foster son vanished.

Homeless and destitute Dorothy trudged the lanes and footpaths, reflecting on all she had left; her memories. Squatting in an empty farmhouse, she was haunted by the ghost of an 18th Century aspirant nun, who was swinging from the rafters. Inspired out of her reverie, Dorothy began to piece together the nun’s story.

What happened to this Nun? What happened to Gerald, her husband, and also to Ahmed her foster son? Their stories become intrinsically linked in Dorothy’s mind; reality, history and fantasy, blurring at the edges into one.

And Now

I am reluctant to reveal the title as yet, to this my third novel in the Mystery Inspired by History Series, but it tells the next part of Dorothy’s story. Here is the blurb:

Three early 20th century graves in a woodland at Canbury Manor, inspire Dorothy to attempt to unravel their mysteries; while she begins to piece together her own muddled life.

Jamal, Dorothy’s former foster son, is slowly building a new and positive life, of love, friendship, work and study; that is, until his missing brother Ahmed’s unexpected return from Syria.

This is a novel of entrapment, estrangement and tragedy, but also hope and reconciliation, as author Diana Jackson is not afraid to face the multifaceted realities of mixed faith relationships, fear and prejudice.

“And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthains 13, 13

Watch this space!

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Filed under Author Diana Jackson, Book launch, Events, Historical Fiction, MISSING Past and Present, Mystery inspired by history series

Amazing Key words Suggested by AI for MISSING Past and Present ~ Writing a Compelling Alternative Mystery

Key Words Suggested by Gemini (AI)

Continuing on exploring using AI for key words in my last post, here are the words and phrases suggested by Gemini for MISSING Past and Present:

The key words for the novel MISSING Past and Present by Diana Jackson center around its dual timelines, emotional depth, and social themes. [1]

Core Book Metadata

Tagline: Is life just a roll of a dice?

Author: Diana Jackson

Title: MISSING Past and Present

Series: Mystery Inspired by History Series (Book 2)

Core Plot & Character Keywords

  • Dorothy Gibbons: The central protagonist, an ex-librarian also known as “Lady Pink Hat”.
  • The Grange: The empty, historic farmhouse where Dorothy seeks shelter and begins to write.
  • Millie: An 18th-century aspirant nun who ran away from The Grange, whose story is uncovered through a discovered journal.
  • Jamal Hussain: A Syrian refugee and asylum seeker fostered by Dorothy.
  • Ahmed Hussain: Jamal’s brother, whose sudden disappearance adds to the core mystery.
  • Drumford: The geographic setting where Dorothy walks the lanes.
  • Dice Roll: A literal and symbolic mechanic Dorothy uses to reflect on the random “highs and lows” of life.

Major Themes & Social Issues

  • Homelessness: Dorothy’s reality after her life unravels.
  • Betrayal and Abandonment: The emotional catalysts triggered by her husband’s mysterious disappearance.
  • Mental Health: A heavy focal point exploring trauma and psychological resilience.
  • Refugees and Asylum: Explored deeply through Jamal’s narrative arc.
  • Resilience and Redemption: The ultimate overarching message of the book as the separate character threads tie together.

Genre & Narrative Style

  • Mystery Inspired by History: The author’s custom classification for her blending of historical facts and fiction.
  • Dual Timeline / Dual Story: The seamless narrative shifting between the present day and the 18th century.
  • First-Person Narrative: Diana Jackson’s only novel written from an intimate, first-person perspective.
  • Haunting / Supernatural: Features an eerie atmosphere, including the ghostly presence of Millie haunting the old estate.
  • Story Within a Story: Dorothy writing Millie’s historical account while navigating her own isolation.

Yet again my reaction to the task is WOW!

For various personal reasons at the time (covid), my mind could not focus on promotional activities and it did not do nearly as well as MURDER Now and Then, my most successful book on line to date, and yet it is the book of which I am most proud. As one reader said, ‘You have really found your true voice in the novel.’ (My Riduna series were published just as e books took off and the emphasis was getting into bookshops rather than on line)

Here is a link to one of my most read posts of all time which explains why MISSING Past and Present is an Alternative Mystery Genre:

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Filed under Author Diana Jackson, Historical Fiction, MISSING Past and Present, Mystery inspired by history series, Publishing your novel

‘The Italian Chapel’ by Philip Paris ~ Diana’s July book review

This book caught my eye in Waterstones because I’ve visited The Orkneys and the beautiful Italian Chapel, lovingly created by Italian prisoners of war in WW2. It was an act of true devotion.

click cover for Amazon

This book was well researched, filling in many details of the life of the men on the tiny island of Lamb Holm, and a fitting tribute to them. The author describes how he has woven facts into fiction and is honest where he has embellished the truth for the sake of creativity.

I really enjoyed this novel, the characters were so well described, as was the sense of place, in contrast to their Mediterranean home.

It was quite a different style to Caroline Lea’s ‘The Metal Heart’ which I reviewed four years ago, but I believe both have a place amongst good Scottish Historical Fiction.

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Filed under Book reading, Book reviews, Historical Fiction, Scotland, Scottish authors