Category Archives: Mystery inspired by history series

July 10, 2026 · 10:59 am

Half Way Through 2026 ~ Where am I now in my plans, hopes and dreams?

We have just passed the longest day and now is a time when we experience light for about 19 hours in Scotland, dependent on the weather. Here’s a general catch up in what I’m doing:

WIP

My current work in progress is complete (HOORAY!), has undergone proof-reading, editing for content, authenticity and copy. It has one more hoop to go through before publication, a cover designed and a date to set, probably in late autumn. I will not reveal the title as yet, only to share that it is the final book in my ‘Mystery Inspired by History series’ and, although stand-alone, the sequel to MISSING Past and Present.

MEANWHILE ADVENTURES…

Roger and I decided that 2026 would be a year of mini adventures, with old friends and new. Having moved to Fife ten years ago (11 year with a break of a year in between) we left special people down in Bedfordshire, but they were not forgotten. So far this year we have visited the Lake District, Gairloch, The Chelsea Flower Show, Arran and the Wirrel. With other adventures still to come, we are overwhelmed by the love and affection we feel with those we have shared these precious moments. It is heart-warming, albeit exhausting. I aim to share some of these trips with you on this blog in the coming weeks, as I await news of the publication of new novel.

FUTURE WRITING PLANS

I have one final book I would dearly like to write before I review the future, and that is the third book in my ‘Riduna Series’. I have begun the serious research for this novel, difficult to do so far away in Fife from the South Coast and the Channel Islands. Nevertheless I’ve made a start. Thus I will write more about these trips in due course. Apart from rough notes of events in history I would like to include, a reread of book two and a draft of the first chapter, this is very early days.

A BIG THANK YOU

A big thank you to those of you who have followed my writing journey from the outset and those new readers and casual visitors along the way. I would not have continued in good faith without you!

Glasgow Book Club

A recent very convincing email arrived in my inbox:

Julia writes

“Hello Diana Jackson,

At The Glasgow Book Club, we often find ourselves talking about stories that linger long after the last page, the ones that mix emotion, history, and the unexpected in ways that keep readers thinking.

Missing, Past and Present became part of that conversation. Your portrayal of Dorothy’s journey haunted by loss, seeking answers, and guided by echoes of the past felt immersive and deeply human. The mystery and the ghostly presence didn’t just entertain; they invited reflection on resilience, memory, and the traces of history in our own lives.

We’d love to invite you to a relaxed virtual author spotlight with our readers a space for an honest conversation about your story, your inspiration, and the ideas behind this series.

If you’re open to it, I’d be happy to share more details.“

The positives

This email struck a chord with me because it really sounded as if the author had read MISSING Past and Present. At a point in the novel the location actually is in Glasgow, and those chapters always make me smile (as do the ever friendly Glaswegians!)

I liked the thought of a virtual author spotlight rather than racing over the Forth Bridge and along the motorway to Glasgow.

The alarm bells

There doesn’t actually appear to be a Glasgow Bookclub.

The Meetup website is one I’ve received from emails in the USA as well as the UK and have little on them.

There are messages on Reddit and Facebook warning of similar scams from the Glasgow Bookclub.

Conclusion

Sadly another scam. The only thing I can say is that, momentarily, it lifted my spirits, before sense prevailed.

If, however, you are a member of a Book Group in Glasgow and you would be interested in me having a chat on Zoom, I would be delighted to hear from you through my contact page on this blog.

Contact and Giveaway

I’ve just received another email from The Glasgow Bookclub:

“Hi Diana,

I’m David Hartley, and I run the Glasgow Book Club, a small group of readers who engage with books that spark honest reflection and meaningful conversation.

I recently came across The Other Woman Was His Mother, and reading the premise made a strong impression on me. The way you explore emotional enmeshment, control, and the hidden dynamics within relationships feels both powerful and confronting. It’s the kind of subject our readers would approach with curiosity, especially the personal insight and clarity you bring to it.

We would love to invite you to a short Google Meet spotlight session. It’s a relaxed, reader-led conversation where you can share your perspective and experiences, completely free, and you answer only what you feel comfortable with.

If this feels like something you’d be open to, I’d be happy to share more details and arrange a time that works best for you.

Warm regards,

David Hartley“

I have never written a book called The Other Woman Was his Mother!!!!!

I wish there was a way to filter out emails written using AI. It would stop my inbox getting clogged up.

Can You Leap Back into your Writing Life?

Can you leap back? I’m not sure. I’m certainly striding forward in my hopes, dreams and aims for 2023. (see last post)

Two weeks ago I searched for the unfinished manuscript for the third in my Mystery Inspired by History Series. (I finished writing it in October 2020, in lockdown, at the time I was told that both of my parents had been taken into hospital.) Since then I have been unable to write creatively until now, and I know my parents would be encouraging me to get on with it, if they were still alive. It’s time.

I was suitable surprised to find that I had already written well over 50, 000 words. Almost certainly over half way! After the joy this discovery gave me, I set to work:

I Converted the Manuscript for Kindle

I converted the unfinished manuscript to epub (you don’t need Mobi anymore) on Calibre e book management Library (click on the picture above), and then sent it to my kindle using my kindle email address. If you don’t know your kindle email address, you can find it under Your Account on your device.

Now, I could read it at my leisure without printing out all of the document. My contribution to saving the planet’s resources,

Located my story notes

If, like me, you have numerous notebooks, and a poor memory especially after Covid, this can take a while. I have tried to write clearly on the front of each notebook what it contains. Anyway, I eventually found the right one and the notes which were conveniently listed it:

Brief chapter outline
Side by side how the story within a story links with the main chapters
List and description of characters in both stories
Rough plan of chapters still to be written
Maps, which are the same as those in MISSING Past and Present

What to do and in what order?

Now I had all that I needed:

I read through my chapter notes carefully.
Next I read the last three chapters I’d written, on my kindle.
Then I acclimatized myself with the characters, trying to visualize each in my mind’s eye and even enjoyed pretend conversations with them, bringing each alive once more.
I took a deep breath, enjoying the quiet of the house,
… and then I started to write.
As easy as that.

It was fortunate that on Tuesday, when I knew my husband would be out of the house curling, (Yes, one of the lovely things about our life here in Scotland is the variety of activities we find ourselves participating in) the internet was down at home and so I had no distractions whatsoever.

At the end of the morning I was so surprised that I had written, 2,300 words.

I edited them on Wednesday and then this afternoon, when my husband was out with the Rotary judging the school children in their Burn’s Poetry Recital Competition, I managed to write another 1,000 words.

What has surprised me most is how easy it has been to absorb myself wholeheartedly in this imaginary world, which had laid dormant in the back of my mind for over 26 months. That’s remarkable isn’t it!

Category Archives: Mystery inspired by history series

Half Way Through 2026 ~ Where am I now in my plans, hopes and dreams?

WIP

MEANWHILE ADVENTURES…

FUTURE WRITING PLANS

A BIG THANK YOU