August 7, 2026 · 12:19 pm

Can AI help a cash strapped author ~ Q -Which key words does AI suggest for MURDER Now and Then?

I was reading about AI one day and, just as a matter of interest, I clicked on Gemini for the first time (on purpose ~ I’ve done it a few times by accident!) to see what Key words it might come up with for one of my books:

For MURDER Now and Then, Gemini writes:

“To optimize the Amazon KDP search visibility for MURDER, Now and Then by Diana Jackson, you should use descriptive, multi-word long-tail phrases. Amazon allows 7 backend keyword slots (up to 50 characters each). [1]

The following targeted keyword combinations are tailored specifically to the book’s dual-timeline plot, regional settings, and themes:

1. Dual Timeline & Multi-Generational Mystery

  • dual timeline murder mystery
  • interwoven past and present crime fiction
  • cold case 100 years later novel
  • multi generational family secret thriller [1]

2. Setting & Geographic Locations

  • british village cozy mystery series
  • bedfordshire true crime inspired fiction
  • channel islands jersey mystery books
  • small town english countryside murder [1, 2]

3. Plot Hooks & Historical Background

  • unsolved historical murder 1919 novel
  • farmer wife accused husband death book
  • social anthropology british mystery stories
  • world war one aftermath crime fiction [1, 2, 3]

4. Comp Titles & Reader Read-Alikes

  • midsomer murders style cozy mystery books
  • bergerac channel islands crime read alikes
  • slow burn british police procedural novel
  • traditional english village detective books [1]

Amazon Keyword Strategy Tips

  • Do not repeat words that are already in your title (Murder, Now, Then) or author name (Diana Jackson), as Amazon’s algorithm automatically indexes those.
  • Avoid punctuation like commas or semicolons in your backend slots; simply separate the words with spaces to maximize character counts.
  • Combine terms into long strings to fill out each of the 7 slots (e.g., Slot 1: dual timeline cold case interwoven past present).”

WOW, I thought! There’s even a summary for Amazon’s strategy.

What next? On my next post I’ll explore the actual meta data on KDP for this book currently, and how I might update it.

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Filed under Author Diana Jackson, Book launch, Marketing your novel, Murder Now and Then, Mystery inspired by history series, Publishing your novel

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July 24, 2026 · 11:46 am

‘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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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!

Photo by u0158aj Vaishnaw on Pexels.com

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

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