Book 25 in 2025 has a bit of a ring to it, doesn’t it?
It also has a surreal sound. I think I write this every time a book comes out, but I didn’t think I’d be here sixteen years from the publication of my first book, Red Dust.
25 books? I often shake my head when I think about that. Then I usually realise that my deadline is only about two days away and it’s time to get my nose back to the grind stone. No time for reflection! Nothing new with book 26, which I’m writing at the moment!
Anyhow, book 26 is jumping waaayyyy ahead of myself. Let’s talk about book 25.
Some of you will know that I changed publishers earlier this year and retired my much loved Detective Dave Burrows. That was a bit like stabbing myself in the heart.
Some of you will also know that in May last year, I turned 50 and when that happens, suddenly there seems to be a whole less time to achieve things.
Even at 50, I still have dreams and goals and some of them are big ones.
These dreams and goals are the reason I retired Dave and left my much loved publishers at Allen and Unwin to join the HarperCollins Australia stable.
To rebrand from rural romance (which I have to say that tag drove me nuts, because I never thought I wrote romance) and play in amongst the amazing Australian talent we have already writing in the crime genre, has been a long held goal of mine. I had a go about three years ago and submitted a crime manuscript which to date is the only manuscript which hasn’t been published. My agent rang me and very nicely explained that it was shit. My publisher at the time agreed. Then I was back on the writing two books a year cycle and found it difficult to see a clear spot where I could have another go at writing a ‘proper’ crime novel.
I don’t have much of an ego normally, but being told something I’d written, when I’d already had about 21 books published, was another stab in the heart. Still, it was a bloody good lesson for me, and one I took on chin... Even so it took me a good couple of weeks to come to terms with the phone call with my agent, though I kept telling myself that she had my best interests at heart. So maybe there was an ego that was a little bigger than I first thought. That’s since been rectified.
What happened from that rejection was that I started to take note of crime books. I talked to crime writers and read books on the craft. There are lot more… I won’t say rules, but reader expectations in crime novels and that wasn’t something I’d recognised in my previous attempt. (And as a side note, that rejected novel was so SOOOO different to what I normally write, I’m sure there were a few raised eyebrows in amongst the few people who got to read it before I hit the delete button.)
Anyhow, all that aside, HarperCollins Australia have had me under the brilliant guidance of publisher Anna Valdinger, who is a legend in the in crime publishing space and I’m really proud to present to you book number 25!!! The Prospect.
I have never done so many edits and changed so many things in one book! It’s ended up a whole lot different to how it was submitted. When Anna gently took me through the process, I could see why what she was asking of me worked better. It was lovely to have that amount of input and guidance from her.
What I learned that writing a crime novel is that it isn’t just as easy as turning up and throwing words on a page like I did with Dave novels. I knew those characters so well, I could write them in my sleep, which is another reason I wanted a challenge. If I’m not challenged I get bored and I’m not into sleep very much!
Anyhow, to cut a very long story short: The Prospect is being published on the 2nd of April and you can preorder RIGHT NOW! Just click The Prospect
Preorders are hugely important to authors, because it gives the publishers an idea of how many books to publish and so on and so forth, so if you’re in a position to preorder, I would be forever grateful… Click here! (Sorry, I”m probably being a bit pushy, but I’m SO EXCITED!).
In taking away the tag of rural romance, I’m hoping to reach more readers, ones who love stories from the likes of Chris Hammer and Jane Harper. Outback Noir I think it’s called. If you know of someone who may not have been into rural romance but loves outback noir/crime then please tell them about this book. Maybe forward them this letter from me and point them in the direction of my social media pages.
You know, having lived in the bush for far too long to remember, I’m placed in a good spot to write about outback crime. I understand the vast distances and isolation and the difficulties in policing out here. I think The Prospect is pretty authentic. I hope you think so too.
In finishing off I want to thank all of you who have previously read the Dave novels. You guys are the reason I have a career. I hope you’ll come along on this new journey with me and jump into the heart of gold country. Country where everyone has a secret and even the best of friends can’t trust each other.
Oh and this last photo is of Anna and I!
With love,
Fleur
Looking forward to reading this one! Are you doing a book tour for it? If so where can I find the details as I’d love to go to one.
I love reading (what I'll call the back story) the behind-the-scenes stuff you get up to Fleur. I have loved every single book that you've written and there's no doubt I'll love your new book also. Onwards and upwards!