Title: A Darkly Hidden Truth, The Monastery Murders 2
Publisher: Monarch Books, an imprint of Lion Hudson in the UK. My American publisher is Kregel Books.
Cover blurb: Felicity can’t possibly help Father Antony find the valuable missing icon. She’s off to become a nun. Then her impossible mother turns up unexpectedly. And a good friend turns up murdered. . .
Breathtaking chase scenes, mystical worship services, dashes through remote waterlogged landscapes, the wisdom of ancient holy women, and the arcane rites of the Knights Hospitaller keep the pages turning. Will Felicity choose the veil— or Antony?
1) How did this story come to you?
I have wanted to tell the stories of the mystical medieval women writers Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe for years. When my daughter, whose experiences studying in a monastery in Yorkshire provided the background for The Monastery Murders, told me about visiting an ancient abbey in Norfolk in an area so soggy the ruins were said to have sunk into the ooze and a beautiful church that survived Cromwell’s destruction because it was so wet his soldiers’ horses sank in the marsh I knew I had my setting. Then I visited the church myself and experienced climbing the bell tower. I knew I’d found the perfect spot for a chase scene.
2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The real journey was getting A Very Private Grave, the first book in the series published because, although I had published 30 books in the 1980’s and ‘90’s, I had been out of the publishing loop for 10 years. I found Janet Benrey in a listing of agents online, but it wasn’t until I spoke to her on the telephone that I realized she is English. She was able to sell the book to an English publisher who appreciated the English background. Each book is a challenge, though, because they wait to contract a new book based on the American sales record of the current title.
3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Although my favorite activities are growing roses, drinking tea and reading Jane Austen, I was a tomboy growing up. As an only child I was my father’s son, which led to many adventures on horseback and becoming Miss Rodeo Idaho and runner-up to Miss Rodeo America. I am also an intrepid researcher and will do whatever I have to do for a book. One of the biggest challenges was rappelling into a lava cave even though I’m claustrophobic.
4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
An Unholy Communion, The Monastery Murders 3, is almost complete. It’s based on a research trip I took to Wales and England last spring which included walking 126 miles from London to Walsingham. I’m also looking for the perfect Victorian murder to use in book 4 of my Lord Danvers true-crime series and planning book 3 in the Elizabeth & Richard Murders which will have Jane Austen as the background literary figure.
5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for inviting me to visit today, Kdawn. I love meeting readers. If anyone has any questions for me please leave them below and I’ll drop by to answer. Can’t wait to see who wins the free copy of A Darkly Hidden Truth!
6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Please visit my website at http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/. I have trailers for both of the Monastery Murders on my homepage, an album of photos from each of my research trips, a lot of information about all of my books and a slideshow of my garden.
