What Makes Me A Writer by Helena Dixon

This week I’m pleased to welcome Helena Dixon back to the blog to tell us about her fascinating writing journey. Helena’s 15th Miss Underhay Mystery – Murder at the Island Hotel – is published on 4 March 2024 by Bookouture. Over to Helena …

Thanks Morton for hosting me on your blog. I thought I’d talk about what makes me a writer and why I write my books.

I joined my first writing group when I was twelve and started off with poetry, getting published by my local paper who would pay me by postal order. That ages me, doesn’t it? I finished my first novel when I was 17 complete with homemade hand painted cover. It was pretty terrible. I carried on writing and finished several more novels all of which were rejected for various reasons.

Then I had three children in four years so writing went on the back burner until just before I was 40 I had a health scare. That made me realise that it was no good saying I’d be an author someday. That day was now, and I needed to either put up or shut up.

I started writing again, the internet came into being and I learned more about my craft. Eventually I sold two books in one week. One was Marrying Max which went on to win a national prize. The other was The Cinderella Substitute which sold to a U.S publisher. These were romance stories. I wrote another thirty or so romances, several are now out of print while I decide what to do with them.

However, a lot of my books had elements of a mystery or crime and my then agent, Madeleine Buston suggested I should write crime novels. My father was a retired police chief inspector and I love watching and reading classic mysteries. I also love old buildings and the area where I now live in Devon.

My health problems reappeared, and I stopped writing for almost four years. In that time I had one book which I’d started but wasn’t sure what it was. After talking to Elizabeth Hanbury, a fellow writer I realised it was a 1930’s set golden age style mystery and I had a lot more ideas for where the book could go. I sent it off to various places and my current agent Kate Nash sent it to auction.

We received several offers before going with Bookouture and Murder at the Dolphin Hotel and the Miss Underhay series sprang to life. I’m currently writing book 16 and have signed a new contract for 6 more books in the series. All the books can be read as standalones and Murder at the Island Hotel is my latest book. I’m also working on another project which I hope to make an announcement about soon! Watch this space as they say …

Thank you, Helena. I always love hearing about the journey of other authors and wow another six books, how wonderful. I’ve read and loved Murder at the Dolphin Hotel but need to catch up on the others. Good luck with everything. Mx

About Helena Dixon

Helena Dixon is a Black Country girl living in Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-seven years she has three daughters, one grandson, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon. She now writes historical 1930’s set cozy crime. Helena enjoys hearing from readers and you can read her news and contact her via her website at https://www.nelldixon.com visit her blog at https://www.nelldixonrw.blogspot.com find her on Twitter @NellDixon and friend her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nell-Dixon/228642037151856 or follow her on Instagram @HelenaDixonauthor Subscription to her non spammy newsletter is free https://t.co/upTmuKukHd

About Murder at the Island Hotel

Helena’s latest book in the best-selling Miss Underhay series is Murder at the Island Hotel

A gorgeous island off the English coast, a beautiful hotel perched on the cliffs, a group of glamourous friends… and a suspicious death? Kitty Underhay’s invitation didn’t mention murder!

Spring, 1936. As the boat draws into the harbour of Bird Island, Kitty is absolutely delighted to see the stunning hotel for the first time. She and her friend Alice have been asked to join the distinguished guests before the hotel officially opens its doors, but they have barely unpacked when the owner is found dead in his own study…

Sir Norman’s death looks like suicide. But Kitty isn’t convinced – she cannot find a note, and he is left-handed but was shot on the right side of his head. Kitty tries to reach the police, but a violent storm engulfs the island and the power goes out. Kitty and Alice need to move quickly before anyone else finds death on their dinner menu!

With several old friends amongst their suspects, Kitty decides the investigation should stay secret. But it’s not until Kitty uncovers Sir Norman’s financial difficulties that she’s on the killer’s trail. Can Kitty and Alice catch the culprit in time for tea, or will they become the next guests on the murderer’s list?

Get your copy at https://t.co/die4zcDdjX available in audio, paperback or kindle from March 4^th 2024.

Thank you for visiting Morton S. Gray’s blog.

My latest release is A New Arrival in Borteen Bay