Today I am so pleased to welcome Charlie Cochrane to Joyfully Jay. Charlie has come to talk to us about her series, the Cambridge Fellows mysteries. She has also brought along a book to give away. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!
I’m delighted to be here again today to celebrate the relaunch of the first Cambridge Fellows romantic mystery books. (Think Oscar Wilde meets Agatha Christie?) These are now being rolled out by Endeavour Press.
For any celebration there should be presents, so I have a giveaway to offer, but I also bring something special, which are poems to my romantic lead, Jonty Stewart, ‘from his mother’. They very much reflect the emotional journey which this series of books details. I wrote them for mothering Sunday many years ago so it seemed appropriate to relaunch them here today, too!
To Jonty, aged 4
I wish you joy, my golden child, laughter and happiness and length of days.
I wish you sunshine, in skies as blue as your eyes. Snow to play in, wind to fly kites, mud and grass and cold salt sea.
I wish you someone at your side to share them all.
To Jonty, aged 14
I wish you strength to fight whatever ails you, my boy who once laughed so readily.
I wish you courage to share it; with someone, if not with us.
I wish you the return of your smile.
To Jonty, aged 24
I wish you a sense of direction, my lad, a new beginning.
I wish you a companion to share the journey, a hand at your elbow and a smile at your side.
I wish you someone for whom you are the whole world, but who’d never make you aware of the fact.
To Jonty, aged 34
What do I have left to wish you?
I wish you health and length of days, of course, a warm hearth and a table set with food.
But you have all that any man could desire, in the person who sits in the chair beside yours.
Bio
Because Charlie Cochrane couldn’t be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby team—she writes. Her mystery novels include the Edwardian era Cambridge Fellows series, and the contemporary Lindenshaw Mysteries. Multi-published, she has titles with Carina, Riptide, Lethe and Bold Strokes, among others.
A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People and International Thriller Writers Inc, Charlie regularly appears at literary festivals and at reader and author conferences with The Deadly Dames.
Giveaway
Charlie has brought a an ebook from her backlist to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Tuesday, November 14th at 11:59 pm ET.
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- All book prizes are in electronic format unless otherwise specified.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
What a neat exercise!
Thanks, Lindsay!
Looking forward to reading more of the Cambridge Fellows mysteries.
Thank you, Kim!
I have added the series to my list, looking forward to some great reads.
So pleased to hear that, Sofia.
Best wishes on the re-issue of the Cambridge Fellows, Charlie. Thanks for sharing your poems!
Thanks on the first part and my pleasure on the second!
I really liked Jonty’s parents. I think I have quite a lot of your backlist, but not all of it. 🙂 Have a good weekend!
I had a smashing one, thank you.
This series is one of my all time favorites, I return to it again and again. Thanks for sharing your poems, “Mum”!
LOL It’s a pleasure.
I love this series! So good!
Thanks, Susana
These are lovely. I love this series!
I’m so pleased, Toni.
this series sounds great 🙂
So glad you think so, Lee.
Really, it’s just something in my eye. Allergies. Honest!
*passes a tissue*
I loved the poems. Definitely vadding this series to my reading list.
Glad you liked them.
Thank you for sharing the poems =)
My pleasure
Congrats on the relaunch, and thanks for the poems. I’ve liked the Fellows, and had to laugh at your description of Oscar Wilde meets Agatha Christie. Pretty apt.
Thanks! One of my better lines.
Congrats on the relaunch of your fantastic series! It’s one of my favs. And thank you for the lovely poems.
Thank YOU all round!
I just did the draw and you came out of the Random.org hat! If you could mail me on Cochrane.charlie2@gmail.com we’ll organise your prize. 🙂
I love Jonty and Orlando (and Jonty’s mom). 🙂
She was a great old bat, wasn’t she?
Such lovely poems. I’m so excited that this series is coming back!
Thanks, Ashley
Great news! I was disappointed when I couldn’t find earlier books in the series.
Yes. I’m tickled pink!