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Emily

I am pleased to unveil the front cover of the October 2007 hardcover mystery: Mrs. Jeffries and The Feast of St. Stephen. I am delighted with this particular cover , which is one of the best of the series. Normally it isn't important but I feel it is quite beneficial to have an attractive cover on the hardcover edition as it is much larger than the paperback version.
The title connects the victim - Stephen Whitfield - with the traditional Holiday in Britain - commonly called "Boxing Day".
I have a friend from my workplace who has branched out into photography. She took the time to take this photograph which I am very happy with.
The Christmas 2007 hardcover mystery is going well - I am about two-thirds of the way thru' the first draft. As always it is the most difficult part of the book to write. The end is easier because I have already decided how the last few scenes will go. I will stop before the last chapter or two and rewrite the first chapters to make them "tighter" i.e. fit the way the book is going. Sometimes when I am in the middle of the book, I realize that I have to have a character make a remark, do something, see something earlier in the book - hence the rewrite.
Going to be visiting Asheville, North Carolina for a writing workshop to sharpen my writing skillls. I am exciting about spending a few days with other writers discussing effective writing techniques and plotting ideas! My long-time agent from New York is hosting this event and he has vast experience in getting authors to reach their fullest potential. No matter how many books I write - I feel that I have room to become a better writer.
With "Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight" being published next month in paperback, I thought it would be an ideal time to present my readers with a challenge about this book. The question is: what character in "Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight" is very-loosely based on the author, and, how did you deduce this?
Email your answer to the author and the first five correct answers will win an autographed copy of "Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight" in hardcover. Contest ends October 31st 2006 and is restricted to residents of the United States - one entry per household. Your answer should be less than twenty words. I will post a list of winners in November at this website.