An earlier post introduced my Tudor series, The Simon & Elizabeth Mysteries, and Poison, Your Grace is Book #2. Three of the four books were published by a traditional publisher that ceased to exist in 2023. I learned a lot from them about the business, particularly about the importance of editing and covers. Everyone there was kind and patient with me, though I sometimes chuckled at their suggestions. "We need you to get a blurb about your upcoming book from one of your author friends."

Which author friends would those be? I asked myself. I live in the far north of Michigan, hundreds of miles from author groups, so I don't have contact with many serious writers. I did go to conferences, but I couldn't see myself walking up to Lee Child or Mary Higgins Clark and asking, "Hey, would you like to read my book and then write nice things about it that my publisher can put on the back cover?"

My daughter was a smoker, and when she went to a con with me, she left the building for a cig and got to talking with another smoker. It turned out we shared the same publishing house, so my daughter mentioned my problem with getting a blurb. The author said, "Send me the book. I'll do it." And she did.

I loved the covers my publisher did for the series, but I couldn't use them to re-publish the books when the rights reverted to me. I'm pleased with the one you see here, and I think it shows that I'd begun to get the hang of capturing the mood and setting of a book.

I mentioned the lesson in an earlier post, but here it is again. If you are or want to be published, go to where other book people meet. Talk to them. Share. You'll learn. You'll enjoy. You might get a blurb.

Poison, Your Grace takes place after Henry VIII dies, leaving his young son Edward on the throne. Elizabeth and her sister Mary are still royal but not expected to ever inherit the throne. When Elizabeth fears that Edward's life is in danger, she calls on her old friend Simon to help her stop a killer. This book is available for $2.99 here.