Christmas - a time for fun and murder!

Published: Mon, 12/12/22

Iain: Hello friend. Not everyone celebrates it but, for those that do, it’s coming up to Christmas. It’s that traditional time of year when writers from all over the world get irritated because their families want to spend time with them and drag them away from their keyboards.

Heide: What Iain means is it’s time for people to get together and enjoy each other’s company.

Iain: Didn’t I say that?

Heide: And many employed people get to enjoy a staff Christmas party. As we’re self employed scribblers, we had to sort out our own.

Iain: Which is why we went to a Murder Mystery dinner last Thursday. Foolishly, I thought that being crime writers we might have had a chance at working out who the killer was.

Heide: It took place at Highbury Hall, the fine home of the Chamberlain family in Birmingham. Joseph Chamberlain was a well-regarded mayor of Birmingham, although it is perhaps his younger relative Neville “I tried to appease Hitler” Chamberlain who is better known to history buffs.

Iain: Actually, for history buffs, Highbury Hall is the place where the inventor of Cluedo worked from time to time before he invented the game (That’s the game of “Clue” to our American subscribers) and it’s fancifully suggested that the Cluedo mansion is based on Highbury Hall. If there had been an Oddjobs 6 book then I had wanted to include a Cluedo-style murder at Highbury Hall.

Heide: But our Murder Mystery dinner murder was not carried out by Professor Plum in the Conservatory with the Dagger.

Iain: Er, no. While we enjoyed a three-course dinner, the Billesley Players put on an immersive performance featuring mysteriously dead mothers, definitely dead butlers and several acts of betrayal and conniving behaviour. We put our thinking hats on.

Heide: And only half solved the murder. Half succeeded though!

Iain: A fun time was had by all and our spouses had a fine time drinking all the profits we’d made from the launch of the sixth Sam Applewhite book, Jaegermax. But now we’re beavering away on the next books.

Heide: Yes, what have we got coming out soon?

Iain: There’s Clovenhoof book 8 which everyone must pre-order now. We’ve also got several comedy science fiction books coming out next year. And we’ve got a HUGE secret project which we can’t tell you anything about —

Heide: Because it’s SECRET.

Iain: But expect big news from us sometime in the Spring. We’ll be back in touch around new year with a round up of the year and more news. But do get in touch with us about your news and what you’re doing to celebrate the festive season.

Heide: Oh, and if you’re wanting a festive little read, remember there’s a free Oddjobs Christmas story on Amazon AND you can buy our “Elves attack a Christmas Market” horror comedy, Candy Canes and Buckets of Blood. Makes an ideal present for readers old and young*.

Iain: *graphically violent scenes may not be suitable for those of a nervous or innocent disposition. If in doubt, consult your pharmacist. Always read the label.

Heide: Merry Christmas, everyone! Here's a Christmassy pic from us.

Iain: Because nothing says Christmas like Mrs Claus, stabbing the elf in the conservatory with a knife!

From Heide and Iain

36 Barn Lane, Moseley, B13 0SW, UNITED KINGDOM

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