How a holiday in Egypt led to the Anna Davies Mystery Series!
I had always enjoyed writing – in school I wrote long essays and even made up a couple of little books for my youngest brother. Over my working life I started a few chapters – but with no computer at home it was all done on a typewriter and I never finished a whole book. When I retired, I decided I was finally going to write that book that is in all of us!
The challenge then was to choose a topic to write about. I knew I wanted to write a mystery but that was all. Then I remembered our holiday in Egypt – it had made quite an impression. Egypt is a mysterious and intriguing country. Vast deserts and uninhabited areas, crowded cities, towering pyramids and ancient tombs are all found in Egypt. Even today new tombs are being discovered, many still containing the sarcophagus and a myriad of valuable jewellery and antiques to sustain the deceased on their journey to the after-life. What better place to set a mystery? And so, Missing in Egypt was born.
This was followed by Missing at Sea, Missing in London and Missing in France – all stand-alone books in the Anna Davies Mystery Series.
I have also written three other crime mysteries – Dangerous Associations and The Poinciana Tree as well as a book for horse lovers, from teenagers upwards; Winston A Horse’s Tale.
When I finished my first book I let out a big sigh of relief and thought “good, that’s done.” Little did I know! I duly submitted my manuscript to a few publishing companies and sat back and waited. When no-one came knocking at my door I took a look at Amazon and made the decision to self-publish. I love the control and freedom that self-publishing provides (control freak?). I worked my way through the KDP process and finally saw my book in print. What a feeling! However, then came the promotion and marketing, which is probably the hardest part of all. It is constant, time-consuming and takes me away from writing the next book. However the friends I have made along the way, on websites like Goodreads, makes it all worthwhile.
My advice to any budding authors? Do it – you can self-publish and see your work in print! It’s an amazing journey.
Website: www.ritaleechapman.com
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/RChapman1
Missing in Egypt http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JOUIIE/
Missing at Sea https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XFKJTV4/
Missing in London https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CYZTSZK
Missing in France https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X69SNJZ
Dangerous Associations http://www.amazon.com/dp/1501062905
The Poinciana Tree https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XGGY2PZ
Winston – A Horse’s Tale http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G9QOZGE