99c Sale: Murder on the Orient (SS) + The Real Steamship Behind the Mystery

Image: bogstown.com

From Murder on the Orient (SS): Author's Note

"When I started conjuring up the second adventure for the Agatha Christie Book Club, I wanted to take them on an exotic journey à la the infamous Orient Express—one of my favourite Hercule Poirot settings—and began looking around for ideas.

Boy, did I get lucky.

In the late 1800s/early 1900s, there really was a classic steamship called the SS Orient that sailed between London and Sydney, via the Cape and the Suez. According to my research, it was a sparkling ship, brimming with luxurious fittings and eclectic characters, and host to several rather suspicious deaths.

What a brilliant backdrop for my book club friends!

While I have tweaked some minor details for the sake of this contemporary plot (including the original itinerary), much of the information about the ship is authentic and my sources are listed in the bibliography at the back— with thanks.

This is fiction, however, folks. So I’m sad to say the   SS Orient has not been recommissioned nor is there a real-life replica floating about as I have imagined here, but an author can dream can’t she?

And a book club can jump aboard for the ride… 

Bon voyage!"

FOR MORE ON THE ORIGINAL SS ORIENT:

• The SS Orient Story by Roy Clifford and Dave Knight

• bogstown.com

• Museum Victoria

GRAB YOUR COPY FOR JUST 99c - Sale ends Jan 10

@ Amazon

@ Apple

@ B&N nook

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Happy (cruisy) reading everyone.

xo Christina

Photos, illos, naked torsos? What's Your Favourite Cover? Tell Me & Win A Prize!

I attended an authors' conference recently where a design expert informed us all that, globally, different nationalities have very different preferences when it comes to what book covers they like and which ones make them run, gagging. 

According to the expert:

• American readers adore illustrated covers while the Aussies won't have a bar of them
• Don't even think about splashing a naked torso on a British cover but if you're selling in Europe, go hell for leather!
• And you may have won every award in the book, but readers just don't give a toss

What do you think about all of that?

I have always known that tastes vary from place to place. Really, it's just common sense, and the reason many products have completely different branding (names, packaging…) in different countries. But I never knew the differences were that stark, and I certainly didn't expect it was a nationality thing.

I thought it was simply a matter of personal preference and would make little difference to sales.

That's why I've decided to run a bit of an experiment with my Ghostwriter Mystery Series. This month I've gone back to the future—to my very first covers which were designed with illustrations (below) and later updated with photographs (see further below). You can check out the original and updated covers here or see the full set of illustrated covers now available exclusively at Amazon.

        
 

Which ones do you prefer? When I posed the question to some of my fellow cozy author/reader friends recently, I was surprised to find that the majority prefered the illustrated covers—even though they are all Australians. When I asked them why, many couldn't really articulate the reasons although some felt it was more about genre than nationality—cozies usually have illustrated covers, after all—while another told me photographs were too life-like and she wanted to create her own images in her head.

That makes sense to me. How about you?

I'd love to hear your thoughts—and give you a chance to win a prize!

QUESTION: Where are you from and which covers do you prefer?

WIN: The full e-book set of my Ghostwriter Mystery Series

Please drop me a line or send me an email and let me know what type of cover you prefer—the illustrated version (above) or the ones with photographs (below)? I'll be placing all the respondents' names into a hat and selecting one winner who will receive a full e-book copy of all six of my GHOSTWRITER MYSTERY series.

Respond to this message or email me now at: christina@calarmer.com
This offer closes at the end of the month, so don't hesitate to get in touch!

Happy (well covered) reading everyone...
xo Christina