Sunday, August 14th, 2022

Dear Reader Regiment,

I never thought Jennifer Lopez (aka J-LO) would make a headline on my newsletter. One week after we explored Certosa di San Giacomo, also known as St. James' Charterhouse monastery, on the island of Capri, J-LO was performing a UNICEF fund raiser concert during her honeymoon but a stone's throw from our balcony. I dread to think how much tickets cost for the rich and famous. $10k? $50k?! (We weren't invited ... How rude!)

Here are a couple more happy snaps from the Capri monastery I became enchanted with on this year's trip. I even decided to rewrite a couple of chapters of 'Leningrad Deception' to feature this location. As I ambled through this spiritual and cultural gem in the heart of Capri, with its medieval passageways, architecture, stunning views and dangerous steep drops to the ocean, it was chanting to me, "I want to be in your book!"

I am guessing that J-LO's concert was held in the large courtyard below. Boy, it must have been "hot" in more ways than one! There was a heatwave the day we departed.

If you have started Leningrad Deception on Kindle Vella, you will recall that the Hotel Quisisana Capri is one of the locations. I got to know some of the waiters there as we enjoyed a cocktail most days. There are characters, character research and history everywhere you look on this island. Take a look at headwaiter, Rafaello (2nd from right), today, and in the photo below taken thirty years ago in the same location. Can you spot him in the old photo?

Here is Rafaello, aged 16, standing next to his father who only retired this year. Rafaello is 2nd from the left.

Always on the hunt for people watching—aka character research—locations!

Leningrad Deception is now available on Kindle Vella in USA only.

More Fiction:

Here is a great promo for you - this one is from BookSweeps and you can win x50(!) free books just by entering your email.

Kindle Vella Promo:

Kindle Vella is only available in USA. You can read a few chapters on your phone or tablet for FREE, and then you pay a few cents to read more chapters. 

NON-FICTION

If you have any interest in the royals, 'From Cottage to Palace' is an amusing, light-hearted (fairly short) read. This non-fiction royal memoir tells the story of my great aunt, Florence Bramford, who served in the British royal household with TWO Queen Elizabeths and traveled around the world on royal tours for thirty years. Also available on Audible.

'This Was OUR MALVERN' and 'Upton upon Severn Recollections' are available on Kindle Vella.

New Release!

Have a wonderful week!

Cheers,

Richard