Prescott’s Antiques
A periodic newsletter for fans of
Jane K. Cleland’s traditional mystery series
featuring Josie Prescott
An Antiques Roadshow for Mystery Fans |
Vol. I, No. 5 |
Jane’s in Bookbitch
The utterly charming Book Bitch, Stacy, has posted an opportunity to win a free, autographed copy of Consigned to Death! Please visit www.bookbitch.com and enter to win one of the seven copies that are available. The contest runs from now through the end of the month.
Also, Lesa Holstine gave Consigned to Death a wonderful review of the book on the website: "Cleland’s debut mystery introduces Josie Prescott, an antiquarian appraiser and dealer in New Hampshire. The reader is immediately sucked into this fast-paced story, as Josie finds herself the primary suspect when an elderly client she was working for is found murdered. Josie is still in the process of rebuilding her life after she left a job where she was a whistle-blower, and her father died. She’s lonely, in mourning, fearful and angry that she’s a suspect, so she’s determined to prove her innocence and her honesty. With its cliff-hanger chapter endings and the sympathetic character, Consigned to Death will have the intrigued reader racing to the end." Read an excerpt!
Have You Seen Jane's BLOG!
Jane’s writing a short essay twice a month and would love to hear your comments. Come and take a peek!
Sue’s Mom’s Antique
To Be Featured in
Josie #3, Lethal Legacy!
Sue Evans won the prize I offered at the Malice Domestic Charity auction—the right to name a character in an upcoming auction—and have that character’s antique appraised in the book!
It’s an interesting writing challenge, and one I’m enjoying, to insert a character and her antique organically, so it flows in a natural way and supports the plot. Lethal Legacy, the third Josie Prescott novel, will be published in April 2008 by St. Martin’s Minotaur.
Antiques Collecting Fact:
Did You Know?
The two variables that determine wood grain pattern are the part of the tree from which the plank is cut and the angle of the cut. For example, quarter-sawn lumber show grain that runs in straight lines, whereas flat-sawn boards displays a classic contour pattern. A curling pattern results from a cut at the "Y" intersection between the trunk and a main branch.
The View From
Mr. Grant’s Porch
Check out the photos of Josie’s world—and the webcam showing a real-time image of the New Hampshire coast!
Unpublished Fact
About Josie
Josie’s likes flowers but hates gardening. "I work hard all day lugging heavy objects. The last thing I want to do during my down time is physical labor. I’d rather buy flowers at the grocery store!
Cooking Tip from
Josie’s Mom
"Use fresh herbs whenever possible. They provide a significantly more complex and robust flavor than dried ones. Remember if you buy or pick a larger quantity than you need for your recipe, you don’t have to waste the leftovers. Freeze the rest! Place them, unwashed, in a freezer bag and they’ll last for months!"