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The Mapping of Love and Death Greetings!

I don't know about you, but to me, this year seems to have been equipped with go-faster wheels—the Holidays seem so long ago. Throughout the past year I have received many, many emails asking when the next book featuring Psychologist & Investigator, Maisie Dobbs, will be published—and those emails have increased rapidly since the turn of the year. I can put your minds at rest—yes, a new book is in sight!

The Mapping of Love and Death, the seventh book in the series, will be published at the end of March—just around the corner! Many novels are inspired by true stories; perhaps the author has been intrigued by article in the local newspaper, or a conversation is overheard that sparks an idea. Sometimes an idea comes to you while you're doing something seemingly mundane (I get a lot of ideas while driving), or there's a compelling snippet found in a history book and you can see a whole story growing out from that one seed of information. Often there is a gap in time between that first raw idea and story emerging on the page—that was my experience with The Mapping of Love and Death. It was in 2005 that I read an article in a local paper, about the unidentified remains of a soldier unearthed from a former Flanders battlefield. Though he wore the uniform of a British regiment, there was evidence to suggest he might—just might—have been an American citizen, or perhaps a young Englishman who had traveled to California to seek his fortune, only to come home when his country was at war. The story of the young man remained with me, and in time another story began to take shape in my mind—about a young American of English heritage, who travels to the "old country" to enlist.

You can read more about The Mapping of Love and Death on my website—frequent visitors will note the new design, which I am really excited about.

I will be embarking upon a book tour in early April, and hope to have the details on the website in the next couple of weeks, so please check Appearances to see if I am going to be in your area—it would be lovely to see you at one of the events.

I'll be keeping you posted with more information on The Mapping of Love and Death in the weeks to come, and will be telling you more about the research that underpins my novels.

With warmest wishes,
Jacqueline

 
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