2024 has whizzed past and I finished it at home with a particularly nasty flu that dodged around the jab, so those Old Langs had to Sine themselves. The year was packed with writing, travel, archaeology and new experiences, so no wonder it felt hectic. Tucked under a Game of Thrones fleece (known as ‘Game of Throws’), it raises the spirit to look back on a year well lived. You can read the associated blogs by hovering your mouse over the link.
In January I joined one of Explore’s small group excursions exploring the temples of northern Thailand. Plenty of temples and not a beach in sight for the fortnight.
Nothing happens in February does it? I quietly started work researching a new book, which I worked on mostly in hotels and airports during the year. It may emerge in 2025! March made up for it with flying out for the Alderney Literary Festival, taking the opportunity to carry out preparatory work for this year’s dig.
Lume Books re-issued the Jeffrey Flint series as a box set of ebooks, each with a new author’s note to put Flint’s adventures into context. It was pleasing to see it bounce around the #1, #2 and #3 slot in archaeological mysteries for some weeks, as was the fact it out-sold the original issue of the books.
April saw what turns out the be the last Crime Writers’ Assoication annual conference in its traditional format – this year it was in Brighton. May was packed end to end by the dig in Alderney, nipping over to Crimefest, then nipping back to Alderney again.
We uncovered more of the plan of the late Roman building opposite the Nunnery, pretty certain it wasn’t built before the fourth century AD. Frustration came from the heavy winter rainfall which had left the water table too high for us to reach the lowest levels and understand what preceded the building. For more details visit the Dig Alderney Facebook page.
With Flint back in vogue, I was invited to talk Archaeology and Crime at UK Crime Book Club Live in Leeds. I wore the hat as a prop but it was far too hot to keep it on.
July was a rollercoaster, starting by attending the swish CWA Daggers awards dinner in London the same night as the General Election, then going down with covid for a third time. Nails were being bitten all round, as I became a grandfather of twins – no pics here, because we don’t do family stuff on blogs. Covid slunk away in time for the Theakestone’s Old Peculiar Crime Festival in Harrogate.
August delivered a feast for the imagination and a challenge to the constitution as I joined Explore’s two week safari through Botswana’s national parks. It was a brilliant experience, possibly never to be repeated.
September saw publication of Blackshirt Rebellion, in which Hugh Clifton must go on the run to prevent Britain sliding into civil war. It’s the third in the series published by Level Best Books and ties up the deeper plots only hinted at in Blackshirt Masquerade. Thinking ‘now what?’ after Botswana I signed up for a fortnight’s tour of Morocco – desert always appeals to me.
The inaugural ‘Death in the Dales’ crime writing festival was held in Sedburgh in October and was a lot of fun. With another trip to Guernsey and another due it made something like 15 weeks away from my writing desk this year, plus all the weekend conferences so it was time to make progress on the ‘Nunnery’ Roman fort monograph. November was remarkable for not travelling anywhere at all, quite a shock to the system.
Not everyone had such a fortunate year, and it was sadly notable for its funerals; friends, relatives and colleagues, some of whom died unfairly young. Writing Christmas cards to widows instead of couples was sobering. Carpe diem, my friends!
The calendar for 2025 is starting to fill up with conferences, a dig and the first adventure is booked. My new novel is in second draft, and the Nunnery monograph is nearing completion, so watch out for news. Meanwhile, pass the tissues and hot lemon and have a happy new year.
The Complete Jeffrey Flint Archaeological Mysteries are available on Amazon.
Blackshirt Rebellion is available in paperback and ebook from Amazon worldwide.
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