How I Celebrated My New Book’s Birthday

Last week, we celebrated the release of a new novel at my annual book launch at my nearest local bookstore. This is always a highlight of my publishing year, thanks to the many friends and readers who show up to celebrate with me. In case you couldn’t join us, here’s a summary of the event:

Describing the new book

I’m excited about The Bridge to Belle Island, a stand-alone romantic mystery. It’s about a young lawyer who is sent to investigate the death of an old friend. Evidence takes him to remote Belle Island, a place shrouded in mist and mystery. There he meets his primary suspect, Isabelle Wilder, a woman who claims she hasn’t left the island in ten years. When a second death brings her admirer, friends, and family under suspicion, secrets come to light, and her island sanctuary will never be the same.

The novel is a historical romance but definitely has elements of a classic murder mystery or “whodunit.” Two of my previous novels (The Tutor’s Daughter and The Secret of Pembrooke Park) had similar elements, but this is my most mysterious yet. It was a challenge to write, but I enjoyed the process.

The book’s setting

The novel is set on an island on the Thames River. Nearly a hundred islands dot the River Thames as it flows across England. I enjoyed researching several of these tiny, fascinating places with colorful histories and intriguing names like Eel Pie Island, Pharaoh’s Island, Monkey Island, Magna Carta island, and others. Some of these islands are uninhabited, others have fine homes on them. Some are reachable by bridge, others only by boat. Belle Island is a fictional place, but it resembles Ray Mill Island, which my husband and I’ve had the pleasure of visiting a few times.  It is now a lovely public park so you can visit it yourself someday.

Not only is the setting somewhat unique, but the characters are as well

Isabelle’s fears keep her trapped on the island (becoming what we might today call agoraphobia) and Benjamin suffers from anxiety-related vertigo. I enjoyed writing about characters striving to overcome their fears, in a time when these kinds of issues were rather taboo, and I hope readers will find the characters relatable because of it.

As mentioned, writing a mystery was a challenge. I didn’t do it alone. I had lots of people to thank:

Writing friends Becky Wade, Katie Ganshert, Jody Hedlund, Courtney Walsh, and Karen Witemeyer who helped me brainstorm the novel early on.

My husband, who listened to many audiobook mysteries with me for inspiration while writing this book.

My first reader, Cari Weber, for her valuable input, my editors, Karen Schurrer and Raela Schoenherr, along with everyone else at Bethany House who reviewed, designed, proofread, and promoted this book.

Anna Paulson and Josie Kawlewski helped with research into Bow Street runners and legal procedures of the day. Anna also reviewed the manuscript and gave me valuable ideas, as did my writing friend, Michelle Griep. Attorney James Nagle reviewed the legal aspects for me. Thanks all!

What’s next from me?

I am returning to the setting of my 3-book series for my first ever Christmas novella called An Ivy Hill Christmas, which releases in September 2020. After that comes a stand-alone novel, which I am working on now, called A Castaway in Cornwall. Prayers appreciated!

Then it was time to solve a mystery!

To help readers get ready to play sleuth, I read a short story called The Mystery of the Missing Book and attendees had to guess “Whodunit.” Suspects included my editor, first reader, assistant, and husband. Maybe 1/3 of participants guessed the correct “culprit.” Correct answers were put into a drawing for prizes like gift cards, movies (Murder on the Orient Express and Death Comes to Pemberley), etc. People really seemed to enjoy it!

Gifts & Signing

After that, everyone received a small gift (a print of Julie Klassen’s England) and then it was time for the signing. If you would like a 6 x 9 print of this map as well, send your mailing address to me at julie@julieklassen.com (while supplies last).

Again, I so appreciated everyone who came. Would you have enjoyed such an event? If you are an author, what creative ideas have you used to make your book signings fun?