Well, here we are again. Another year ends with me apologising for not blogging enough on here. Really must do better.
In some ways, it’s been a bit of a difficult time. Those of you who follow me on Facebook will have seen all those monthly flights being logged back and forth to Bristol Airport. Basically I’m trying to spend a week in Wales every month for what are best described as difficult family reasons. I’ll admit I’ve been finding it a bit tough. I don’t like spending time away from Caroline (and Mimi) but, for the moment, the situation is what it is.
There’s been good stuff as well, of course. “The Venetian Sanctuary” came out to really positive reviews – possibly the best I’ve received. Not bad for a book that I was a little nervous about. Just goes to show, you’re never the best judge of your own work.
Next year’s book, “The Magus of Sicily”, is almost ready to go. I enjoyed writing this one and think that – if you’ve been enjoying the company of Nathan and Fede – you’ll enjoy spending time with Calogero and Nedda. That’ll be coming your way next July, with the paperback of “Venetian Sanctuary” out in April.
Elsewhere, Nathan makes his debut in the Netherlands next year with the release of “The Venetian Game” in Dutch; and “The Venetian Masquerade” is coming out in Estonia. Oh, and there’ll be a supermarket edition of “Venetian Game” over there as well, which is quite exciting as I’ve never cracked the supermarkets before. And on the writing front, well I’m just about to start work on the Nathan/Venice novel for 2026 and I’ve been enjoying getting back into his head again.
October saw myself, David Hewson, Gregory Dowling, Tom Benjamin and a host of others at the inaugural Venice Noir festival of crime writing. Or, Venice Noir 0.0 as we’ve been calling it. We’ll be back next year from the 14th – 16th November and it’s going to be bigger and better. Get those flights booked now, you’re not going to want to miss this one!
Next year also brings Gwyl Crime Cymru 2025 over the weekend of the 25 – 27th April. I can’t say too much more about this now other than that the programme is coming together very nicely and we hope to have a line-up to announce early in the New Year. We had a fantastic time in Aberystwyth back in 2023. Do come and see us this time, for a mixture of the very best in Welsh and International crime writing. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I might even stand you a Negroni!
Media-wise, here’s a few recordings with me from the past twelve months; in conversation with, respectively, David Hewson, Paul Burke and John Bleasdale about Venice, crime writing, Ian Fleming and lots of other stuff besides.
https://davidhewson.com/philip-gwynne-jones-the-accidental-novelist/
And if you’re interested in hearing me bang on about things other than crime, Venice and Italian Prog, I’ve started regular podcasting with my good pals from the House of Hammer podcast – Cev Moore, Adam Roche and Smokey (just Smokey). The pod covers the entire history of Hammer films – not just the horror – from 1935 until the present day. I join the lads in 1961, from “Taste of Fear” onwards and the entire back catalogue can be found here…….happy listening.
As I said then, it’s been a difficult year in many ways, but there has been good stuff as well. We shall see what happens in 2025.
This isn’t *quite* my last communication of the year. Keep an eye on your inbox. There might just be a little something dropping into it before Christmas.
With warmest wishes for the festive season and a peaceful New Year. And, of course, with my continuing thanks,
Philip
Philip Gwynne Jones 