What September Means To Me And Why I’m Actually Excited About It.

I love summer. I love the long days, warm evenings, sitting outside with a book, and all the little adventures that come with the season.

But I have to admit… I’m always a little excited when September rolls around.

There’s something comforting about getting back into a routine. The calendar starts filling up, the coffee tastes better somehow, and I find myself thinking about all the things I want to accomplish before the end of the year.

For me, that means books! September is when I start getting serious about planning new stories, working out plots, developing characters, and thinking about where Sydney Jones might find herself next. Developing my protagonist for my brand new series. Her name is Clover McGrady, btw. This series will be a little bit darker and will have a little more suspense. For me, there’s something exciting about having a blank page, and an entire new mystery waiting to be created.

And then there are the practical advantages of September in Ontario…

Fewer mosquitoes. Fewer blackflies. Need I say more? 😂

But mostly, I love what’s coming next. The cooler mornings, crisp evenings, and those spectacular autumn colours that make the north look like it’s been painted.

So yes, I’ll be a little sad to say goodbye to summer.

But I’m ready for September—and all the new stories it might bring.

What do you love (or hate) about September?

Why Do We Love a Good Whodunnit?

There’s something irresistible about a mystery.

Maybe it’s the challenge. We want to spot the clue the detective missed, figure out which suspect is lying, and announce “I knew it!” before the big reveal.

Or maybe it’s the escape. We can step into a world where there’s a puzzle to solve, secrets to uncover, and a satisfying answer waiting at the end.

I think there’s also something wonderfully nosy about a whodunnit. 😂 We get to poke around in other people’s business, listen in on suspicious conversations, examine everyone’s motives. And the great thing about that is that nobody can tell us to mind our own business!

And then there’s that final question that keeps us turning pages:

Who did it?

That’s the magic of a good whodunnit. It makes us want to play detective right alongside the characters, and see if we can solve the mystery before they do.

The Sydney Jones Mysteries are all whodunnits. They are designed to keep you guessing. I think I like writing them so much because I have always loved a good whodunnit. The Nancy Drew Mysteries. Lawrence Saunders’ Archie McNally Series. Or the Sue Grafton Alphabet Series. Those are just 3 series that come to mind, but there are so many more.

What do you love about a good whodunnit?

Book Update On The Next Sydney Jones Whodunnit.

Reunions & Revenge released on August 28th. It is available on Amazon in e-book abd paperback format and will soon be available in e-book format on Kobo, Kobo Plus, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books and mos other digital book retailers. It will also be available in libraries soon. And if you live local to me, I will have signed paperback copies available. I will keep you posted.