January 22, 2014

IMAGES FROM DEBUT NOVEL:
THE DE CLERAMBAULT CODE ...


IMAGES FROM MY FIRST PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE NOVEL

Set in the shadow of Regent’s Park, my very first novel - THE DE CLERAMBAULT CODE - throws a special spotlight on this pocket of North West London.

Firstly, let’s take a look at Regents Park itself, a favoured all-year-round place for reflection for the novel’s protagonist, Laura Hill.

The park has an outer ring road called the Outer Circle (4.3 km) and an inner ring road, the Inner Circle, which surrounds the most carefully tended section of the park, Queen Mary's Gardens. Apart from two link roads between these two, the park is reserved for pedestrians. The south, east and most of the west side of the park are lined with elegant white stucco terraces of houses designed by John Nash. Running through the northern end is Regent's Canal which connects the Grand Union Canal to the former London Docks. The 166 hectares (410 acres) park is mainly open parkland with a wide range of amenities including gardens, a lake and a boating area. The northern side is the home of the London Zoo. There are several public gardens with flowers and specimen plants, especially Queen Mary's Gardens in the Inner Circle - where the Open Air Theatre is also located (snapped below from an air balloon)


The seasons snapped by Laura in Queen Mary’s Gardens (within the Inner Circle):
Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

           Laura, herself, lives at Redhill Place (below) off Albany Street:


                                            To the east of the Park

       She runs the Hampstead English Language Academy on West End Lane, 
                                         near the Finchley Road:  

      The local bookshop, West End Lane Books, has been the spot of many

                 book signings like this one for crime novelist, Ian Rankin:

  Hampstead Heath – another favourite destination for reflection and jogging 
                                      (the City in the background)



                          Later in the novel, Laura travels to Croatia,
                          specifically to the walled city of Dubrovnik


                                      Then to the island of Korkula

                              And to the medieval village of Mali Ston 
                              (and its ominous castle in the background)
                               on the edge of the Peljesac Peninsula

          Towards the end of the novel and in mourning, Laura travels to Venice

   And to Torcello, specifically, the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta di Torcello

 With its world-famous mosaics - which lead Laura to her ultimately fateful decision 
                                               (no spoilers here!

                                                                                          
As you know, all profits from the sale of all my novels, The De Clerambault Code, Soul Stealer and Retribution go to the charity Cudeca - see sidebar opposite (www.cudeca.org).




















See sidebar or click HERE (Amazon UK)HERE (Amazon.com), HERE (Goodreads) and HERE for reviews and further shameless self-promotion! Thanks so much for your support!


N.B. Images from my two other novels are HERE (Soul Stealer) and HERE (Retribution).

And thriller number 4 - set in the UK's beautiful Peak District and the latest in the Alice Myers crime series - will be available soon both in paperback and on Kindle like its predecessors!

Enjoy!

NORA


35 comments:

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

Congratulations!

Arija said...

Congratulations on getting your third child into the world. I hope it does well and makes it's parent proud. It certainly looks interesting with all the relevant places it is set in.

Esther Joy said...

Congratulations on your first novel! What a great accomplishment!

21 Wits said...

Ian Rankin, wow, how cool is that. Great photos as well!

New Jersey Memories said...

Congratulations on the book! Gorgeous photos (I want to visit England so much), and your "assistant" Lola is just adorable!

Pondside said...

Hearty congratulations!
I'd love to follow in Laura's footsteps - such beautiful settings.

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Lola and Nora,

Huge congratulations on your third book. Exciting places where it is set Regent Park and all the gorgeous gardens and the West End.
Best of luck with this.

happy day
hugs
Carolyn

Eden House News and views said...

what a lovely descriotion of your part of London. I would love a good book shop near by. Sadly they are closing all to fast because of ebay amazon and digital books.
See you next week x

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful post and photos ~ book sounds fascinating ~ will check it out ~

carol, xxx
www.acreativeharbor.com

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful post and photos ~ book sounds fascinating ~ will check it out ~

carol, xxx
www.acreativeharbor.com

Anonymous said...

How nice to go back and share your first novel with us. I'm working on my third novel right now.

AppleApricot Wen said...

That's beautiful, I love how you lead us through the novel. And I loved revisiting London this way, one of my fav places in the world. Thank you for sharing with us at OBW!

Unknown said...

Wow! Congratulations Nora. You're a star.

All the best,
Melody

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

I especially like the autumn shot!

Tan Renga Shadows

Ralph said...

The views of the UK and Europe (I assume that Britain is not really Europe) are wonderful in all seasons. London is huge but Regents Park and Hampstead Heath are each an oasis of quiet in an urban jungle...Dubrovnik being walled is perhaps an oasis in a land of strife. Amazing and beautiful views all!

Susan Anderson said...

What lovely and dramatic settings!

=)

Angie said...

Such an enjoyable blog - I will return!

Inger Marie said...

Wow...this is lovly shot!
So many nice trip..engoy:)

Al said...

Congratulations on your novels! I love city parks, they're such an oasis (I know, it's an overused cliche, but a true one). Getting into nature recharges me.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Congratulations for publishing and going LIVE!...:)JP

Nonnie said...

congrats to you! and a big round of applause to your generosity to Cudeco, as well as others who provide the sevice to cancer patients!

Nonnie said...

I just ordered the Kindle version of your book. I'm anxious to start reading it!
Nonnie, USA

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Beautiful travels! Loved all the seasons too.

Jan said...

Lovely post with all those gorgeous photos. I love reading books set in UK.

SmilingSally said...

Hello Nora & Lola,

How thrilling it must be to publish!

I look forward to reading your comment on my blog.
Happy Blue Monday!

Tess @ Pro-tography 101 said...

Congrats!Lovely photos and now I want to read that book.

Anonymous said...

A milestone to be proud of ... thank you for giving us a tour of the locations!!

Susie Clevenger said...

Congratulations and thanks for letting us see the locations in your book!!

Hannah said...

Nora, what splendid settings for your novel, and I can only imagine getting to spend time in all these places and getting to know them in order to write about them.

Anni said...

Thank you for an interesting trip!

Laura said...

Congratulations on your novel Nora… fantastic! Thanks for sharing the love up-close with I Heart Macro:-)

Hazel said...

I'm glad to have set foot on Regents'Park when I went to London in 2006. Beautiful images.

Gillena Cox said...

wow! and congratulations


much love...

Jocelyn said...

Beautiful pictures!!

Jocelyn @ http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

Jenny said...

This novel sounds like it is jammed full of interesting places...

I would just look but now I really want to jump in and read this!

Thanks for linking to the letter "J".

A+