Getting Published

It's been a few months since I wrote through to the end of my novel and a few weeks since I finished editing it. I've had a lot of support from my mum (chief editor) and my fellow début novelists. We meet regularly to discuss our books and lick our wounds as we receive the inevitable rejections.
The route to publishing is via an agent and finding one is hard. The first stage is to submit a sample of the novel, normally the first three chapters and a synopsis, supported by a good covering letter.
Some agents will accept email submissions and some like hard copies, all have their own submission guidelines which should be followed to the letter.
Rejection is a part of the whole process and I've only had a couple of 'nos' so far but it is difficult. Irons must be placed back in the fire and the search continues. At no time have I doubted my book or its worth, I just need to find the right person to represent me.

The last few months have been manic at murdermysteryfun.com, lots of games sales, loads of great parties. For me the best part is when you send in your photos and feedback for the website gallery. It always gives me such a thrill to get emails and photos from all over the world showing murdermysteryfun parties.
I have also spent a lot of time writing and editing my first novel, which is a murder mystery (of course!) but this time for adults. Now comes the hard part, submitting it to agents and publishers, wish me luck!

Vampires!

So, the next murdermysteryfun game is in development and it is going to be about a Vampire!

Murder Mystery Games for the Adults?

I have spent the last few years writing games for the younger market and am now toying with the idea of expanding in to games for older players. My games have been used by family groups, teens etc but I have not written a game specifically for adults.

Not that I would want to produce a game that contained anything offensive to a younger audience but my games are written with that younger target audience in mind so they are tailored to their needs and abilities. It might be fun to get stuck in to a fiendishly difficult and dastardly plot!

Why not add some personal touches to your party!

Following on from the last post I thought you might like to hear from a customer how they added to the theme of the game by incorporating some of their own ideas.

Hi Amanda
Just wanted to let you know that this was a HUGE success with my daughter and her friends.As 8/9 year olds they followed it well, probably just needing a little more guidance from the 'Producer' than older children would eg we did the Q&A sessions as a group.
A few touches we added:
I decided to send out the character details in the week before, just to give them a flavour of what was to come (taking care to asign the * characters to the more reliable friends). They went out in envelopes marked 'top secret' and it definitely got them talking at school.
- I rang my husbands (the Producers) mobile phone as if I was calling to give the information about Vinnie's death
- similarly I rang the doorbell to fake the 'evidence' being delivered by the police
- we also produced 'I'm innocent' and 'I murdered Vinnie' badges for them to pick out of a bowl as they read their confessions at the end.
This is a brilliantly produced and well thought out product.
I hope it continues to sell well!
With best wishes
Barbara

Creating the right theme for your murder mystery party

Once you have chosen which game you would like from the ten we have on offer, you will want to start to think about the theme of your party.

Costumes will be important and each game has lots of ideas for costumes. It is possible of course to go out and buy an outfit from a party shop but just as easy to make one, or source one on line from eBay. In the past I have bought costumes and then resold them for almost as much, so the 'rental' cost is negligible.

Then there is the venue. If you are holding your party at home then you will want to add a few decorations to the room or outside area you are playing in. This is the time to get creative. A few well placed props can make all the difference. For the HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE party I added a Hollywood sign to a bush in the garden. I told the kids it was in the Hollywood hills and they loved it! We played under the gazebo with red napkins and an old candelabra on the table.

For HAUNTED HOUSE I bought fake cobwebs to drape over mirrors and doors and we blacked out the windows with black bin bags.

And don't forget the power of suggestion. We played TREASURE OF THE PYRAMIDS at our village hall and I told the kids that all the treasure was behind a red velvet curtain that ran across the stage. One boy spent the whole game trying to take a peak!

Birthday cakes and food can also help tie-in a theme with a pink Cadillac cake for RIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL PROM and pink lemonade at THE MOVIE BUSINESS.

Have fun, don't over complicate things, and enjoy the party!

Roman Revenge is launched!

Friends and family gathered over the bank holiday weekend to help us test out our latest game Roman Revenge - An Ancient Murder Mystery.
We all dressed up, as you can see from the photo, and I provided lasagne and pizza in return for their sleuthing and acting abilities.
A great time was had by all and the game played very well, it is now on the website and already selling well.