The Rushford Times - A weekly newsletter from Jodi Taylor
Sent on Wednesdays to paid subscribers and Fridays to free subscribers
This week we have:
Jodi writing about holidays
The Jodiworld Honours Board and Stop the Clock ceremony
Save 25% on A Family Affair at Barnes & Noble
NEW! Writing Competition - write a short play to be performed at Jodiworld
Win a SIGNED hardback and one-of-a-kind signed print when you pre-order A Family Affair by Jodi Taylor
Bad Moon is a Kindle 99p/99c deal for June
JUNE - GUESS THE BOOK COMPETITION
Short Story of the Month: A Perfect Storm
There’s plenty to read this week and you can see everything on the blog too. CLICK HERE for the blog.
Well, that was a great week off – I must do that again. In another 13 years, perhaps.
Highlights included:
Escorting my mother to her X-ray. She’s fine – I may never recover. Don’t ask.
Running out of wall on which to draft all the plotlines of future stories, I’ve been pulling all the art off the walls in my bedroom so I have room to scribble my notes for WTCHGB, Time Police 7, and the next Smallhope and Pennyroyal novel all over them. My theory is that my brain will turn over all the relevant plot points as I sleep and produce perfect solutions as soon as I open my eyes the next morning. Instinct and experience both tell me this is unlikely to occur.
Visiting Hotel Chocolat – no non-working week is complete without one of these. There were massive discounts all over the shop. The more I spent the more I saved and it would have been rude not to take this opportunity to support the economy. I’m pleased to report the economy has been supported big-time.
Having my eyes tested. I haven’t needed a new prescription for years but I suspect the time has come to admit my poor vision isn’t always the result of greasy fingerprints across the lenses. Note from my optician – stop shoving my specs into the washing up water because it’s not doing them any good. Anything that can dissolve grease and food particles is going to make short work of my specs. So noted.
Lunching with the more disreputable members of my family – which is all of them. A great deal of food was washed down with even more alcohol. I don’t know at what point the Rottweiler turned up but he was delightful. Very friendly. And also quite heavy. And warm. He was a very warm dog.
Please allow me to mention Gloucester’s new hotel – Indigo – which boasts a first-class restaurant with really lovely staff and a cocktail bar on the fifth floor with views over the cathedral. Or so they told me. After the third margarita I couldn’t even see the table in front of me. On the other hand, that might be due more to wonky eyesight rather than an overindulgence in all things tequila.
Visiting a stately home with beautiful gardens so that my brother could run through the disposing of his sister’s ashes routine. Sadly, this never really got off the ground because neither of us could remember the tree under which they were supposed to be scattered. There was discussion and some of it was not amicable.
Releasing the Christmas story – Twelfth Night – which is now at my publishers. With luck the edits won’t come back until I’ve stopped enjoying myself so much and am in a much less frivolous frame of mind.
And reading. And more reading. Stretching out on the sofa with various Hotel Chocolat products to hand and just … reading. I’ve sailed through four books already. If I can keep this up there’s a very good chance my TBR pile will actually be shorter than me and there aren’t many things in this world that can say that.
Tidying my bookshelves. Not all of them, obviously – just the four behind the sofa where I shove everything I don’t know what to do with.
Discoveries included:
Four notebooks relating to TP5 and EC3! No idea how they got there and it’s too late to incorporate any of the plot points now.
Half a dozen sketch pads.
Four art books.
One photograph album I thought I’d lost.
One unopened box of Hotel Chocolat goodies marked Happy Birthday, so they’ve been there at least nine months. I genuinely had no idea they were there and they’re a bit of a problem since my cupboard is already stuffed with chocolate goodness. See one of the above paras.
One flowerpot filled with soil. Why? I mean – seriously – why?
One flowerpot with a lump of very ancient oasis. No, I don’t know, either.
One boom box. Complete with a CD. Which dates it somewhat.
I’ve really enjoyed my week off. So much so I’m thinking of doing it again. Starting tomorrow. I’m head down in Robert Jackson Bennett’s Shadow of the Leviathan series – they are so good – and it would be nice to get that finished before I start writing on the walls again. Holidays have always been something that happened to other people but I’m beginning to see the attraction.
Happy week, everyone.
Jodi x
The Jodiworld Honours Board and Stop the Clock ceremony by Karin Mallion (Jodiworld Events)
One of the things that makes Jodiworld special is that it has never been just about books. Over the years, what began as a shared love of Jodi Taylor’s stories has become something much more ~ a welcoming community of friends spread across the world, united by laughter, kindness, and a mutual appreciation for shenanigans.
The Jodiworld Honours Board exists to remember those members of our family who are no longer with us. Last year we also started a new tradition at the Jodiworld Convention, we held a Stop the Clock ceremony, like the Time Police ceremony, to honour and remember them.
The great Sir Terry Pratchett wrote, “A man is not dead while his name is still spoken.” Which captures exactly what the Honours Board represents. “We’re St Mary’s and we never leave our people behind.” is a sentiment that has become part of the spirit of Jodiworld too. By remembering our friends, telling their stories, and speaking their names, we ensure they remain part of our journey.
Sadly, in the past two weeks we have added two more names to the board:
Hayley Atkins, partner of Helen Rowe. Hayley attended the first Jodiworld Convention and she left a lasting impression on those who met her. Our thoughts remain with Helen and all who loved her.
Wendy Marshall, partner of Joe Tetsab. Wendy and Joe have been part of virtually every Jodiworld event we’ve ever held. Whether at conventions, gatherings, or behind the scenes, Wendy was woven into the fabric of our community, and her loss has been felt deeply by all who knew her.
The Honours Board is more than a memorial. It is a reminder that those who helped build this community will always remain part of it.
Barnes & Noble are running a promotion for 25% off pre-orders for hardback, eBook and audiobook of A Family Affair – from Tuesday 23rd June to Friday 26th June. This is a wonderful opportunity for fans across the pond to enjoy a big saving. The promotion code is: PREORDER25
New Writing Competition! Write a short play to be performed at Jodiworld
This is your chance to put words into the mouths of two figures from history — and add a little Jodi Taylor chaos to the mix.
The Brief
Your play must feature two historical figures meeting for afternoon tea. What they talk about, argue about, or discover they have in common is entirely up to you.
The play must be set within or make use of one or more of Jodi Taylor’s fictional universes.
Entries may be comic, dramatic, heartfelt, chaotic, or any combination thereof — but should feel at home within the spirit of Jodi Taylor’s worlds.
Win a SIGNED hardback and one-of-a-kind signed print when you pre-order A Family Affair by Jodi Taylor
Everyone’s favourite time-travelling bounty hunters are back in A Family Affair, the twisty and hilarious new Smallhope & Pennyroyal adventure!
We are offering one lucky fan the chance to win a hardback copy of A Family Affair and a one-of-a-kind A4 art print, both signed by Jodi Taylor herself.
To enter the prize draw, simply pre-order your copy of A Family Affair in any format, from any UK retailer of your choice, and upload your proof of purchase via the link below. You’ll be automatically entered. Good luck!
Bad Moon is a Kindle 99p/99c deal for June
CLICK HERE for UK CLICK HERE for USA
JUNE - GUESS THE AUDIO BOOK COMPETITION
Guess the book and character speaking for your chance to win a signed copy of Out of Time
Put your knowledge of Jodi’s books to the test with our audio clip competition. Listen carefully to a short extract and see if you can identify the book and the character speaking for a chance to win a signed copy of Out of Time.
Audiobooks are hugely popular among Jodi Taylor fans, bringing her stories to life through distinctive voices, character-driven performances, and immersive narration. For many readers, audiobooks offer the perfect way to enjoy a favourite series while commuting, walking, or relaxing. They make stories more accessible, flexible, and engaging than ever.
Tune in, trust your ears, and see if you can name the book and the characters behind the voices.
A Perfect Storm - available for Kindle and is included in The Long and Short of It anthology
Max and her colleagues are facing an unusual challenge—one that doesn’t require them to jump through time but is no less chaotic. Thanks to the world’s most misguided publicity campaign, a film producer is on his way to St Mary’s to avail himself of their services. Equally eager to secure a contract for his next three films, Dr Bairstow instructs Max to ensure all goes well. Or else.
Also involved in the drama is David Sands’ latest book – a time travel story – which bears just a teeny tiny resemblance to St Mary’s and which Max is to suppress. Or else.
Unfortunately, nothing at St Mary’s ever goes to plan, and Max and the team soon find themselves at the centre of a series of disasters entirely of their own making.
From Professor Rapson and his megaphone antics to exploding rocks, legendary pub crawls, superheroes and the world’s largest bacon butty, chaos reigns. The appearance of Angus, one-third of a particularly messy love triangle, only adds fuel to the fire, ensuring that the week at St Mary’s is definitely one for the record books. Just not in a good way.
Jodi Taylor says…
‘Oh yes. Calvin Cutter – bless him. His one-sided telephone call to Marge, his PA, as she’s trying to have her baby in peace was so much fun to write.’
No jumps but “some people are perfectly capable of endangering life and limb by staying quietly at home” (Authors’s note).
 | A guest post by
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Beautiful words about Wendy.
Thank you so much.
I have come to realise over the last week how much we are loved.
GNU Wendy and Hayley.