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 is writing about the upside of being a bestselling author (or moderately well-known, as she prefers to say).

• A new guest feature: The Time Tourist by Essie Foxford - Tripadvisor style reviews of historical events

• Get Jodi’s books on Kindle Unlimited

• Win a SIGNED hardback and one-of-a-kind signed print when you pre-order A Family Affair by Jodi Taylor

• NEW! Writing Competition - write a short play to be performed at Jodiworld

• Short Story of the Month: Christmas Past

  There’s plenty to read this week and you can see everything on the blog too. CLICK HERE for the blog.

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Someone once asked me – what’s the upside of being a bestselling author?

There was a bit of a pause while we discussed the term bestselling, finally settling on moderately well-known. Sorry, but I can’t help it. I find it hard to think of myself as an author, let alone a bestselling author. Moderately well-known was the compromise.

Anyway, to answer the question:

I think the biggest – and certainly the most unexpected upside – is when people tell me my books have helped them through dark times. That they’ve made a difference to their lives. Like most people I find it hard to believe that something I have done could actually make a difference. And for the better, as well. And to the lives of people I haven’t ever met. I think anyone would find that difficult to take on board. We all donate to the charities of our choice, or perhaps do a little voluntary work every now and then, but actually, to have a specific action help someone you’ve never met – to shine a little light in a dark time – is quite hard to believe.

I don’t know why I’m so surprised – we all have times when things don’t go well for us. Days when we just don’t want to get out of bed and face the world. It’s happened to me once or twice and I always found great comfort in the stories of Georgette Heyer. They’re well written and light and witty and fun. Yes, there’s always the happy ending but it was the journey to that happy ending that was so important to me. Her books made such a difference to my life but I can honestly say that at no point did I ever, ever think I would be in a position to pay back my debt. So yes, I think that’s always the thing that comes to mind first when I’m asked about the benefits of being moderately well-known.

Something much more petty now. People ask me if I’ve always wanted to write and the answer is no. Writing got me into an enormous amount of trouble at school. When commanded to submit an entry for the school poetry competition I wrote about cannibalism (I still am, actually. Just wait until you read Home in Time for Tea, a new St Mary’s short story in the Short on Time anthology out in May 2027). That did not go down well. My essays were continually red-lined for using slang or poor English and frequently emblazoned with the dreaded See Me. Presumably in the eyes of the educational establishments of the mid 1960s, everyone spoke in perfectly constructed and grammatically correct English. Which, let me tell you – we didn’t. I can see the point of that in academic essays, but in children’s stories … Wouldn’t it be nice if one of the benefits of being moderately well-known was to be able to go back in time and say, ‘See. I was right and you were wrong. And what’s wrong with cannibalism anyway?’

Petty revenge aside, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to two wonderful history teachers – Miss Tregaskes and Mrs Allison – who ignored my trouble-making ways and did so much to foster my love of History.

Moving on to a fun benefit – being moderately well-known has given me an excellent excuse for talking to myself. Even in public. I tell people I’m not going mad – although the consensus is that I am – I’m simply working on dialogue. Or character development. I am also now permitted to stare out of the window for long periods of time – something parents, teachers and employers found particularly irritating – but these days I’m not daydreaming; I’m simply working out a complicated plot. Best of all, I don’t have to go outside if I don’t want to. I can stay inside and work on my story and everyone’s happy. Deadlines darling! So useful.

What else? Oh yes – I can finally justify buying so many books. Because they’re not for me – not as such – they’re for research. Or reviewing. Or monitoring trends in other genres. Or following favourite authors. Keeping abreast of my chosen profession, anyway and all perfectly legitimate.

Next one – occasionally I’m recognised in the street. I do tend to start nervously and shy backwards but once we’ve established that I don’t owe anyone any money, I’m delightful. And writing is quite a lonely profession. Just me, my laptop, Matt and Hotel Chocolat, plus whatever’s in my head at the moment, so it’s lovely to be able to have a chat with a real person.

Oh – this is a good one. My family have finally stopped asking me when I’m going to get a proper job. They’ve finally accepted that this is what I do for a living. Not that any of them have read my books – other than my mum, of course. Occasionally, just for fun, I ask them what they thought of my last book and watch them panic and struggle for an answer or run away. Christmas lunch is always good fun because unless they’re willing to abandon good food and drink, they have to stay put and try to think of something to say. There’s always a slight smell of burning when that happens. And then they start passing each other Brussels sprouts like they’re going out of fashion. Would you believe that when it comes to choosing between either Brussels sprouts or conversation with me, they choose the sprouts?

And speaking of my lovely readers – which I was several paragraphs ago for anyone who’s dropped off. I am continually surprised and delighted to discover that not only are my readers utterly bonkers but also extraordinary knowledgeable. I wonder if the two are connected. I do know that I have never appealed for assistance in vain. Whether ancient Anglo-Saxon phrases, how horseboxes work, gas fires, the Welsh language, hydraulic engineering, what do snipers wear, sex clubs, how to murder someone with a helicopter, or how to cause a condom to explode – there’s always someone out there willing to help, so please let me say thank you to everyone who has taken the time and trouble to assist me in my quest for strange and bizarre information. Yes – you know who you are.

And please don’t worry – your secrets are safe with me. In the event of my death my family are under strict instructions to step over my lifeless body and delete my browser history before calling the ambulance, so you can all sleep soundly tonight.

Get Jodi’s books on Kindle Unlimited

Over the next couple of weeks, the St Mary’s and Time Police books will be available on Kindle Unlimited in the UK, USA and Australia - yes, we heard you down there! This will not prevent them being available on other retailers platforms.

They are already available in the UK. CLICK HERE to enjoy a 30 day free trial for Kindle Unlimited in the UK.

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The Time Tourist - The only travel guide guaranteed to be out of date by Essie Foxford

Thomas Cook’s Great Exhibition Excursion (1851)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

First Impressions

How else to begin my travels than with one of the world’s first package holidays? Mr Cook certainly knows his business. The ticket includes rail travel to Hyde Park, admission to the Exhibition and even refreshments. One simply turns up and enjoys the day. No online booking forms, no hidden extras, and nobody trying to sell me travel insurance because “you never know”.

Getting there

What the train lacks in suspension, it makes up for in punctuality and the enthusiasm of my fellow travellers, many of whom had never travelled by rail before. My only complaint? Apparently the rest of Britain has booked the same excursion.

Attractions

The Crystal Palace is extraordinary. A vast conservatory of glass and iron, filled with inventions, machinery and curiosities from around the world. If you’ve ever wondered what can be improved by adding steam, this is the place to find out. It’s noisy, crowded and worth every minute you have to spare.

Surprisingly, the attraction everyone seems determined to discuss, isn’t the machinery or even the underwhelming Koh-i-Noor. It’s the public retiring rooms.

For the modest sum of one penny, visitors can make use of the flushing toilets and receive a complimentary towel, comb and shoe shine. Money well spent. In every sense.

Overall Verdict

Highly recommended but leave room in your luggage. I only intended to buy a guidebook. Instead, I left with commemorative china, a paperweight and a new appreciation for Victorian salesmanship.

In “No Time Like the Past” by Jodi Taylor, Max and the team from St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research jump back to Victorian London and The Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace. READ MORE here.

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Would you like to write a guest post for the newsletter? We'd love to hear from you. Whether it's history, travel, a book review or a humorous anecdote, please send a brief outline of your idea to hazel@rushford.ltd. We can't wait to read it!

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The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal has been selected for a July Kindle Monthly Deal in both the UK and the US - hooray! If you haven’t read the first book in the series then now is the time at just 99p or 99 cents.

CLICK HERE for UK CLICK HERE for USA

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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!

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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.

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Christmas Past - available for Kindle and is included in Long Story Short anthology

The First Farrell Family Christmas.

Max, Leon, and their son Matthew prepare to celebrate their first Christmas together at St Mary’s—a season known for extravagant feasts, spirited antics, and the traditional, albeit unauthorised, festive time jump. This year, the adventure becomes a family affair.

Max takes Matthew on a journey back to 19th-century London to deliver a parcel of Christmas cheer to his former companions. However, their plans lead them into a confrontation with the formidable Old Ma Scrope, adding an unexpected twist to their excursion. Despite the pain of the past, they discover that goodwill and family ties can transcend time itself.

Jodi Taylor says…

‘The one where Matthew and Max take their first steps towards an understanding. The king-sized picnic they take to the starving boys was personally researched by me. I don’t think anyone realises quite how many sausages authors must force down for the sake of verisimilitude. A little more sympathy, please.’

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