Generous fans support author's latest mystery

But this time, fans of the Blake Hetherington series have a real vested interest in the story.

Author Dawn Nelson, from Hambledon, raised the money to self-publish the book through crowdfunding – a direct online appeal to fans to help fund the book.

In just a few weeks £500 was raised and A Deadly Orientation was printed.

Dawn said: ‘My self-publishing journey started in 2013 with the first in the Blake Hetherington mystery series, Hats Off To Murder.

‘The novelette was well-received and there are now six published mysteries in the series.

‘On completing the seventh mystery I decided to try something a little different.

‘Blake has a growing fan base and so I decided to put the publishing of this book in the hands of Blake’s fans.

‘Crowdfunding this mystery has been fantastic fun. I’ve been able to engage directly with the readers and deliver a book they all have a vested interest in.

‘It’s given the project a real community feel, making the publishing journey for A Deadly Orientation that little bit more special.’

Inspired by Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Hurcule Poirot, Dawn has a passion for detective fiction.

She said: ‘Living so close to the South Downs, I’m often inspired by the world around me – nature, history and of course people.’

A Deadly Orientation’s protagonist, retired milliner Blake Hetherington, is back with his archeologist friend Delilah Delibes.

The latest novel features geocachers, foragers, murderers and archaeologists on the trail of valuable missing artefacts dating back to El Dorado.

The book launch is taking place at The Vine, Hambledon, on December 14 at 8pm.

There will be geocaching and a reading from the novel.

To buy a copy go to amazon.com or dsnelson.co.uk.