A bit of Ginger Gold history.
Most readers of this blog already know Ginger Gold is my break out character in the Ginger Gold mystery series. I released the first book in May of 2017, and had no idea how big this world would become. Currently, there are 26 books in the main series, 2 spin-off series( 6 Higgins and Hawke and 10 Rosa Reed books), 12 short stories (Lady Gold Investigates) and a prequel short story (Mayhem or Miss the Boat.)
And an extensive accounting of Ginger's life as a spy during WW1.
I don't remember exactly when I decided to write about Ginger's life prior to the start of the Ginger Gold Mystery series. The idea germinated as I wrote the initial books and made references to her life "before." After a while, it made sense to track these or future reference. At the same time, I wanted to do something special for my newsletter list. These readers believed in me enough to agree to hear from me semi-regularly, and I wanted to do something unique for them. Thus, Ginger's Journal was born.
Initially the books informed the journal, but over time, the journal started informing the books, meaning ideas from the journal would end up in my books, not the other way around!
It became obvious that the journal had a life of its own. I had proof of this through newsletter opening stats. Anytime I included a journal entry, the open email stats jumped significantly!
Eventually, the inevitable happened, and I came to the end of the war years and reached the days leading up to the beginning of the series.
The question what to do with this unedited, randomly organised material?
I asked my readers if they'd like to see the journal expanded and edited and available for sale as a new book - two new books, actually, because of the volume of material in the journals - and the answer came back as a solid YES.
And so, The Velvet Spy was born.
Step into the courageous world of espionage and resilience.
This extraordinary volume unveils the hidden life of Lady Ginger Gold, a daring operative for British Intelligence during the Great War.
Through her vivid and deeply personal journal entries, Lady Gold pens the tension of covert missions behind enemy lines, the heartache of separation from loved ones, and the triumphs and sacrifices that shaped history. From navigating dangerous assignments in occupied France to outwitting German spies and forging alliances in the unlikeliest of places, Lady Gold's story is one of bravery and determination in a world torn apart by war.
With her sharp wit and unwavering resolve, Lady Gold immerses readers in the chaos and heroism of a time when ordinary individuals rose to face extraordinary challenges. The Velvet Spy is not just a tale of espionage—it is a testament to the indomitable spirit of a woman who risked everything to serve her country.
Were you/are you a fan of Ginger's Journal? What was it that you liked about it? Are you looking forward to a "beefed up" version?
1 comment
I thoroughly enjoyed Ginger's Journal and would love to see a "beefed up" version. I enjoyed seeing a braver and more fragile side of her. I guess it could be called more "raw." Seeing the dangers that prevailed at the time and how she put herself into helping with the war effort shows a whole other side of her we don't see in the more "cozy" mystery series. It also, for me, makes that era more real and the war more three dimensional. Of course, I have read All Quiet on the Western Front and seen movies about that period of time, but tracking a female civilian-turned-spy is a new perspective and I would love to read more in that vein.