As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This summer a brief let-up in the Covid restrictions allowed novelist Donna Fletcher Crow and her daughter-in-law food writer Kelly Crow to spend two weeks in France and Switzerland. Their pretext for this bold venture was the need to chaperone Donna’s granddaughter Jane from her summer ballet program at the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco back to her school in Basel, Switzerland.
In truth, they spent the time deep in research on their favorite topics: literature and food. They visited the sites known to many of Donna’s favorite authors such as Somerset Maugham, Agatha Christie and Alexander Dumas. Kelly explored Auguste Escoffier’s connections to the Riviera, and sought out the best in markets, street food, and Michelin-starred restaurants.
Crow’s copiously illustrated articles in this series will transport visitors to these sites and allow readers to share the two women’s extraordinary experience:
Have tea at the Welcome Hotel in Ville-Franche-sur-Mer with Somerset Maugham and Jean Cocteau and enjoy Maugham’s delightful short story “The Three Fat Women of Antibes.”
Sail to Saint-Tropez and visit the Isle of Sainte-Margurite where the Man in the Iron Mask, later used in a novel by Alexandre Dumas, was imprisoned for 34 years.
Visit Auguste Escoffier’s home in Monaco, next door to the Princess Grace Academy of Classic Dance and learn how he single-handedly transformed French cuisine through his cooking and his writing.
Enjoy the sumptuous and historic Hotel Negresco in Nice with Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot as he strives to solve ‘The Mystery of the Blue Train’.
Then on to Paris to encounter the luxurious Blue Train with Mr. Bean, Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler, and Georges Simeon.
Crow said, “In these challenging times when travel is so difficult, if not impossible for many, I was extremely fortunate to have this brief respite and I am delighted to offer a bit of an escape to my readers. I hope an armchair adventure might inspire people so look forward to brighter times ahead and maybe even start planning their own travels.”
The articles are available in “The Authorized Version” section at her website at https://donnafletchercrow.com.
In addition, Crow recently announced the release of Part I of the Celtic Cross series, The Struggle for a Nation. The Celtic Cross series is a sweeping saga of the story of Scotland. The four books in the series are adapted from her best-selling epic historical fiction novel, ‘The Fields of Bannockburn’ which was named Best Historical Novel 1996 by the American Federation of Press Women. The four books (or Epochs) in the series are:
Epoch 1 ‘The Keeper of the Stone, Of Saints and Chieftains’
Epoch 2 ‘The Forger of a Nation, Of Kings and Kingdoms’
Epoch 3 ‘The Refiner of the Realm, Of Queens and Clerics’
Epoch 4 ‘The Vanquishers of Tyranny, Of Priests and Patriots’
Crow said, “I am so excited to be able to share the accomplishments of these amazing historical characters with a new generation of readers. The epic novels from which I have adapted each of the individual epochs of The Celtic Cross series have been out of print for almost a quarter of a century and never available in ebook. Now these all-new editions will be readily available worldwide.”
Donna Fletcher Crow is the author of 50 books, mostly novels of British history. She has taken a number of high-level industry awards for her work. Many of her books have been bestsellers in their categories, including ‘A Most Inconvenient Death’, which achieved #1 bestseller status in Christian Suspense. ‘The Fields of Bannockburn’, the epic from which The Celtic Cross Series, Part I: Scotland, The Struggle for a Nation is based, was listed as Fiction Bestseller by Christian Book Distributors and ‘The Banks of the Boyne’, the epic from which The Celtic Cross Series, Part II: Ireland, The Pursuit of Peace is based, hit #3 Best-Selling Fiction.
‘Glastonbury’ is her best-known book, which received the prestigious First Place, Historical Novel, award from the National Federation of Press Women. Readers and reviewers have raved about ‘Glastonbury’, calling it “The best of its kind,” “richly fascinating,” “beautifully researched,” “gloriously evocative,” and “panoramic.” One Amazon reader said, “WHAT a work! Every reader can be enveloped in the sheer scope and quality, every historian be constantly nodding at the precise detail and accuracy, and every Christian can rejoice in the fullness of scripture. For me it is simply beyond descriptive praise. I would urge all who value truth to treat themselves to a feast.”
The Celtic Cross is a 2-part series which begins with Scotland: The Struggle for a Nation. In 4 individual epochs it tells the stories of—’The Keeper of the Stone,’ St. Columba; ‘The Forger of a Nation,’ Kenneth MacAlpin; ‘The Refiner of the Realm,’ Queen Margaret; ‘The Vanquishers of Tyranny,’ William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Watch for all 6 epochs of Part II, Ireland, The Pursuit of Peace, coming early 2022.
The Elizabeth & Richard Mysteries is a literary suspense series using literary figures as background: Rudyard Kipling in ‘The Flame Ignites’, Dorothy L Sayers in ‘The Shadow of Reality’, Shakespeare in ‘A Midsummer Eve’s Nightmare’, and Jane Austen in both ‘A Jane Austen Encounter’ and ‘A Most Singular Venture’. Watch for ‘A Prodigious Sum of Corpses: Seeking Sanditon at Jane Austen’s Seashore’, which will take readers to all of Austen’s favorite seashore resorts. Accounts of Crow’s visits to these sites are available on her blog under the heading “Jane Austen Seashore Tour.”
The Monastery Murders Series features atmospheric contemporary crimes with their roots buried deep in the middle ages. Books in the series include ‘A Very Private Grave’, ‘A Darkly Hidden Truth’, ‘An Unholy Communion’, ‘A Newly Crimsoned Reliquary’, ‘An All-Consuming Fire’ and the newly-released ‘Against All Fierce Hostility.’
The Daughters of Courage, ‘Kathryn’, ‘Elizabeth’ and ‘Stephanie’ is a pioneer family saga based on the stories of Crow’s own family and other Idaho pioneers in the Kuna, Nampa and Boise area. A short story on her blog entitled “A Nostalgic Fourth of July” is based on a scene from ‘Kathryn: Days of Loss and Hope’.
Where There is Love is a 6-book series of the enduring legacy of love and faith all based on historic people and events. The titles are: ‘Where Love Begins’, ‘Where Love Illumines’, ‘Where Love Triumphs’, ‘Where Love Restores’, ‘Where Love Shines’, and ‘Where Love Calls’.
The Lord Danvers Victorian true-crime series is an Amazon bestseller in the British Detectives category. Books in the series include ‘A Lethal Spectre’, ‘A Most Inconvenient Death’, ‘Grave Matters’, ‘To Dust You Shall Return’ and ‘A Tincture of Murder’. Donna provides a no-charge download of ‘A Tincture of Murder’ for those who sign up for her newsletter. More information is available at her website.
Where Love Begins, Best Historical Romance, Pinnacle Awards 2019
A Lethal Spectre, Best Mystery, Pinnacle Awards, 2019
Glastonbury, First Place, Historical Fiction, National Federation of Press Women Award of Merit
The Banks of the Boyne, Silver Angel; First Place Historical Fiction, National Federation Press Women
The Fields of Bannockburn, First Place Historical Fiction, National Federation Press Women
Professional Achievement Award, Northwest Nazarene College
Juvenile Books Award of Merit, Idaho Press Women
Top Idaho Author
Pacesetter Award, Mt. Hermon Writers Conference
Outstanding Historical Fiction, Idaho Press Women, National Federation of Press Women,
Idaho Writer of the Year
Best Inspirational Novel, Finalist Romance Writers of America
Writer of the Year, Mt. Hermon Writers Conference
Donna is available for media interviews and can be reached by email at . All of her books are available at online book retailers. More information, including a no-charge download of ‘A Tincture of Murder’, is available at her website at https://www.donnafletchercrow.com.
Donna and her husband live in Boise, Idaho. They have 4 adult children and 15 grandchildren living on 3 continents. Donna is a former English literature teacher and lifelong Anglophile. Idahoans with long memories will remember her as a former Queen of the Snake River Stampede, Miss Rodeo Idaho and runner-up for Miss Rodeo America. She is an enthusiastic gardener.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.
On The Table Read Magazine, "the best entertainment eBook magazine UK", Janet Sherlund's memoir, "Abandoned…
On The Table Read Magazine, "the best entertainment eBook magazine UK", Ella Rosa's "FUN" is…
On The Table Read Magazine, "the best entertainment eBook magazine UK", new science-fantasy novel, "Knights…
On The Table Read Magazine, "the best entertainment eBook magazine UK", Belinda Jane Robinson's "Me…
On The Table Read Magazine, "the best entertainment eBook magazine UK", learn how to start…
On The Table Read Magazine, "the best entertainment eBook magazine UK", author Sisay Ketama shares…