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2024 began with tears when my dear Roonie died in January. Since then, not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of her. But then we discovered Amy in a dog rescue in our area and adopted her in the summer. Amy is simply the kindest and sweetest dog in the world and she healed my heart. When Ramsey, her best friend from the rescue and a husky,  was also available for adoption, we didn't think twice. Now we have three dogs, it's chaotic and wonderful and I would do it again and again, even though Roonie will always have a special place in my heart.

Otherwise - Christmas is approaching and we are decorating the house and the barn for another atmospheric Christmas party.

In 2025, a new children's book and a new adult book from me are being published. I'm looking forward to both!

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Ulrike

Can you believe it? The Penny Pepper series is ten years old this fall! The first volume was published in September 2014, today we have 12 volumes and the series has been translated in eleven languages. Check out my Instagram account for little videos of me and the illustrator and check out the Penny website for prizes, a quiz and much more.

www.penny-pepper.de

PS: Volume 12 comes out on November 14th!

PPS: We have a new dog from a rescue. Isn't he absolutely adorable?

September and October took me to Wales and Scotland. Part family visit, part research for my new cosy crime novel. The nature there was truly stunning and unlike America every stone, wall and building practically breathes history. Full of inspiration I returned home where I'm now burying myself in my manuscript. Hopefully I can soon tell you more about the project and my two new children's books.

But first - let's celebrate 10 years of Penny Pepper! There will be a number of opportunities to win something on Instagram, so check out my account and the account of my publisher dtv over the next few weeks, if you are interested!

"A dead girls betrayal" and "Stay silent or you're next" are two more  of my young adult thrillers that got a facelift and some editing for a second life at a new publisher. The new covers are really cool and you can buy all three books on amazon.

Otherwise we are enjoying our lovely summer and trying to keep all chickens alive. I'm working on my new children's book, my cosy crime project and some last edits for Penny Pepper 12. But there's always time to jump into the swim pond!!

Happy Summer!

It's finally spring time and the garden madness is happening again - vegetables, flowers, a new chicken coop, saving the fish from the otter, getting rid of the wasp nests and ... oh yes, writing!

There's good news: My decade old teen thrillers are to be published again as e-books (revised and updated) by Digital Publishing. "Dead Girls don't talk" is first in line with a scary new cover, the other two will follow over the summer. I'm happy the books will get a new life and reach new readers!

I also got new contracts for a children's book and a series for adults, once I have something to show, I will publish it here. The key words are Scotland and time travel, but absolutely not in the sense of Outlander.

And look at our barn - it's thankfully not on fire, it's the sunset mirrored in the  window. Beautiful, isn't it?

In early April I went on a book tour through Greece to which the Metaixmio publisher and the Goethe Institute of Athens had kindly invited me. I met wonderful people - the folks at the publisher, the translators, the staff from the Goethe Institute and most of all the countless Penny Pepper and Witch Hotel Fans all over the country. What an experience! My journey took me from Crete to Athens to Ioannina and Patras and everywhere we went children waited in line for an autograph. In Crete the teacher from a tiny village school in the mountains travelled with all her students for two hours in a bus to meet me, because they are all Penny Pepper Fans. This really touched me and gave me a boost for new books and projects. Thank you, lovely people of Greece!

The year began with having to say good bye  to our Roonie, the best dog in the world, my loyal companion, the (almost) Siamese twin to our pug and the inspiration to Penny Pepper's dog eleven years ago. It will take me a while to be able to think of her without crying. Thank you for the wonderful time, my love.

Writing Penny Pepper 12 was therefore sad and wonderful at the same time, as the new case evolves entirely around dogs.  In the fall you can see if Penny manages to solve her very last case and maybe Roonie will smile at you from the pages in Lisa's illustrations.

With the hope for spring's fast arrival,

Ulrike

And suddenly December has arrived again, the last few months just flew by.  Christmas is coming  soon - this year with a Christmas concert in our festive barn and with dear guests. I'm also looking forward to the release of Penny Pepper 11 at the end of the months and even more to Penny Pepper volume 12 on which I'm working right now and which will come out next year. In 2024 the Penny Pepper series will be ten years old, can you believe it! This is quite the achievement in a time like ours, where books quickly disappear from the shelves only a few months after publication.Congratulations, little Penny! There will be lots of giveaways online next fall, so check my Instagram and Lovelybooks pages for updates.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!