Phew! 2024 was quite a year. Here’s a swift recap:
2024 in review: New releases
New cover, new edits, new tagline: “It’s time to save your soul.” Romantic suspense with a paranormal twist.
1 Backlist glow-up: AWAKENING MACBETH, 2nd edition
2 Audiobooks: MADE IN ACAPULCO and THE LISTMAKER OF ACAPULCO
1 Box Set: THE COMPLETE GALLIANO CLUB SERIES
4 Large Print Editions: ROAD TO THE GALLIANO CLUB, MURDER AT THE GALLIANO CLUB, BLACKMAIL AT THE GALLIANO CLUB, REVENGE AT THE GALLIANO CLUB
1 Anthology: Short story “Warm Nights in Cold Shelter” was included in SMOKING GUNS edited by Kay George
Although I didn’t release a new novel this year, it was still a good year for both me and mystery lovers: 17,438 books went out into the world and nearly 400,000 pages were pored over by Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
CLIFF DIVER, the 1st Detective Emilia Cruz, continues to be my best seller. THE HIDDEN LIGHT OF MEXICO CITY, published 12 years ago, had an outstanding year.
Never underestimate the power of the backlist.
Outstanding events in 2024
It was a busy year, judging from how cluttered my poor Moleskine planner got.
- Founding Member of The Dangerous Pen Society (and yes, we do have fancy pens) focusing on author education and partnerships,
- Co-hosting the Literary Crime Club, a series of quarterly ticketed events,
- Spending 10 days at the Oneida Community Mansion, reveling in the vast library of first editions,
- Participating in the Stitches and Secrets Book Club conceived by a knitwear designer and hosted by a fiber arts store/studio that pairs my Galliano Club books with custom knitting projects,
- Moving the Mystery Ahead newsletter to Substack and meeting a whole new cadre of mystery readers there,
- A Zoom discussion with narco-journalist Ioan Grillo, and
- Attending the Killer Nashville mystery author conference for the 6th time, being a judge for the Claymore Award and co-presenting a 3-hour workshop with fellow authors Ashley Sargeant Hagen and Lisa Wysocky. I was Runner-up for Best Attending Author and REVENGE AT THE GALLIANO CLUB was a Finalist for the Silver Falchion Award.
What’s Ahead in 2025
2025 promises to be just as busy, with BARRACUDA BAY: Detective Emilia Cruz #9 coming 20 Feb! After a 2-year hiatus while I worked on the Galliano Club historical fiction thrillers, it was a joy to get back to the first female police detective in Acapulco and the mystery series that draws on my counterdrug and espionage background.
Matt Chase created another stunning cover, too. Each one is better than the last! I’ve officially dubbed BARRACUDA BAY The Big Yellow Book.
It’s a Big Story, too, reaching across the US-Mexico border to deliver a series of shocks you’ll never see coming.
If you’d like to be part of the Cheer Squad that helps get the news out about the release (Amazon/BookBub/Goodreads), please email me asap: carmen@carmenamato.net.
FYI: Detective Emilia Cruz #10 is already in the works, too.
Ending 2024 on a note of gratitude
2024 was rough in some respects. It was a year of hard losses.
I lost my mother, my uncle and Hazel, our senior German Shepherd. My husband had a score of health issues, including (I’m not making this up) getting chased and stung by a swarm of angry hornets.
My website was the target of Russian hackers, necessitating a $$$ rescue operation. The email service which hosted this newsletter for 7 years tripled prices, prompting the move to Substack, which is more complex than the pundits claim.
Yet wonderful things happened, too, including our first grandchild. He’s adorable and I was able to spend 2 weeks helping out when he first arrived.
Plus, you all kept me writing. Lots of emails, kind reviews, invitations, and so much moral support! You recommend Mystery Ahead, take Emilia Cruz to your heart and followed my detour into historical fiction with the Galliano Club thrillers. It’s always an absolute thrill to get an email asking when the next Emilia Cruz is coming out or saying you recognize the landmarks in one of my books.
You all are the best, most enthusiastic and loyal readers any author could ask for. Thank you and cheers to 2025!
In conclusion
Wishing you health, happiness, and more great reads.
All the best, Carmen
PS: To keep the newsletter free, consider buying a book. Or invite me on your podcast or book blog to promote the release of BARRACUDA BAY on 20 Feb 2025. Thank you!
PPS: Were you looking for all my free downloads including the Detective Emilia Cruz Starter Library? Find them here.
