Press Officer Rick Purnell writes about September 6th Meeting...….

Turning to Crime after Retirement…..

Back from the summer recess, Teignmouth Probus Club first business was to present member Ted Joyce with his Life Membership. Well-earned Ted.

This month’s speaker was Stephanie Austin, a teacher, artist, astrologer, antique dealer who on retirement dug out a 35 year old manuscript and with the assistance of a literary agent, updated it to the present era and a few tweaks here and there launched the first book ‘Death in Devon’ in what is now a successful series. In the process becoming a popular writer of the ‘cozy fiction’ genre parodied as ‘Enid Blyton for grown-ups’.

The original script was based around a fictional town but the publishers wanted a real place in real time. After much deliberation, Stephanie chose Ashburton as John Wesley (18th century Methodist) described the town as a most sinful town in England with 28 alehouses, a gambling den including bear & bull bating and also used a Cucking stool, a good background to foster material for her books. How times have changed for the better.

Members were entertained with a reading from the prologue introducing the heroine Juno Browne who is now into her 7th book.

Interesting interaction and questions ensued during the talk with members being able to browse through the collection with a book signing for purchasers. Press Officer Rick Purnell said “I bought a signed copy for my wife as an anniversary pressie and she ‘devoured’ it and is about to get hold of book 2”.

Visit https://www.stephanieaustin.co.uk/books for more information.

The Vote of Thanks was given by a retired solicitor member, Roger Williams