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SUCH exciting news – I can’t believe I forgot to tell you.  While I was away on holiday the week before last, I had an email telling me that (a) “The Man in the Canary Waistcoat” had been reviewed by the Historical Novel Society, and (b) it had been selected as one of the quarter’s Editors’ Choice Books.  I have had dealings with the HNS since I first approached them with “Fatal Forgery”, and they reviewed that very favourably (which you can read here).  After that, the reviewer and I communicated by email, and she was terrifically encouraging about the idea of a series of Plank novels – like so many readers, she particularly wanted to know more about Martha!  So naturally, as soon as “The Man in the Canary Waistcoat” (with extra Martha) was finished, I sent her a copy.  And when her review came out, she also told me the good news that “The Man in the Canary Waistcoat” had been selected as one of the Editors’ Choice books.

The significance of this accolade is best explained by the HNS website: “For each quarterly issue of the Historical Novels Review, the editors will select a small number of titles they feel exemplify the best in historical fiction.  These novels, which come highly recommended from our reviewers, have been designated as Editors’ Choice titles.”

It also means that “The Man in the Canary Waistcoat” – along with all the other Editors’ Choice titles for the year – will automatically go into the selection for the HNS Indie Award for 2015.  Obviously there are plenty of other contenders, but every bit of additional publicity and highlighting does help.  I am thrilled.  Martha is tutting and saying it’s a lot of fuss about nothing, but I can see from the way she’s smiling as she prepares Sam’s supper that she’s secretly rather pleased.