I am delighted today to be talking to fellow writer, the lovely Christine Tipper. Christine creates mysteries based around the beautiful city of Exeter where, thanks to her heroine, Paige, and her Norfolk terrier, Sprite, the murderer never, ever gets away with murder!
Over the years, Christine’s worked in a ski resort in France, taught English in Nepal, run workshops in Spain, interpreted for international sporting events, translated novels, poetry collections and plays, been a university lecturer and eaten large amounts of cake whilst gorging herself on books. Fortunately, she loves keeping fit so feels that the cake eating is justified.
As well as writing, Christine likes to create mosaics, paint and travel. She believes in practicing gratitude and listening to her intuition.
Thank you for popping over to my blog today to talk about your new book – Death on Exmouth Beach. I always offer my guests a tea or coffee and something to eat, but it feels like this time we should be in River Books sampling Sunny’s treats because my mouth watered at the thought of her rhubarb and ginger cake. So could I have one of those and an English breakfast tea, what about you, but what could Sunny tempt you with today?
Thank you Anni. I’m sure that Sunny will serve you a slice of her delicious rhubarb and ginger cake with a English breakfast tea. I’ll have an Assam tea and a raspberry and almond slice.
You are a multi-linguist, but I haven’t spoken French since school, so although I know you love chatting in several languages, are you okay if we stick to English today?
English is fine by me.
Death on Exmouth Beach was published last week, and I have to say, I loved this book which is book four in the Paige Harper series.
Thank you. I’m so glad that you enjoyed it. I hope you solved the murder!
Death on Exmouth Beach
When the body of a young vet’s assistant, Tamsin Butler, washes up on Exmouth beach, the police dismiss it as a tragic suicide. But her devastated family refuses to believe it and turns to amateur sleuth Paige Harper for answers. Paige soon learns that Tamsin’s seemingly quiet life masked a dangerous secret—her extensive equine knowledge had entangled her in the dark side of the equestrian world. From illegal doping to race fixing, Tamsin had uncovered truths that powerful figures wanted kept buried.
As Paige pieces together Tamsin’s final days, she and her trusty terrier Sprite unravel a sinister web of corruption and greed. The deeper she digs, the more danger she faces. Can she find the killer before he finds her?
As a writer of romantic comedies whenever I’ve finished a book, I always hit the crime shelves to read something completely different. What about you? As a crime writer, what sort of books would you go to for something completely different? In this book you mention Paige relaxing with two other writers, Rachel McLean, whose Dorset series. I know and love, but also Simon Mason who’s not a name I’ve been aware of before, but he is now. I have put him on my to-be-read pile and will let you know how I get on.
I read mainly crime, but if I really want to relax with something a little different, I read cosy mysteries featuring psychics, bookshops, small close-knit communities and animals by authors such as, Ellery Adams, Abby Cooper, Courtney McFarlin and for laugh out loud entertainment books by Jana Deleon. I do dip into the occasional self-help book as I love to learn new things, new approaches and widen my horizons. I have been an admirer of Robin Sharma for many years.
First thing, I think we should talk about is the cover. This is a departure from your usual style. How did this come about?
In October 2024 the BloodShed Crime Writers Festival was held in Swindon where I had the opportunity to speak to established crime writers who gave me feedback on my covers. They told me that they didn’t clearly show that my books were crime novels. I took this advice and did more of my own research. Then two months later I was in Cambridge and had the good fortune to speak with Richard Reynolds, who runs Bodies in the Bookshop and is Chair of the CWA Gold Dagger Award. He basically told me the same thing – my previous covers wouldn’t make a crime reader pick up my book. Armed with the advice I’d been given from these experts in crime fiction, I designed my new cover for Death on Exmouth Beach, which I trust conveys that the book is a crime novel.
I’m fascinated by the methods that Paige used to solve this crime, not least her dreamcatcher.
Do you have such a lucky talisman?
I don’t have a lucky talisman like Paige’s dreamcatcher but I do have psychic abilities. There can be a lot of negativity around unseen powers so I wanted Paige’s character to be able to demonstrate psychic abilities in a tangible way. Having a dreamcatcher that heats up when she’s in danger felt like a good way to do this.
Digital forensics seem to be an area of police work that has really moved on in the last few years, it must be difficult to keep up with the latest techniques, do you do a lot of research before you sit down to write?
I research before and during the writing process to check details as I go.
I’m often asked the following question, so I’m passing it on, where do you get your ideas for the next story from?
It could be from an overheard snippet of conversation, a news article or something I’ve seen and I ask myself ‘What if?’ For example for my third book, Death at the Digs, I read an article about archaeological digs taking place at Exeter Cathedral and an article on nanny spy cameras. I put the two together and came up with my story. For this latest book, Death on Exmouth Beach, I read about vets overcharging customers for call outs and an idea for the plot was born. I’ve always been told I have a very vivid imagination and that serves me well as a mystery writer.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m a pantser. I have an idea about a murder, I have a pool of suspects and then I let the story unfold. When I begin I don’t know who has committed the murder. I find out as I write. I believe it creates a far more exciting story for the reader because I feel the thrill of discovery as I write which, hopefully, infuses my prose.
I know from speaking to you that not only are you multilingual, but you’ve spent time abroad in all sorts of interesting places, so it sounds to me like there is quite a bit of Paige in you. Would you say that’s fair? [Are you a champion skier and surfboarder?]
Yes, I’ve lived an interesting and varied life in several parts of the world. Like Paige I’m incredibly curious about life and find speaking numerous languages helps me to satisfy part of that curiosity. I’m adventurous and am of the school of thought that says ‘jump and the parachute will open’. I’ve had a few crash landings but some amazing, turbo-charged rides too.
Unfortunately I’m not a champion skier or surfer but I did compete as an athlete and field hockey player. When I lived in the French Alps I was disappointed to discover that my athletic prowess didn’t stretch to skiing so I made Paige a professional skier in my place.
Do you have a set writing routine?
Yes. Every morning I journal, meditate, go to either the gym or the pool and then settle down to write. First, I edit what I’ve written the previous day and then I write until lunchtime. After lunch I normally write for another couple of hours. However, at weekends I indulge in my hobbies of painting, creating mosaics, reading and watching rugby, athletics or tennis depending on the season.
When I find an author that I enjoy reading I am always delighted if they write a series. It is always great to see how characters move on, and I was delighted to see Alex back. I always find when I finish writing a book, there is often a secondary character who might have more of a story to tell and the ideas for a book based round them start to percolate. What about you?
With the Paige Harper series I feel that I have the opportunity to give secondary characters quite a lot of scope. However, if I were to write a spin off I can imagine Violet hustling to try and reach the front of the queue!
And the big question. The Exmouth murders are going to be signed up by a television company who do you see as playing Paige and Alex?
This is a tough one because I have such a vivid picture of how each of my characters looks that seeing them represented by someone else is difficult.
For Paige I’d choose Sandra Bullock. She has that gutsy, can-do attitude that Paige has, as well as being physically fit.
For Alex/Alejandro I’d choose the Spanish actor Miguel Angel Silvestre because he looks very much like I see Alex.
I think last time we met you talked about starting a new series, but are you tempted to send Paige back to France to investigate Elodie’s death and make sure her killer gets justice before you leave her completely?
I am planning to write a new series. However, I haven’t finished the Paige Harper series yet and Book 5 that I’m writing at the moment may well answer your question Anni about Elodie…
Thank you for dropping by today. And good luck with Death on Exmouth Beach. Ax
You can find Christine on
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Death on Exmouth Beach Book Link: https://amzn.to/3QW8hEX
