Yes, yes, we know the Christmas carol goes, “Deck the Halls, etc, but this blog title comes from a line in our current WIP, Fatal Fungus, the second in the WinDarl cosy mystery books. The line pertains to the rector, Reverend Reginald Hall, a larger-than-life character, and he’s certainly that! 

Because of Hall’s lazy bones and inability to get things done, many of his flock say he’s more man of the sloth than man of the cloth. With only a minuscule mention in our debut feature-length cosy, Deadly Dough, Hall chooses the second book to make his entry. As you’ve probably guessed, he’s a clergyman. He rectors? (a wonderful entry for Windy’s Wacky Words) four churches in four parishes of Linkville, the eight villages on the periphery of Treeton county town in the fictional county of Treetonshire. One village is Bogus Hole, where most of Fatal Fungus takes place. But what has that to do with Christmas, you ask? Stay with us and we’ll reveal all. But first …

Let Ark relate his early memories of Christmas:

It was an amazing time of year. At least when I was a kid. So excited when opening my presents. All the build-up and anticipation, knowing there’d be a main gift (the Lego airport being one of my faves), and a series of smaller ones. Sitting cross-legged, or kneeling underneath my parents’ artificial 8ft spruce tree, bought from a garden centre outside of Manchester. Not that it matters where. I have vivid memories of that tree. The colour. Dark green with a hint of blue. The smell. That kept-in-the-attic-all-year type of sniff. The height. Woo-hoo! All tinsel and bags of ornaments, some as old as my folks. And the lights. For me, one of the best bits. Still is. Forty push-in colourful bulbs and the tree topped with a big star. Everything bought from Woolworths. Ah, good old Woolly’s!

Next, the festive music. A mix of old and new from the 1940s to the 80s. Nowadays, the music goes over my head, especially when out shopping, but when I was a kid, it was the soundtrack to one of my favourite times of the year. Shakin’ Stevens, Jona Lewie, Greg Lake, Wham! (My writing partner hisses at Last Christmas, but I don’t share her antipathy.) Isn’t it amazing how a time of year that doesn’t seem a big deal now was so magical when I was a child? Tempus fugit, I guess.

Anyway, back to Rector Hall. He isn’t a huge character—at least in terms of page time—but, when he does appear, he dominates the scene. A big man, with a big personality and even bigger girth. When the secretary of Linkville, the village committee, proposes a pie auction to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of the medical practice, Hall’s interest is more than piqued. Or is that pie-qued? The auction is the catalyst for a myriad of dodgy dealings and dodgier characters, prompting team awesome truffle hogs, Windy & Darling, to be off sleuthing again.

Fatal Fungus takes place in the run-up to Christmas, once Halloween and bonfire night are done. For non-natives, we Brits have a batty obsession with celebrating a failed attempt to blow up Parliament. The doomed try took place on 5 November 1605. The chief conspirator was a bloke named Robert Catesby, but it was his accomplice, Guido (Guy) Fawkes, who was caught babysitting barrels of gunpowder beneath the Houses of Parliament. Some say that the historical moment was the last time someone entered the British Parliament with honest intentions! Anyway, we mark the occasion every year with a bonfire and a fireworks display. Once it’s over, every shop in the land goes Christmas crazy. Joy!

Another reason we’ve blogged about Rector Hall is the annual village Christmas fair, which is held in and on the grounds of one church, he shepherds. An integral part of rural English life, and, like several things in English villages—quaint shops, duck ponds, cricket greens, cosy cafes—in danger of dying out. Not in our stories, though. We’ll always wave the flag for most of the traditional foibles of English country life and wouldn’t mention a Christmas fair just for the fun of it. Perhaps there’s something sinister afoot? Of course, there’s a clue in the title.

Like our first mystery, the second is packed to the rafters with quirky characters, lovable animals, culinary delights, and two amateur sleuths determined to solve said mystery. If any pair can get to the bottom of it, Windy & Darling can. If you want to know just what goes on, you must wait until the book launches midsummer. Meanwhile, if you haven’t already, grab a copy of our feature-length debut, Deadly Dough. 

That only leaves Wenark Green to say, have yourselves a merry little Christmas and a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year. Cheers, people. Thanks for reading. See you in 2024.

That’s us away! After while.

Ark & Wen x

Yes, yes, we know the Christmas carol goes, “Deck the Halls, etc, but this blog title comes from a line in our current WIP, Fatal Fungus, the second in the WinDarl cosy mystery books. The line pertains to the rector, Reverend Reginald Hall, a larger-than-life character, and he’s certainly that! 

Because of Hall’s lazy bones and inability to get things done, many of his flock say he’s more man of the sloth than man of the cloth. With only a minuscule mention in our debut feature-length cosy, Deadly Dough, Hall chooses the second book to make his entry. As you’ve probably guessed, he’s a clergyman. He rectors? (a wonderful entry for Windy’s Wacky Words) four churches in four parishes of Linkville, the eight villages on the periphery of Treeton county town in the fictional county of Treetonshire. One village is Bogus Hole, where most of Fatal Fungus takes place. But what has that to do with Christmas, you ask? Stay with us and we’ll reveal all. But first …

Let Ark relate his early memories of Christmas:

It was an amazing time of year. At least when I was a kid. So excited when opening my presents. All the build-up and anticipation, knowing there’d be a main gift (the Lego airport being one of my faves), and a series of smaller ones. Sitting cross-legged, or kneeling underneath my parents’ artificial 8ft spruce tree, bought from a garden centre outside of Manchester. Not that it matters where. I have vivid memories of that tree. The colour. Dark green with a hint of blue. The smell. That kept-in-the-attic-all-year type of sniff. The height. Woo-hoo! All tinsel and bags of ornaments, some as old as my folks. And the lights. For me, one of the best bits. Still is. Forty push-in colourful bulbs and the tree topped with a big star. Everything bought from Woolworths. Ah, good old Woolly’s!

Next, the festive music. A mix of old and new from the 1940s to the 80s. Nowadays, the music goes over my head, especially when out shopping, but when I was a kid, it was the soundtrack to one of my favourite times of the year. Shakin’ Stevens, Jona Lewie, Greg Lake, Wham! (My writing partner hisses at Last Christmas, but I don’t share her antipathy.) Isn’t it amazing how a time of year that doesn’t seem a big deal now was so magical when I was a child? Tempus fugit, I guess.

Anyway, back to Rector Hall. He isn’t a huge character—at least in terms of page time—but, when he does appear, he dominates the scene. A big man, with a big personality and even bigger girth. When the secretary of Linkville, the village committee, proposes a pie auction to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of the medical practice, Hall’s interest is more than piqued. Or is that pie-qued? The auction is the catalyst for a myriad of dodgy dealings and dodgier characters, prompting team awesome truffle hogs, Windy & Darling, to be off sleuthing again.

Fatal Fungus takes place in the run-up to Christmas, once Halloween and bonfire night are done. For non-natives, we Brits have a batty obsession with celebrating a failed attempt to blow up Parliament. The doomed try took place on 5 November 1605. The chief conspirator was a bloke named Robert Catesby, but it was his accomplice, Guido (Guy) Fawkes, who was caught babysitting barrels of gunpowder beneath the Houses of Parliament. Some say that the historical moment was the last time someone entered the British Parliament with honest intentions! Anyway, we mark the occasion every year with a bonfire and a fireworks display. Once it’s over, every shop in the land goes Christmas crazy. Joy!

Another reason we’ve blogged about Rector Hall is the annual village Christmas fair, which is held in and on the grounds of one church, he shepherds. An integral part of rural English life, and, like several things in English villages—quaint shops, duck ponds, cricket greens, cosy cafes—in danger of dying out. Not in our stories, though. We’ll always wave the flag for most of the traditional foibles of English country life and wouldn’t mention a Christmas fair just for the fun of it. Perhaps there’s something sinister afoot? Of course, there’s a clue in the title.

Like our first mystery, the second is packed to the rafters with quirky characters, lovable animals, culinary delights, and two amateur sleuths determined to solve said mystery. If any pair can get to the bottom of it, Windy & Darling can. If you want to know just what goes on, you must wait until the book launches midsummer. Meanwhile, if you haven’t already, grab a copy of our feature-length debut, Deadly Dough.

That only leaves Wenark Green to say, have yourselves a merry little Christmas and a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year. Cheers, people. Thanks for reading. See you in 2024.

That’s us away! After while.

Ark & Wen x