I hope you enjoyed reading Who is the Author – Part 1. In this post, you will discover more about the book series.
How would you describe the Gemstone Detective series to anyone who has never heard of it before?
It’s a simple travel guide to buying gemstones abroad. It’s a bit like a Lonely Planet or Rough Guide – but it’s just about holiday experiences with gemstones & jewellery.
Most of the books are country specific. The books are for tourists and travellers, whether they are gem collectors, jewellery lovers, jewellery designers, hobbyists, or just holiday makers who want to take home a special souvenir.
Because I’ve been out there to research the gem trade in each of the countries featured, the information is real, up to date and you can trust it.
Who is the Author – Part 2
Your first book, Buying Gemstones and Jewellery in Sri Lanka, first launched in October. Tell us about how that went and what sort of feedback you’ve had on the first book?
The launch was very successful and those who were there have told me they had a great time. I certainly did – the food was great, and both conversation and bubbly were flowing!
We’ve had some excellent feedback from readers of the book. We’re racking up more 4 and 5 star reviews from readers on Netgalley, and there is a growing number of equally glowing 4 and 5 star reviews on Amazon – 15 and counting…
It’s been great to see that several people have read the first book and then pre-ordered the rest of the series. It never even crossed my mind when I began this project that people would want to collect every book!
You’re launching three books in one night tonight – quite an impressive feat! Why is it important for you to offer such a wide range of books within the series?
Well, when someone refers to a ‘series’ I think there’s an expectation that it’s going to be more than a few books… Of course, I want my books to help as many people as possible. Offering such a wide range reflects how many options we now have as tourists to travel and explore.
How long does it take you to write each book? What is the process in terms of choosing a destination?
Each book is a combination of 2-3 research trips, which adds up to about 4-6 weeks research in that country. I’ve often been to a country a couple of times even before I go back for these research trips. My most recent trip was to India, and that book is now with the printers, ready to hit the shelves in May.
It’s easy to choose countries for the series because I know exactly which tourist destinations have a well-established gem trade. Not all gemstone-producing countries are suitable, so I won’t be writing a book for Cambodia, Afghanistan or Madagascar just yet – the gem trade is too young and underdeveloped.
Who is the Author – Part 2
Where are you travelling to this year?
I’m heading off to USA next week for a 6-week trip, and I’ll be returning to the USA in May for a further two weeks.
I’m not quite sure how the rest of the year looks yet because I want to fit in a trip to Mogok to finish researching the Myanmar book, and then there’s the possibility of combining a trip to several countries in Africa – South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania and Zanzibar.
When will the next books be released?
India will be published on 14 May 2019, and USA will be published in September 2019. I’m not yet sure about Myanmar but hopefully it will be sometime this year – if I can squeeze in that second trip to Mogok. It’s going to be a very busy year!
I hope you will join me again for Who is the Author – Part 3
Kim Rix GG GIA
Be sure | Be smart | Buy with confidence
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