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gbralph.com
Gavin / G. B. Ralph
@gbralph.com
2.4K followers 940 following 1.8K posts
📚 Author 🕵️‍♂️ Cosy mysteries 👬 Romcoms
👨‍🏫 Gay librarian approved 🏳️‍🌈 (he/him)
📍 Aotearoa NZ 🇳🇿 Join my mailing list ⤵️
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Gavin / G. B. Ralph @gbralph.com · Nov 27
Hi, my name is Gavin 👋 I'm an author of cosy mysteries and romantic comedies, publishing under my initials, G. B. Ralph.

My writing features:
😅 chaotic yet lovable characters getting themselves into all sorts of trouble,
🕵️‍♂️ an astonishing amount of crime, and
😘 handsome men falling for each other.
Selfie of author G. B. Ralph alongside the Murder on Milverton Square book cover design and the start of a speech bubble. Green garden in the background. Badge that reads "Hello my name is G. B. Ralph" with a New Zealand flag and rainbow pride flag underneath. Speech bubble that reads "I'm an author of cosy mysteries and romantic comedies. My writing features chaotic yet lovable characters getting themselves into all sorts of trouble, an astonishing amount of crime, and handsome men falling for each other. Book cover images of Poison at Penshaw Hall, Death in Douglas Glade, and Fright on Stage Right. Green garden in the background.
gbralph.com
I'm at the library next week chatting about book tropes, so I thought I'd throw some arrows around my first mystery!

Most of these tropes come from the cosy end of the mystery genre but a couple come from the romance genre too 🕵️😘

Any of these capture your attention?

#Mystery 🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
Book cover of Murder on Milverton Square by G B Ralph surrounded by arrows and words: sly sidekick, quirky locals, slow-burn romance, cheeky cat, appealing policeman, questionable coffee, shocking gossip, tasty treats, cosy small town.
February 4, 2026 at 1:45 AM
gbralph.com
The past few days' writing has involved:
🫖 complimentary tea,
🛑 an unscheduled stop, and
📝 a scrawled note.

🚧 WIP: Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
📈 Book status: First draft (33%)

#CozyMystery #Mystery #WritingCommunity
🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
Addison Harper and Sergeant Jake Murphy are off to a shaky start with their new living situation. So, when Addison has the chance to get out of town and clear his head, he’s quick to climb aboard. …
gbralph.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:19 AM
gbralph.com
"You have my attention, tell me more" 👀 What book tropes make you say that??

A few of my favourites from the mystery and romance genres:
- Everyone has a motive
- Enemies to lovers
- We're snowed in
- Slow-burn romance
- Locked-room mystery

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #BookTropes
🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
Author G. B. Ralph gesturing to a poster surrounded by word arrows including: event, grumpy-sunshine, tropes, ticking clocks, writers, readers, enemies to lovers, join the discussion, twist endings.
February 3, 2026 at 1:05 AM
gbralph.com
Today's writing involved:
🔒 a locked door,
😳 the urge to panic, and
🤫 a whispered confirmation.

🚧 WIP: Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
📈 Book status: First draft (30%)

#CozyMystery #Mystery #WritingCommunity
🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
Addison Harper and Sergeant Jake Murphy are off to a shaky start with their new living situation. So, when Addison has the chance to get out of town and clear his head, he’s quick to climb aboard. …
gbralph.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:13 AM
gbralph.com
Well I know what I'm watching this weekend 💎
a woman sitting on a couch with the words we are going to have so much fun on the bottom
Alt: Queen Charlotte from Bridgerton sitting on a couch, sipping tea, and saying "We are going to have so much fun"
media.tenor.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:32 PM
gbralph.com
Today's writing involved:
💨 a whiff of coal smoke,
🎫 ceremonial ticket clipping, and
🤷‍♂️ a rogue boyfriend.

🚧 WIP: Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
📈 Book status: First draft (29%)

#CozyMystery #Mystery #WritingCommunity
🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
January 29, 2026 at 6:40 AM
gbralph.com
The scream was swiftly followed by the blast of a whistle and loud, insistent shouting. Addison and Mabel leapt to their feet as a strong, bulky man in his sixties stormed the length of the platform.

WIP: Killer on the Kelvin Explorer

#WIPsnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity 🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
January 27, 2026 at 10:44 PM
gbralph.com
“The Baker’s Son’s Iced Buns” is eligible for entry in the SJVs (NZ’s SFF awards) and I would love your nomination 🐉🎂

Nominating is open to everyone, and the more nominations a work receives, the more likely it is to be shortlisted for judging.

#BookSky #WriteSky 🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
The Baker's Son's Iced Buns title with small dragon silhouette and iced bun in the background 2026 Sir Julius Vogel Awards. Nominations are open. What? New Zealand’s science fiction and fantasy awards. Who? Anyone can nominate. Why? More nominations equal more likely to be shortlisted for judging. How? Complete a form (2 minutes). Which? Please consider nominating me. Title of work: The Baker’s Son’s Iced Buns. Creator: G.B. Ralph. Category: Best Novella or Novelette. Publisher: Many Talented Authors. Contact info: gbralph.com/contact . Other info: Published in The Law of Mischief anthology.
January 27, 2026 at 10:40 PM
gbralph.com
What a turbulent couple of weeks!

On the one hand we had the chaos of storms, landslips, flooding, road closures, and last-minute plan changes. On the other hand we had two wonderful long weekends of wedding celebrations and pool partying with family and friends 💍🥂 [1/2]
Selfie while holding a coffee cup
January 26, 2026 at 10:37 PM
gbralph.com
Addison jolted from his seat, uttering an unfiltered string of expletives, each more unprintable than the last. So busy observing everyone else on the platform, he hadn’t noticed someone appearing at their side and joining in their observations.

#WIPsnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity 🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
January 25, 2026 at 9:28 AM
gbralph.com
I spy with my little eye something beginning with M 👀 It's Murder on Milverton Square on The Indie Top 10 book chart!

Yes! Murder on Milverton Square is a top 10 indie bestseller 🎉

📸 Image credit: BookHub email newsletter (23 January 2026)

#Books #WriteSky 🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
BookHub's Indie Top 10 books in Aotearoa New Zealand chart showing 10 book covers with Murder on Milverton Square by G. B. Ralph at number 6
January 22, 2026 at 11:24 PM
gbralph.com
🚨 Live now 🚨 He's a man of history and mystery!
markstay.bsky.social Mark Stay @markstay.bsky.social · 13d
TONIGHT! Join me and @ellisblackwood.bsky.social live as we discuss the little things that make a big difference to writers!
8pm GMT
FB: www.facebook.com/share/1DXngr...
YT: www.youtube.com/live/ol8bJ6c...
January 22, 2026 at 8:05 PM
gbralph.com
Poor Addison, third-wheeling on his own activity 🥲

WIP: Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
Pre-order: gbralph.com/killer-on-th...

#WIPsnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity 🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
Screenshot of a text document with the word "activity" highlighted: ‘Ah…’ Addison had invited Mabel along in the hope they might enjoy the outing while he was conducting his little marketing investigation, that she might even have insights that could help with his task. However, it seemed he’d been swapped out and was suddenly feeling very much the third wheel on what he’d supposed was his own activity.
January 21, 2026 at 6:30 PM
gbralph.com
Ahh yes, a "simple" unboxing video. Mark Stay is as understated as ever.

I had a fantastic time with the first two books in the series and The End of Gods promises yet more excellent storytelling. I can't wait to get into it!

#BookSky #Fantasy 🌏📚💙📚👀
markstay.bsky.social Mark Stay @markstay.bsky.social · 27d
It's here! THE END OF GODS is out today! And what better way to celebrate its publication, than a simple unboxing video. One in which I use actual magic! youtu.be/wxNBVxpn2_A
January 21, 2026 at 4:44 AM
gbralph.com
Today's writing involved:
😭 grinding to a halt,
🤔 figuring out what's next, and
🗺️ navigating the muddy middle.

🚧 WIP: Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
📈 Book status: First draft (27%) and scheming (again)

#CozyMystery #Mystery #WritingCommunity
🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
Addison Harper and Sergeant Jake Murphy are off to a shaky start with their new living situation. So, when Addison has the chance to get out of town and clear his head, he’s quick to climb aboard. …
gbralph.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:19 AM
gbralph.com
Tonight's viewing 🕵️‍♂️📺
Phone notification from Netflix showing Agatha Christie's Seven Dials
January 16, 2026 at 5:56 AM
gbralph.com
Today's writing involved:
😬 unforgivably bad form,
💃 sisters before misters, and
👴 keeping the old boy happy.

🚧 WIP: Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
📈 Book status: First draft (26%)

#WIP #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
Addison Harper and Sergeant Jake Murphy are off to a shaky start with their new living situation. So, when Addison has the chance to get out of town and clear his head, he’s quick to climb aboard. …
gbralph.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Reposted by Gavin / G. B. Ralph
markstay.bsky.social
Join me and the brilliant @ellisblackwood.bsky.social for a lively chat in which we not only discuss his super Samuel Pepys mysteries, but also a secret Youtube video that we recorded when we were young and needed the money…
Join the conversation on THURSDAY 22nd JANUARY, 8pm GMT. Links...
January 15, 2026 at 4:25 PM
gbralph.com
MM ratings, as the Romans might have written 👬🧮
Screenshot of G.B. Ralph's Goodreads author profile showing 2000 ratings.
January 15, 2026 at 7:32 PM
gbralph.com
Free virtual event with Ross Montgomery in just over an hour.

Register to attend: www.eventbrite.com/e/bn-midday-...

The Murder at World's End was such a fun read and I can't wait to hear more about it ☄️💀

#Mystery #BookSky #WriteSky 🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
Midday mystery virtual event poster. Ross Montgomery in conversation with Jennie Godfrey. Registration on Eventbrite is required to attend this event. Thursday 15 January at 3pm ET
January 15, 2026 at 6:55 PM
gbralph.com
Today's writing involved:
🤔 a thought experiment,
🙅‍♂️ the dangers of taking a guess, and
🤰 a few months, you say?

🚧 WIP: Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
📈 Book status: First draft (25%)

#CozyMystery #Mystery #WritingCommunity
🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
January 15, 2026 at 3:59 AM
gbralph.com
Today's writing involved:
💁‍♂️ a friendship hierarchy,
👯‍♂️ a body double, and
😠 an antagonistic attitude.

🚧 WIP: Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
📈 Book status: First draft (24%)

#CozyMystery #Mystery #WritingCommunity
🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
January 14, 2026 at 1:11 AM
gbralph.com
Next author newsletter out tomorrow, featuring:
💀 a game of murder,
📚 a new bookshop, and
🏖️ a nice little break.

Get it: gbralph.com/mailing-list/

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity
🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
Mailing list
Visit the post for more.
gbralph.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:01 PM
gbralph.com
Today's writing involved:
😱 the stuff of nightmares,
🤡 an entitled brat, and
😌 delicious vindication.

🚧 WIP: Killer on the Kelvin Explorer
📈 Book status: First draft (23%)

#CozyMystery #Mystery #WritingCommunity
🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
January 12, 2026 at 2:49 AM
gbralph.com
‘No worries. Have fun,’ Jake said with a smile, ‘and behave yourself.’

‘Always.’ Addison climbed out, shutting the door behind him and turning to find a grinning seventy-something-year-old woman standing on the footpath.

#WIPsnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity 🌈📚🇳🇿📚💙🔎💀📚👀📚🌎🌈✒️
January 11, 2026 at 10:36 PM