Let us Celebrate!

On Wednesday, October 16^th, I achieved a very special day . . . not another birthday because           that had come and gone . . . but fifty years of being published in the traditional way. The very first was called SUE FOR MERCY, published by Robert Hale. Incredibly, it is now once more available through Lume Books, who are now part of Joffe and doing very well indeed.

Mine has been quite a journey through early crime and romance stories through years of writing for children, and then . . . the Ellie Quicke series was born, to be followed some years later by Bea Abbot.

So we had a party, and not only friends but also two of my lovely publishers came and raised a glass and ate some delicious food. We only had one speech which was from me, and I kept it short. ‘I’ve had 89 books published traditionally, with 12 different publishers. There are also 65 short stories, 217 newsletters and three agents.’ Cue for light applause. And apparently I am to continue writing . . .

Strangely enough, Joffe were bringing out MURDER FOR NOTHING on the very day of the party, having brought out MURDER BY SUGGESTION on 6^th October. I’ll try to find the covers for these so that you can see what they look like…

Meanwhile, Severn House have said they like my idea for the next Bea Abbot story while the last one I submitted – FALSE GOLD – goes through the usual processes of copy-editing and proof-reading, preparing for publication next year. Their next question is; ‘When can you deliver?’ And I say, ‘Please, sir; remember my grey hairs. I need to slow down!’ So any day now, I’ll start up the computer and type in ‘Chapter One’ of FALSE RELATION.

Another short story for you. ‘DEATH BY CHOCOLATE’ is a very early Ellie Quicke, which I thought might amuse you. Read it here.

The anthology from a number of Christian Writers –THE JEWELLER’S HEART – is now available. My story, called ‘This Will Keep You Safe’, was based on my own family history involving Huguenots and lace-making, and of how hand-made work became taken over by machines. Details here.

A blessing on all who recommend my books to others!

Veronica Heley

Waiting Is Hard . . .

September was a strange month since lots of people were still on holiday. I didn’t go away and managed to finish and deliver all of the following:

The next Bea Abbot story – FALSE GOLD – was sent off to Severn House and I’ve just heard they like it and wham! The copy edits landed on my desk! That’s me taken care of for the next ten days or so. This continues the story as Bea helps Julian – who’d unexpectedly inherited the rundown stately home – to rescue the place. They are impeded by an unhelpful estate manager and the death of a John Doe.

I woke at 3 in the morning with an idea for a follow-up story, which I’m calling FALSE RELATION. I’ve already started roughing out the first chapter. Noting that this would be the fourth story set in Marston Hall, after FALSE NAME, FALSE WITNESS, and FALSE GOLD, I thought you might like to read the first chapter of FALSE NAME and hopefully get hooked on the series. Attached herewith.

Next my short story ‘Be Not Afraid. . .’ has been published in the Methodist Recorder and another, called ‘This Will Keep You Safe,’ came out in THE JEWELLER’S HEART, an anthology written by members of the Christian Writers. This latter tale was based on my own family history involving Huguenots and lace-making, and of how hand-made work became taken over by machines. Details here on Amazon.

Covers I have known . . .    

Some are delightful, others don’t have much relation to the story. I cherish the memory of one which featured a Scottie dog, as there wasn’t one in the story! Cats are a different matter. I am definitely a cat person and now there’s a cat on the covers of all the Bea Abbot and Ellie Quicke stories which are being brought out by Joffe for Amazon. MURDER IN STYLE came out on September 22^nd . Joffe also brought out a slip-case containing five Bea Abbot stories on September 29^th. Both feature the family’s cats, one ginger and one black. See these two covers here.

That being said, I have to admit that the covers of FALSE NAME and FALSE WITNESS feature Bruno, an Alsatian who plays a big role in both stories.

A blessing on all the health professionals who work hard to alleviate our problems as we age.

Veronica Heley

It’s too hot to write . . .

But I have deadlines to meet, so I switch the fan on, I arm myself with peppermints and promise myself a short break after an hour. This would work reasonably well if it weren’t for the proliferation of emails in my Inbox, which are clearly much more interesting than anything I’m supposed to be doing. Well, that’s what I tell myself until I realise I’ve let a whole morning go by and not touched my story!

So back to the edit which had to be in by the end of August. I like to write a story from the beginning straight through to the end, reviewing each day’s work at the start of the next day. I have a tendency to start new bits of plot and then have to cut them out a day or two on. Once through to the end, I set the work aside for a few days before the next run through, which sorts out the bits that don’t work or that I haven’t explained properly. Once that’s done, I need to go back at least once more to make sure that I haven’t taken out too much or, on the other hand, have left in bits I no longer need. I did send the manuscript in time. Just. And now wait to hear what my editor thinks of it.

Meanwhile, the hardback of FALSE WITNESS is out and about, and available through libraries as well as bookshops. The wonder dog, Bruno, is on the cover and very fine he looks too. I usually have a cat creep into my heroines’ lives, but for some reason I haven’t yet located one at Marston Hall. Only several dogs. (Yes, I know: there must be some cats, I just haven’t found them yet. I must look in the stables! ) The story continues as Bea helps Julian to work out the future of Marston Hall, impeded by an unhelpful estate manager and the death of a John Doe.

It’s only recently that I discovered St Michael is the patron saint of so many organisations, and I’m happy to give him full credit in the attached short story, MICHAELMAS, which you can read here.

The novelists of Chi Libris have published a collection of sparkling short stories about various jewels titled The Jeweller’s Heart, which came out on Amazon on September lst. My story is called ‘This Will Keep You Safe,’ based on my own family history involving Huguenots and lace-making, and of how hand-made work became taken over by machines. Details here.

. . .meanwhile, Joffe have been busy . . .

Dates seem to have shifted but Ellie Quicke’s MURDER IN TIME came out on August 2^nd, and MURDER BY SUSPICION on the l8th. There will be a slipcase with the third lot of Bea Abbot stories out at the end of September, and MURDER IN STYLE (Ellie) on September 22^nd. And then we start thinking of October releases . . .

View my latest releases here, on Amazon.

A blessing on all who those who have the patience and good humour to look and admire other people’s holiday photos.

Veronica Heley

I don’t believe it until . . . .

My publishers tell me that I have just had my 89^th book published. It appeared, so they say, on July 2^nd and my agent tells me that yes, the money is in the bank . . . and so it is.

The problem is that I haven’t been sent any free copies and so I DON’T           BELIEVE IT! Well, of course I believe it in my head, but until I actually get the copies in my hand I DON’T BELIEVE IT’S HAPPENED! You do see what I mean, don’t you? It’s not real till you can touch it. I know what the cover is going to be like because we settled on that months ago. We have Bruno, the guard dog, in a room which screams Stately Home, and very fine it looks, too.

As to the plot of this book? It’s titled FALSE WITNESS and it picks up where FALSE NAME left off, with the once nameless orphan boy taking over the almost bankrupt stately home in spite of all that his family can do to prevent him doing so. There he is, with his wife Polly and their nine-month old boy, and what a lot of problems there are to be dealt with! Not least, someone is trying to kill him, again. Bea Abbot rides to the rescue once more, and has a fine old time sorting the true from the false.

In the meantime, I’ve been getting on with the next Bea story, FALSE GOLD, which I have to deliver next month, and I can tell you that’s going to be a bit tight. This is mostly my own fault because when people ask me for a story I try to oblige.           This time I was asked to write a long short story about a jewel, which will go into an e-book of other stories written by American Christian writers later in the year. Writing this reminded me of my own family history involving Huguenots and lace-making, and of how hand-made work became taken over by machines. I’ll tell you more about that nearer publication time.

There’s another cat story coming out for the choir’s concert last month, which means you can read it here. It’s called THE VISITOR, who has some very strange ideas about cats needing plant based food . . . which does not go down well with Max!

. . . and talking of Joffe . . .

they were happy bringing out the first five Bea Abbot books in a slip case, and brought out the next five on Sunday 28^th July, also in a slip-case. Not to be outdone, the next Ellie, MURDER IN TIME came out on Monday, 29^th July. Details here, and more to come.

Apologies from the Owlets – they are enjoying themselves on holiday but I still can’t get my camera to work and the buses have been diverted locally so I can’t get it to someone who can help. Hopefully we’ll be back to normal next month.

A blessing on all who notice when other people are a bit ‘down’ and are able to spend some time with them. Which really does help. I call it the Ministry of Presence.

Veronica Heley

Another milestone has just been passed . . .    

I have just had my ninety-first birthday and am now officially in my ninety-second years. Last month I signed a contract for my ninetieth book, and this October I will have been getting published traditionally for fifty years.

Yes, I’m boasting. A bit. Well, quite a lot, really. It’s quite something to look back on. When I first started, I hardly thought I’d be still writing in my nineties, and I must admit that I am slowly down somewhat.

My editors over the years will tell you that every once in a while I will start screaming and gnashing my teeth because I HAVE TOO MUCH PLOT! I have heard of other writers turning to AI for suggestions when they’ve got stuck in a tricky situation, but praise be! I don’t have that problem. Well, I haven’t had it yet. Maybe it will arrive in the next book and I will then have to tell myself that Pride Goes Before a Fall.

All of which means that I was faced with having to cut this and that out of the storyline in FALSE GOLD. If I hadn’t, I would have had to take another ten thousand words or so, in order to sort the plot out, and I’m up to my limit already. So out goes she. Perhaps I can use that idea in the next book. Or the one after. If I’m still writing by then.

So yes, I’m on track for this book, and telling myself that if Jo March in LITTLE WOMEN could sacrifice redundant words, then so can I.

 . . . and talking of nice things happening . . .

Joffe books are now bringing out more of the Bea Abbot books, five at a time in a slip-case! They did nicely with the first five stories and want to carry on. The cover looks delightful but as usual I have a query about it . . . which they will be kind enough to sort out/tell me not to be silly/and usually to compromise in graceful fashion. They don’t seem to mind my making suggestions which is really nice of them.        

So as I’ve temporarily run out of short stories, I attach a few pages of FALSE ALARM which is going to go into the next lot of Bea Abbot’s in a slipcase. Oh, and they’re planning to start again with the Ellie Quicke stories soon.  

As for the Owlets, they’re on holiday . . . vanished into the undergrowth. Alas! Actually I think my camera needs new batteries. I must look into that when I have a minute.

A blessing on all who can look on the bright side even when the rain pours down and the winds blow chill, and the news is depressing. A good laugh is good for the digestion and one’s mental health, isn’t it?

Veronica Heley

I have just signed another contract . . .

This time it’s the book I’ve been working on for some months already, which is FALSE GOLD. The delivery date is to be August, which is sort of all right by me. As you know, I do like to go over and over and over the text, making sure as far as possible, that I haven’t made any crashing mistakes/typos/grammatical errors. One of my biggest problems nowadays is an inability to read small print. When I go to the library and pick up a book by an author I like, I open it up at any old page, see a page full of text in tiny print and return the book to the shelf.

I’ve tried reading glasses and magnifying glasses and one of those pieces of plastic which you can put over a sheet of paper which is supposed to make the text larger. I can’t say that they help much. Reading glasses; yes. But then you look up and the room has gone all fuzzy around you, so you take them off. Then you pick up the newspaper and start looking for your glasses . . .

Paperbacks are usually printed in a small font size. This is understandable as it keeps the cost down but renders them hard to read. Plenty of space on the page, and I’m reasonably happy. Large print books are great, but there aren’t enough titles of the authors I like. I’ve brought this up for a reason. My books used to be 85,000 words long. The new contract says I must cut this down to 80,000 which means the books will still be in a large enough print for me to read with glasses.

So how did I resolve the problem of including a short story in this newsletter? The best result was the first chapter of the very first Ellie Quicke – MURDER AT THE ALTAR – which you can find here. Enjoy!

More stories from Joffe . . .  

On May 12^th Joffe brought out MURDER IN MIND, and on the 27^th it was MURDER WITH MERCY. If I can make it work, I’ll attach a cover of the latest. Also, an innovation: Joffe brought out five (Yes, five!) of the first stories in the Bea Abbot series on May 26^th in a boxed set. A brilliant buy, if I may say so.

Click here for these Joffe issued books and more.

Still available: the story of how some Christian writers got started in their career. You can find it in MY FIRST NOVEL . . . details to be found here.

As for the Owlets, Awol is still trying to get them to leave the house. He got his Mum to climb the ‘stairs’ to look outside and the others are following. Slowly. See them here.

A blessing on all who can talk about anything except their health. And another blessing on those who can listen to people talking about their health.

Veronica Heley

I have a problem. . .

If you’re bad at maths, then you can skip this paragraph. Oh, all right; I’ll try to make it simple.

I write a newsletter giving news and views once a month. For some years I have been including a short story from the archives. These stories were commissioned by the Methodist Recorder three or four times a year, and once a term by our local choir for their concert. Now you can do the maths! I am using up the short stories faster than I am sending out newsletters. Get it? So I am coming to the end of stories I can re-use for you. Yes, there are still one or two out there. Today’s offering is an early Ellie Quicke, called DEATH BY CHOCOLATE. See it here.

So, what do I do next?

Well, I could include the first chapter of whatever book of mine that Joffe are currently re-issuing on Amazon. That sounds like a good idea, but – and here my brain goes whirling off into outer space – they are sometimes bringing out two books a month. Which means that I shall soon have another problem – too many books for a monthly newsletter, which is the opposite problem to the one I started off with.

So in April it was MURDER BY MISTAKE on the 3^rd, and MURDER MY NEIGHBOUR on the 21^st. Very nicely done, too. See the latest fliers here. On Free Friday 26^th, they also brought out a freebie for the first Ellie, MURDER AT THE ALTAR. Are you confused? Yes, so am I.

Anyway, back to the book currently being written; FALSE GOLD. I am enjoying and agonising over this story in equal proportions. Do I have too much plot in this story? Are there too many characters? Am I making clear who does what to whom and when did that happen?

Oh, but I do like the ‘hero’ whom Bea stumbled on as a rough sleeper, but who was subsequently revealed to be the heir to a failing Stately home, and is now growing into his new position. To add to the general mayhem, his baby son Pip is learning to walk and to talk . . . and needs watching twenty-four seven.

Still available: the story of how some Christian writers got started in their career. You can find it in MY FIRST NOVEL . . . details to be found here.

As for the Owlets, the sun came out and went back in again. It rained. And then it cleared up, sort of. And then the cold wind blew. So they’re still indoors and getting stir crazy. See them here. In the garden I’ve got Spanish bluebells coming up where they’re not wanted, vying with roses coming out far earlier than usual. It’s a crazy spring.

A blessing on all who help the fumble-fingered and digitally challenged to survive in the present day.

Veronica Heley

Change is in the air.

So much is happening so quickly, that I’m always trying to catch up. I suppose it’s better to have too much to do, rather than too little, but at times I find myself wondering if I should take a week off. Or wo days off. Or perhaps even an afternoon? Yes, I know it’s a ridiculous situation. I’m ninety and nine months old and still working. True, I’m no longer writing two books a year, but am down to one. (And a bit)

But nothing much else has changed. Take copy-editing and proof-reading, for example. It’s easy enough to spot a mis-typed word. Most of the relevant rules have been part of my memory banks for years . . . such as, using a ‘z’ instead of an ‘s’ for words like realise (realize).           But every now and then the publishing world seems to undergo a volcanic upheaval and insist that, for instance, semi-colons are to be treated in a new way. And my brain refuses to re-educate itself. And don’t get me started on where quotes end up in relation to speech marks!

So, yes. I have done the copy-editing and proof reading of the next Bea Abbot book, called FALSE WITNESS, and it will be published early in July . . .

. . . which means I can get back to work on the next story , FALSE GOLD. Or can I? For here comes a reminder that another short story is due for the Methodist Recorder this Easter. It’s called ‘Don’t be afraid!’ which phrase is one of the most comforting and often repeated in the Bible. Also another short story is needed for the choir concert. That will be about Max, the tiny cat whose missus has an accident, placing them both at the mercy of . . . Well, you can read it here.

Are there any other impediments to my getting on with FALSE GOLD? Yes, Joffe books are bringing out another two Ellie Quicke stories in April, and are sending me the designs for the covers for approval. The dates are as follows: back in March, it was MURDER IN HOUSE on March 21^st. In April there will be MURDER BY MISTAKE on the 3^rd, and MURDER MY NEIGHBOUR on the 21^st.

So, please, miss? May I have an afternoon off? Well, I know that if I do, while I am happily having a chat over a coffee with a friend, my brain will shoot off to work on the next problem in the plot of FALSE GOLD. So, is the dead body found in the amusement park really that of Pete, who was on the security payroll? And what’s happened to his dog? And, does a boy of nine months say more than five words and walk unaided?

If you’re interested in reading how some Christian writers got started in their career, you could have a look at MY FIRST NOVEL . . . details to be found here.

As for the Owlets, the sun came out and they ventured a tiny step outdoors. I’m not at all sure they like! But AWOL is aching to go AWOL. See them here.

A blessing on those who do a bit of shopping for those who can’t get out easily.

Veronica Heley

It was an interesting experience to look back over the years in which I’d been writing. I remember how uncertain I felt for some years, if I declared myself to be an author.

                                              Life gets complicated . . . .

When I was first accepted for publication, writers got just one hardback book for library use. Over the years publishers added a paperback, a large print, and e-book and also an audiobook to their lists. Some of my historical romances were brought out under the pseudonym of Victoria Thorne but the suspense stories continued under my own name. Eventually almost all of these titles were sold on to a different publisher who brought them out with new covers . . . and then they got a second or third life in Print on Demand and e-books. Then the first of these publishers were bought out by yet another publisher . . . and this is why the Abbot Agency and Ellie Quicke books are now being bought out by Joffe for Amazon . . . Yes, it’s complicated! But you don’t have to remember who did what to whom and in what order. And I’ve forgotten!

. . . which reminds me to tell you that MURDER IN THE HOUSE| is being brought out by Joffe on March 21^st. I haven’t seen the cover yet but I’m told they are going to be bringing out the rest of that series as we go through the year. (Caution: I titled this book MURDER IN HOUSE, but it may be coming out now with a ‘THE’ in the title.)

The children’s books I wrote had good storylines but are now pretty well out of date; so much has changed over the last 50 years in the way children are brought up; they now have phones and much more pocket money; they dress differently and have different expectations. Some of my readers plan to look up some of these the early stories. I am most interested to hear what they will make of them nowadays.

Nowadays it’s a case of deciding whether I write another Bea Abbot or an Ellie Quicke. Actually, it’s not as easy as that, because I seem to be getting more ideas for Bea than for Ellie. It continually amazes me that ideas do seem to pop up when I need them. It’s doubly amazing that in my 90^th year I am writing what will be my ninetieth book.

As for the short stories I’ve written over the year, they were written for three or four occasions every year. Now I’m recycling them every month in the newsletters, so I’m actually going to run out soon . . . or perhaps restart them from the beginning all over again? Anyway, this month’s story is about Simnel cake. WHO ARE THE APOSTLES? Find it here.

I’m told that the book some of us Christian writers put together has been published and has been selling well. Called MY FIRST NOVEL, details can be found here.

The Owlets are considering a dive into the Great Outside – the garden. I tell them they’ll get lost in the undergrowth but AWOL at least thinks that will be fun. See them here.

A blessing on those who smile and say Hello if they pass someone they don’t know in the street.      

Veronica Heley

LOOKING BACK . . .FIFTY YEARS AGO. . .

. . . I managed at last to write a story good enough for publication. I’d spent the previous two years turning out story after story, hardly stopping to correct typos. Yes, I worked on a board in my daughter’s bedroom, on a manual typewriter! Eventually I slowed down enough to do some editing. I cut my current Ms in half and SUE FOR MERCY was accepted by Robert Hale, published in October l974.

I wrote six suspense/romances for Hale, learning my trade all the time. Then some historicals which were a lot of fun, and taught me to do the research before I started the story. My favourite? MY LORD, THE HERMIT for Transworld. Some of these early books are still available in audio.

Then there was a change of direction. For fourteen years I wrote children’s stories for Christian publishers. They’d say, we want a story for a 10 to 12 year old boy, or for a 6 to 8 year old girl. Up would come an idea, and I’d switch on my electric typewriter. SPARROW, for Scripture Union and THE BOY WHO WOULDN’T for Lion, went into several editions. Then came the narratives for pop-up books for Frances Lincoln, and some resource books for the Bible Reading Fellowship. All now out of print.

Another door opened when Harper/Collins Religious wanted some adult crime stories with a Christian background, which is how Ellie Quicke came into being. That part of Harper/Collins was sold to Zondervan, for whom I wrote a quartet of romances starting with EDEN HALL. Ellie moved to Severn House, for whom I am still writing today. Ellie’s MURDER AT THE ALTAR was the first of the series, soon to be joined by Bea Abbot in FALSE CHARITY – and an introduction to computers.

There are now 22 Ellies and l6 Beas available and I’m told the 17^th Bea will be out this July. Meanwhile, No 9 in the Ellie Quicke series, MURDER IN THE PARK, came out on January 20^th for Amazon, and I’m pleased to announce that Nos 10 to 22 have been contracted for as well. Hurray! See their advert here.

I’ve written all sorts of short stories along the way, first for the Methodist Recorder and then as attachments to my monthly newsletters. One of the early ones, INSURANCE, is to be found here.

Recently, a group of us Christian writers collaborated in producing a paperback about how we came to write our first book, and what happened to it. This was published on January lst under the title of MY FIRST NOVEL and if you’re interested you can find details here.

The Owlets are divided about taking Awol back into the fold. See them here.

A blessing on those who stay at home when they’re going down with a cold and don’t go out to spread it about.    

Veronica Heley