Are we glad or sad to see the last of 2024?
I’m pleased in some ways and sad in others. Some things have been very good. I have managed to keep going healthwise, only finding two more medications to which I have bad reactions, my stories both short and long seem to be still much in demand, my social life is busy and if I can’t run and leap around as I used to do, there is a lot to be said for moderating one’s pace on the way up the hill to the local shops.
I am sad that the run of my cosy books by Joffe is shortly coming to an end. (Murder-in-Law came out on December 18th and the last of that series, Murder for Profit, comes out on January 12th.) There will probably be more later on, but that’s all they can take for the time being. They are, however, planning to bring out some more collections at some point.
Now I have another contract to sign . . .
Meanwhile, Severn House have been very busy with the copy edits and proofs for the next in the Bea Abbot series. This focuses on Julian, who unexpectedly inherits a failing stately home and a clutch of relatives who are not at all friendly. FALSE NAME and FALSE WITNESS are out and about already, shortly to be followed by still FALSE GOLD. Now I’m working on the fourth in this mini-series, FALSE RELATION, to be delivered next year. I can’t think beyond that. Or rather, I still have new stories weaving themselves into my head, but I must not allow myself to be distracted.
Meanwhile, short stories continue . . .
The Christmas and New Year edition of the Methodist Recorder has another story called ‘One for Sorrow,’ which is about a widow coming to terms with the loss of her family at Christmas time. Sad, but true to life. On a brighter note, I wrote another Max the Cat story called The Special Birthday for the choir concert and attach that here for your enjoyment.
What else? The garden is adapting to the change in the season. The pink viburnum tinis is in full flower and scent, and the winter jasmine is starred over with yellow blooms. There are bulbs pushing up here and there. How, may I ask, do I prevent the postman and all other delivery people from treading on the green shoots as they cross the flower bed between the pathway to my front door and my neighbours? (Suggestions on a post card, please.) Who uses post cards nowadays? Well, I have a wonderful friend who always sends me postcards when she goes abroad on holidays. How about that!
A blessing on all those who still send Christmas, New Year and Birthday cards! And a blessing on those whose names we cross off our address book each year.
Veronica Heley