This was really odd . . .
I was having a good gossip over a coffee with a friend. We talked of many things; the short story I was writing, her problems with a new neighbour and the state of our health. A businessman was sitting next to us. I noticed him because although he was working on the regulation slim-line laptop and his smartphone was at his side, he wore a three-piece suit with the waistcoat buttoned up. Now you might say, ‘So what?’ Well, yes, but in fact how often do you see a man in a coffee bar who is wearing a 3 piece suit? And then, when it was time to pay the bill and leave we discovered the man had paid for our coffees because, he said, our conversation had been so interesting! How about that!
My interpretation of this: I wondered if the man had been on his way for an interview somewhere – hence the business suit – and had dopped in at the coffee shop to kill time – and been amused enough by our chatter to relax . . .?
My next book is out on May 5th!
‘False Relation’ comes out in hardback and e-book on May 5th. The cover design breaks with the tradition of the series but is – I think – amusing. We’ve had two good reviews already, from Booklist and from Kirkus. The reviewer for Booklist writes; ‘Packed with plenty of twists . . . a pleasant, entertaining read that fans of this series will thoroughly enjoy.’
The story is set in the run-down estate which Bea Abbot’s friend is trying to rescue and begins with the murder of one of his unpleasant relatives. Oh, and there’s a group trying to take over and sell the water from the ‘magical’ spring in the park. Much depends on the attitude of the locals, who have their own views on what’s happening and what should be done about it. And, just maybe, the future for Bea and her husband looks a little different when they’ve managed to sort out these problems.
The next short story . . .
Over the years I’ve thought up a number of stories about Max, a tiny black cat who is always at odds with his surroundings, but recently I’ve been seduced into writing about a very different hero. Born in a war zone, this cat is almost completely white, far larger than the usual pet, and not at all cuddly. He longs to find a place where he can feel at home, but has difficulty in fitting in. He’s called The Outside Cat, and you can read about him here.
A blessing on those who devise easy-to-do Sudoku, because I give up when the going gets tough.
Veronica Heley