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The great thing about old friends is that you never have to explain anything to them – they’ve known you for years, warts and all. So in June I went on my travels to visit some of them. We played ‘catching-up-on the news in the families’ and in addition I gave a talk in the library at Lytham. I really enjoyed a few days without emails or computer.

Then, I took my life in my hands and upgraded my computer to Windows 7! Not 8, which I gather has many faults, and not 8.1, which I thought would be a step too far. Anyway, with 7, I have lived to tell the tale. More or less. No, of course I didn’t do it myself. I had the most delightful man come round to show me what he’d done and what I had to do in future and, with clenched teeth and many a prayer, I have more or less come to terms with the new system and found where everything has been stowed away.

Well, except for the pictures, which disappeared. You expected that, didn’t you? I can hear you laughing from here. And, it was a big problem. Each time I am asked to guest on someone else’s website, I have to send a picture of the cover of the latest book, plus a picture of me. And, although there seemed to be hundreds of images on my new system, none of them related in any way to what I do. Question: Why are they there? Does anyone ever use any of them? Why burden everyone’s computer with all that stuff? But eventually all was made clear and I am now able – fingers and toes crossed – to perform the usual tasks, if not in the usual order.

I managed to send off the Summer Holiday story for the Methodist Recorder between my trips out of town, but I’m not sure when it’s going to be published. Perhaps the editor will be popping it in early if another promised item fails to show up? Perhaps it will hang around till August? I’ll let you know when I hear. And of course I now have to think up a Harvest story for them. Hmm.

Going away meant a break in my routine. Usually I start on the next Ellie story the day after I deliver a Bea Abbot. This time I made a start and went away . . . without my computer . . . came back to struggle with business matters . . . and still haven’t got my desk sorted and ready to get back to proper work. And of course my decorator arrived just as I was thinking I could get down to it, and now I have my computer in my bedroom and my files are all over the place. I do keep a notebook with me at all times and have scrawled some words about the plot which I’m having some difficulty in deciphering. I’m sure it will be all right when I can finally get down to it . . .

You may remember that Severn House is bringing out one of my early historical novels as an e-book each month? On July 14^th, the next one will appear; this is THE TARRANT ROSE, which has a proud but poor heroine – the Rose of the title – falling for a man she thinks is equally poor, until he turns out to be one of the movers and shakers in the Hanoverian government who are trying to deal with the Jacobite rebellion. All ends happily – except, of course, for Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Severn House is also tackling the backlog of the early Bea Abbot stories, bringing them out as e-books. The very first title, which introduced Bea as a new widow staggering under the necessity of taking on her husband’s business, is FALSE CHARITY, and this came out on June l4th. The second, FALSE PICTURE, deals with a picture which may or may not have been stolen, but which has certainly gone missing – and that will be out on July l4th. Mark and I are struggling to get all the information about the new ebooks up on the website. Yes, there’s shortly to be even more, from another publisher called Endeavour. I’ve seen some of the covers but have no Isbn numbers as yet. To be continued, no doubt.

About the moths? I have been very brave and ordered new carpets for the affected rooms. I cringe at the thought of the disruption involved but I must say my carpet supplier is an old friend, knows how to deal with old houses and worried women. He assures me that even if he has to replace the odd floorboard or re-hang a door, All Will Be Well. Meanwhile the moths continue to breed. You can hear me grinding my teeth, can’t you?

Our afternoon tea club for the over 65s is going really well. We have a different menu of sandwiches and cake every week; so far the mushy chocolate cake is the favourite!

A blessing: may you find some time to sit and enjoy of the beauty of daisies and roses, a blue sky with the trail of an aeroplane across it. And the delight of a really hot cup of tea. (The hotel I stayed at in June thought you could make decent tea by pouring hot water out of an insulated pot onto a tea bag in a cup. Sorry, but No, You Can’t!)

Veronica Heley

www.veronicaheley.com
http://blog.veronicaheley.com/

Severn House e-books released in June and July

Historicals:   MY LORD, THE HERMIT June l4th. ISBN 9781448301362

                       THE TARRANT ROSE, July 14^th. ISBN 9781448301355

Bea Abbot:   FALSE CHARITY June 14^th. ISBN 9781780105611.

                       FALSE PICTURE July 14^th. ISBN 9781780105628

FALSE REPORT, 6^th Abbot Agency story, large print, hardback, June 14^th. ISBN 97807278 97114

Don’t forget that if you would like a digital review copy of Murder in Time, it is available from Severn House through NetGalley. This facility is available to librarians, booksellers and established reviewers and bloggers, but NOT to the general public who only post reviews on Amazon or Goodreads – unless they are Amazon Vine reviewers or GoodReads librarians. Apply direct to Charlotte Loftusx at Severnhouse.com

The short story, ‘The Art of Saying “No”’ was published in The Methodist Recorder at Easter. If you’d like to read it, let me know and I’ll send it you by email.

FALSE DIAMOND. Bea is drawn into the questionable doings of the multi-billionaire Holland family, which include an engagement with a fake diamond ring, an alleged suicide attempt, an abusive man who tries to put the frighteners on Bea, and the ambiguous behaviour of the black sheep of the family, who turns out to be the joker in the pack. ISBN 978072788298 1. Also in e-book in March 2014: 781780104843

UNSUNG HEROES is now available as an e-book. This is a collection of short stories originally published in the Methodist Recorder, concerning the problems of three retired men and their families, plus some Ellie Quicke short stories. £3.40 UK, and $4.90 USA. http://www.veronicaheley.com/othertitles.php

Find details of all the other E-books at http://www.veronicaheley.com/ebooks.php

Apologies for being a couple of days late with the newsletter. I had a chance to take a few days off so I returned to beautiful Bruges to shop, look at art, eat good food, and see the fantastic Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. I really needed that break and what’s more, it refreshed my memories so that I can use this as a holiday destination in my next short story. Yes, there’s going to be another for August, but it has to be delivered mid June, so I have to get writing now!

The good news is that I signed lots of contracts in May (hurray!) So now I’ve delivered the next Bea Abbot – False Impression, to be published late November 2014 – I am able as of today to make the mental change from ‘being’ Bea to ‘being’ Ellie. Believe it or not, this is going to be the l6th Ellie Quicke. I have been thinking about this plot and I know just where the villainous part of the story is set. That’s one of the attractions about writing based in this particular part of London; we have old buildings, buildings which have been extended upwards and outwards; we have brand new flats and small tenements which now house professionals. This particular story was inspired by several local events – as my stories usually are – but there’s a particular building with an unusual extension at top of a nearby hill which has always intrigued me. More on that later.

Meanwhile MURDER IN TIME has been published in the UK – three months later for Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand. This is the one in which the man who raped schoolgirl Vera twelve years ago, returns to claim his son. He plans to pay Vera off and remove Mikey and descends to blackmail and force when his offer is rejected. Attempting to solve the mystery of the doctor who was killed on the night of the rape takes Ellie into contact with Vera’s old school friends, who are not happy to have their current lives disturbed.   A copy of the cover has gone on the website already, plus the first couple of pages for you to look at.
ISBN 9780 7278 83988

Now there’s a chance for some of you to request a secure digital review copy (not a hardcover copy) of Murder in Time as Severn House have put it on NetGalley. It’s free to become a member and Severn House manages all requests for review copies this way, but it only applies to collection development public librarians, booksellers and established reviewers and bloggers; this does not include the general public who only post reviews on Amazon or GoodReadreads, unless they are Amazon Vine reviewers or GoodReads librarians. If you qualify, let me know and I’ll pass your details on to Severn House – or you can apply direct to Charlotte Loftus via severnhouse.com

E-books: Severn House is bringing out the first of my early historical novels on June 15th. This is MY LORD, THE HERMIT, set in medieval times, in which a wrongly convicted man has to build a church in silence, with his own hands . . . until a feisty heiress crosses his path and a neighbouring lord invades her lands. This originally came out under the pseudonym of ‘Victoria Thorne’, but will now be titled: ‘Veronica Heley writing as Victoria Thorne’. ISBN 978 1 4483 01362.

Later this month I’ll be going up to Lytham St Anne’s to visit and old friend and to give a talk in the Library on Tuesday morning l7th June. If you’re around, it would be good to see you there.  

About the moths? Every day I think I’ve counted fewer bodies but still they keep coming. I have reluctantly decided to get rid of three oldish carpets in the hope that that will defeat them. This means CLEARING OUT MY STUDY!!! Oh, the agony! Oh, the discovery of things I thought I’d lost! Oh, the cramming of files into bookcases not meant for them. But oh, where have I put X. . .not to mention Y? I keep telling myself it will be good when it’s all done, but meantime . . . yuk!

Our afternoon tea club for the over 65s is going really well. We’re mostly widows and widowers, with two ninety-odd year olds. It’s a lot better, they say, than sitting at home staring at the telly.

A blessing: may you find some time to relax by yourself, to enjoy the longer hours of daylight, and make the most of the time you spend with friends.

Veronica Heley

www.veronicaheley.com

http://blog.veronicaheley.com/

Recent releases.

The short story, ‘The Art of Saying “No”’ was published at Easter. If you’d like to read it, let me know and I’ll send it you by email.

FALSE DIAMOND. Bea is drawn into the questionable doings of the multi-billionaire Holland family, which include an engagement with a fake diamond ring, an alleged suicide attempt, an abusive man who tries to put the frighteners on Bea, and the ambiguous behaviour of the black sheep of the family, who turns out to be the joker in the pack. ISBN 978 0 7278 8298 1.

Also in e-book in March 2014: 978-1-78010-484-3

MURDER MY NEIGHBOUR. Large print, hardback. Pub Nov 2013. ISBN 9780727896551.

MURDER FOR MERCY. Ellie finds some deaths in the community are not exactly what they seem, while her pregnant, difficult daughter Diana is concerned that her husband is still in a wheelchair. Sabotage at the big house nearby is being blamed on young Mikey. Can Ellie track down whoever it is who is killing for mercy, keep Mikey out of the clutches of Social Services, and steer her difficult daughter Diana into calmer waters? ISBN 9780 7278 8281 3

UNSUNG HEROES is now available as an e-book. This is a collection of short stories originally published in the Methodist Recorder, concerning the problems of three retired men and their families, plus some Ellie Quicke short stories. £3.40 UK, and $4.90 USA. http://www.veronicaheley.com/othertitles.php

FALSE REPORT, an Abbot Agency story, is available in large print, hardback, from June 14^th ISBN 9780 7278

Find details of all the other E-books at http://www.veronicaheley.com/ebooks.php

www.veronicaheley.com
http://blog.veronicaheley.com/

London Book Fair has come and gone. Oh, the buzz! The bustle! The search for a decent cup of coffee! (Yes, I know where to get one now.) And ah, the moment of agony when you think you have forgotten your pass for the day!

However, all went well. The first thing I have to tell you is that Severn House want another Bea and another Ellie after I’ve completed my current contract. So I will be delivering False Impression at the end of this month – which is a Bea Abbot, of course – and start straight away on the next Ellie which will be, incredible to relate, her 16^th story! How about that! And yes, I have thought up a title, but it’s too soon to share that with you.

Meanwhile, Severn House has decided to bring out e-books of four of the historical novels I wrote years ago, starting with the first one on the lst June. This will be

MY LORD, THE HERMIT, in which a wrongly convicted man has to build a church in silence, with his own hands . . . until a feisty heiress crosses his path and a neighbouring lord invades her lands. I enjoyed writing this story, which is set in the baron-bashing, lawless times of the middle ages. It was first published in l980 by Corgi and, because I’d only written crime before, my agent thought there might be confusion in my readers’ minds about the name so I was asked to think up a pseudonym. The book came out as ‘by Victoria Thorne’. I think the publishers are now going to catalogue it as ‘Veronica Heley writing as Victoria Thorne’.

There’ll be another historical out on the first of the following three months and I’ll tell you about those as they come out. I don’t have the ISBN numbers yet but will give them next time.

At the end of this month Ellie Quicke’s 15^th story will be published in the UK (three months later for the States, Australia, etc.) This story is called MURDER IN TIME, when Ellie comes face to face with the man who raped the schoolgirl Vera twelve years before. Abdi didn’t want anything to do with her then, but now he finds he’s unable to have any more children and thinks he can give Vera a cheque and take Mikey off into the blue. As you can imagine, that doesn’t go down well with either of them, so there’s trouble ahead. A man also died the night of the rape and solving that old mystery might just help Ellie to work out who did what to whom. I have a pull of the cover for this already, and Mark will, I hope, be putting it on the website soon. It’s got a frame of jagged glass around the edges, a half moon and a man’s shadow thrown across the lawn. I think it’s nice and scary and I hope you agree.

Yes, Easter was late this year, but several people have already asked me to send them the short story titled ‘The Art of Saying “No”’ which was published on Good Friday in the Methodist Recorder. If anyone else would like to read it, just let me know and I’ll send it to them by e-mail. Oh, and I’ve been asked to write another for the holiday period. Do you think it would be all right to use the title, ‘We’re all going on a summer holiday’ Or does that date us too much? I like it, but . . . Yes, there will be a holiday theme for this one, and it will be published some time in July. I’ll confirm the actual date later.

About the moths? Every day I think I’ve counted fewer bodies but still they keep coming. I have reluctantly decided to get rid of three oldish carpets in the hope that that will defeat them.

I asked my webmaster to put the first few pages of the Bea Abbot book, False Diamond, onto my website, and then had a job to find it. Has anyone else met with the same problem? I suspect it will need to go on the home page so that this will be easier to come across. I must get on to that.

We’ve started an afternoon tea club for the over 65s locally and it’s going really well. The only thing is, I have to remember not to have any lunch beforehand. . .

A blessing: may you find some time to relax and be yourself, to contact old friends and perhaps to make new ones.

Veronica Heley

www.veronicaheley.com

http://blog.veronicaheley.com

Recent releases.

FALSE DIAMOND. Bea is drawn into the questionable doings of the multi-billionaire Holland family, which include an engagement with a fake diamond ring, an alleged suicide attempt, an abusive man who tries to put the frighteners on Bea, and the ambiguous behaviour of the black sheep of the family, who turns out to be the joker in the pack. ISBN 978 0 7278 8298 1.

Also in e-book in March 2014: 978-1-78010-484-3

Booklist: An action-packed variation on the British cozy, this latest from Heley is full of unexpected twists and gentle humour. Publishers Weekly: Starred: Excellent . . . suspense and betrayal combined with appealing players make this a superior series entry. Library Journal: Marvellous!

MURDER MY NEIGHBOUR. Large print, hardback. Pub Nov 2013. ISBN 9780727896551.

MURDER FOR MERCY. Ellie finds some deaths in the community are not exactly what they seem, while her pregnant, difficult daughter Diana is concerned that her husband is still in a wheelchair. Sabotage at the big house nearby is being blamed on young Mikey. Can Ellie track down whoever it is who is killing for mercy, keep Mikey out of the clutches of Social Services, and steer her difficult daughter Diana into calmer waters? ISBN 9780 7278 8281 3      

UNSUNG HEROES is now available as an e-book. This is a collection of short stories originally published in the Methodist Recorder, concerning the problems of three retired men and their families, plus some Ellie Quicke short stories. £3.40 UK, and $4.90 USA. http://www.veronicaheley.com/othertitles.php?11-11

FALSE ALARM, the 7^th Abbot Agency story, is now available in hardback and also as an e-book. Bea is asked to find the person who laid a booby trap for the powerful tycoon, Sir Lucas Ossett, in his own block of flats. ISBN 9780 7278 8237 0 for the hardback and ISBN 978 1 78010 289 4 for the ebook.

MURDER BY MISTAKE is now available in large print. ISBN 978 0 7278 9935 4.

FALSE REPORT is available as a paperback and also as an ebook . ISBN 978 1 843751 408 0. Ebook: 978 1 78010 201 6.

Find details of all the other E-books at http://www.veronicaheley.com/ebooks.php?l1-11

www.veronicaheley.com
http://blog.veronicaheley.com/

Easter is late this year, and my short story for the season will be published by the Methodist Recorder during the weekend of the 18^th April. My grateful thanks to all of you who emailed me to say which title they preferred for this particular tale. The consensus of opinion was that it should be ‘The Art of Saying “No”’, so that is how it went  through to the publisher. One reader suggested that it should be ‘The Art of Saying No . . . probably!’  I liked that, even though I didn’t use it. The usual terms and conditions apply. If you’d like to read it and can’t get hold of a copy of The Methodist Recorder, drop me an email after the Easter weekend, and I’ll send it to you.

I have been thinking about one plot strand in this story for some time, which is that those who spend time working for the church, can get burn-out. Also, Kerry is being pursued by a widow with marriage in mind, and he doesn’t know how to say ‘No’.

The saga of the moths continues. Urgghh! I think I need a new carpet or two. I managed to change the battery in my moth zapper – with some difficulty. Why can’t they devise a battery cover which can be removed and replaced with ease? I was ages with a knife and a fork (don’t ask!) trying to get the ‘lid’ off. I feared at one point that I’d broken it, and gave myself a pat on the back when I eventually succeeded. But I must say that the increase in power is worth it. Zzzapfft!

I try to keep up to date with all that’s good and new in the publishing world – and fail, of course. I am technically incompetent. I’m not proud of it; it’s just the way I’m made. Too right-brained (or left? I can’t remember which).  However, I have noticed that some writers are putting the first page – and sometimes the first chapter – of a new book on their website. So I have just done this for FALSE DIAMOND, the Abbot Agency story which came out in the UK last November and will be out in the States and elsewhere sometime in March. I would very much like to know if you think this is a good idea. If so, I will try to put up the first page of the next book to be published as well. This will be Ellie Quicke’s MURDER  IN  TIME, to be published in the UK at the end of May. I have a pull of the cover for this already, but sometimes there are minor changes before production, so I don’t want to put the publicity up too early.

April is starred in my calendar because that’s when the London Book Fair is to be held at Earls Court. I have appointments to talk to my editors about what they want next, and hopefully they’re going to let me have contracts for Bea and Ellie to go on for another year. Then there’s some of my out of print books which may be available for a new edition and an e-book, and what about the historical novels which I wrote years ago, long out of print? I’ve always had a soft spot for them, and will be delighted if I can interest another publisher in doing something with them. If I succeed, I’ll tell you all about it in my next newsletter.

A blessing: may you find time to pet a dog or stroke a cat, to marvel at the spring flowers, and to tell your family and friends how much you appreciate them.  

 Veronica Heley

www.veronicaheley.com

http://blog.veronicaheley.com/

Recent releases.

FALSE DIAMOND.  Bea is drawn into the questionable doings of the multi-billionaire Holland family, which include an engagement with a fake diamond ring, an alleged suicide attempt, an abusive man who tries to put the frighteners on Bea, and the ambiguous behaviour of the black sheep of the family, who turns out to be the joker in the pack. ISBN 978 0 7278 8298 1.

Also in e-book in March 2014: 978-1-78010-484-3

Booklist: An action-packed variation on the British cozy, this latest from Heley is full of unexpected twists and gentle humour. Publishers Weekly: Starred: Excellent . . . suspense and betrayal combined with appealing players make this a superior series entry. Library Journal:   Marvellous!

MURDER MY NEIGHBOUR. Large print, hardback. Pub Nov 2013. ISBN 9780727896551.

MURDER FOR MERCY.  Ellie finds some deaths in the community are not exactly what they seem, while her pregnant, difficult daughter Diana is concerned that her husband is still in a wheelchair. Sabotage at the big house nearby is being blamed on young Mikey. Can Ellie track down whoever it is who is killing for mercy, keep Mikey out of the clutches of Social Services, and steer her difficult daughter Diana into calmer waters?  ISBN 9780 7278 8281 3      

UNSUNG HEROES is now available as an e-book. This is a collection of short stories originally published in the Methodist Recorder, concerning the problems of three retired men and their families, plus some Ellie Quicke short stories. £3.40 UK, and $4.90 USA. http://www.veronicaheley.com/othertitles.php?11-11

FALSE ALARM, the 7^th Abbot Agency story, is now available in hardback and also as an e-book. Bea is asked to find the person who laid a booby trap for the powerful tycoon, Sir Lucas Ossett,  in his own block of flats.  ISBN 9780 7278 8237 0 for the hardback and ISBN 978 1 78010 289 4 for the ebook.

MURDER BY MISTAKE is now available in large print. ISBN 978 0 7278 9935 4.

FALSE REPORT is available as a paperback  and also as an ebook . ISBN 978 1 843751 408 0. Ebook: 978 1 78010 201 6.

Find details of all the other E-books at http://www.veronicaheley.com/ebooks.php?l1-11

Don’t you hate it when people ask if you want the bad or the good news first? I do. So here’s the bad news first; the moths are still around. At least twice a day I go round the house with my zapper and last night I found one in my bed! In it! No, I didn’t scream, but I said ‘Aaargh!’ in a heartfelt manner.

The good news is that both Ellie and Bea are being asked to go on for another year. I am currently working on a Bea Abbot, which will be out this November. After that, it will be back to Ellie. I am so pleased.

Do you ever get round to reading the reviews in that section on my website? I’ve been a member of a book reading club for over forty years. This means that every year I have to prepare a half hour talk about a book I’ve chosen. Sometimes it’s something light, sometimes it’s an oddity that has caught my fancy. This year it’s Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death, by James Runcie. An interesting and thoughtful writer venturing into murder mysteries. He’s now produced two volumes of short stories with a clerical hero, and they are definitely Good Reads. I mention this because the first book is being made into a TV series to be shown on ITV in the autumn. I don’t know who is going to play Sidney. It’s an interesting game to play . . . who do you fancy for the part, and is he available?

Work progresses, more or less as usual. I have come to the end of the first draft of the next Abbot Agency story. There’s a lot to do to it yet, as I probably go through it another three or even four times before I consider it’s ready to send off at the end of May. But I must leave it aside for a little while to ‘settle’ in my mind, so that I can come back to it afresh in due course.

The title of this next Bea is FALSE IMPRESSION. Almost everything that happens can be interpreted in different ways and it’s some time before Bea realises exactly who was murdered, when and why.  Technically, I set myself a challenge as, until the very last chapter, Bea never leaves the house. She, and the people who have taken refuge under her roof are, in fact, under siege . . . which makes for increased tension. I hope.

I’m also working on the next short story for the Methodist Recorder. I want to deal with the difficulty a busy person has in saying ‘no’. If you’re anything like me, you’ve had to learn how to say ‘no’ the hard way by saying ‘yes’ and finding out that you really can’t manage to fit whatever-it-is into your schedule without major problems. It’s easy enough to respond to a plea for help by saying ‘Yes’, but is it the right thing to do? I wanted to call this story ‘THE ABILITY TO SAY “No!”’  Then I thought that ‘THE ART OF SAYING “No!”’ might be better. Now I’m dithering between the two titles. Perhaps you’ve got a preference? If so, do let me know. The story won’t be out till just before Easter, by the way, and I can’t send copies to anyone until after that.

Talking of Downton – which we weren’t, but why not? – I wrote a series set in a modern British stately home in crisis. This is the Eden Hall series and the last of the four books – Master of the Hall – is now out as an e-book.  My heroine, Minty, is nothing like flinty Mary from Downton, but I enjoyed writing these books and hope you will enjoy reading them.

The short stories in Unsung Heroes is also available as an e-book, and doing well. I think I’ve almost got enough stories to fill another book, but they all need editing. Some need lengthening, some need shortening. Oh dear. Well, I must find the time, somehow. . . To be continued…

 There’s still a lot of talk going on about putting my early crime novels back into print or e-book, but these things take time. I get e-mails from this publisher and that asking me if I’d be interested to going with them, and then I ask another publisher who has taken my earlier books if they’d like them, and I wait for a reply from them. Meanwhile, I calm myself by thinking my agent has all this under control. Also to be continued . . .

A new blessing: may you find time to look around and appreciate the beauty of this world, the daffodils, the early red tulips, the forsythia . . . the birds . . . and the kindness of friends. Till next time . . .

 Veronica Heley

www.veronicaheley.com

http://blog.veronicaheley.com/

Recent releases.

FALSE DIAMOND.  Bea is drawn into the questionable doings of the multi-billionaire Holland family, which include an engagement with a fake diamond ring, an alleged suicide attempt, an abusive man who tries to put the frighteners on Bea, and the ambiguous behaviour of the black sheep of the family, who turns out to be the joker in the pack. ISBN 978 0 7278 8298 1.

Booklist: An action-packed variation on the British cozy, this latest from Heley is full of unexpected twists and gentle humour. Publishers Weekly: Starred: Excellent . . . suspense and betrayal combined with appealing players make this a superior series entry. Library Journal:   Marvelous!

MURDER MY NEIGHBOUR. Large print, hardback. Pub Nov 2013. ISBN 9780727896551.

MURDER FOR MERCY.  Ellie finds some deaths in the community are not exactly what they seem, while her pregnant, difficult daughter Diana is concerned that her husband is still in a wheelchair. Sabotage at the big house nearby is being blamed on young Mikey. Can Ellie track down whoever it is who is killing for mercy, keep Mikey out of the clutches of Social Services, and steer her difficult daughter Diana into calmer waters?  ISBN 9780 7278 8281 3

UNSUNG HEROES is now available as an e-book. This is a collection of short stories originally published in the Methodist Recorder, concerning the problems of three retired men and their families, plus some Ellie Quicke short stories. £3.40 UK, and $4.90 USA. http://www.veronicaheley.com/othertitles.php

FALSE ALARM, the 7^th Abbot Agency story, is now available in hardback and also as an e-book. Bea is asked to find the person who laid a booby trap for the powerful tycoon, Sir Lucas Ossett,  in his own block of flats.  ISBN 9780 7278 8237 0 for the hardback and ISBN 978 1 78010 289 4 for the ebook.

MURDER BY MISTAKE is now available in large print. ISBN 978 0 7278 9935 4.

FALSE REPORT is available as a paperback  and also as an ebook . ISBN 978 1 843751 408 0. Ebook: 978 1 78010 201 6.

Find details of all the other E-books at http://www.veronicaheley.com/ebooks.php

I don’t know if you twitter or tweet. If so, congratulations. I’m afraid I’ve never got round to learning how to do such things. Many of my friends do, and they text and Skype and goodness what else. In theory, I think it would be a good idea if I did get round to mastering these skills, but in practice, there’s always something else that I need to do first. Like writing this newsletter.

But, if you do twitter or tweet, you might enjoy posting a note about good books that you have read to @cleanreadbooks. And yes, I know I ought to get round to posting something about my books on it, but . . . see above. I’d be most interested to hear if you do manage to connect with this site as it sounds as if it would be helpful for people who like to read books which don’t contain much blood, sex or profanity. In the trade we used to call such books a ‘cozy’. Then they were called ‘soft’ or ‘gentle’ crime. Is ‘clean reads’ a better title? Perhaps it is.

My short story, Christmas is coming, duly went out in the Methodist Recorder on December 20, without giving my name as the author! You will be amused to hear that they thought everyone knew I wrote their seasonal stories, and could they please have another for Easter. Mm. Oh well. I’ve sent a number of copies of this story out to people on e-mail who can’t get a paper copy, but let me know if you want one, too.

Meanwhile, congratulations are in order. You remember that FALSE DIAMOND duly came out in November (February/March in America and all points south).  Booklist had given it a good review but now I have – wait for it! – a starred review from Publishers Weekly. It would be extravagant to say that ‘now I can die happy’ and of course I don’t really mean it, but . . . you get the picture? You may never have heard of Publishers Weekly as it is really a trade paper for libraries and bookshops, but it is highly influential in those areas. It is clear that the reviewers have actually read the book, and they are reputedly not kind to writers who have turned in sub-standard work. So a good review is gratifying, while a starred review is . . .. whoopee?!! See the end of this newsletter for a word about the plot.

Master of the Hall – ebook out now. This is the fourth and last in the series, which has been a long time in coming. I’ve always liked Patrick and Minty and wish them well as they look forward to coping with whatever else life may throw at them.

There’s no news yet of a copy of The Siege of Salwarpe coming to light after the sad demise of Chivers. But another publisher is enquiring about the e-rights of the other early crime stories of mine previously published. Wait and see on this…

I am enjoying working on the next Bea Abbot. I titled it FALSE IMPRESSION, as almost everything that happens can be interpreted in different ways. I’ve even managed to get Leon into a crude disguise, much to his disgust and Bea’s hilarity.

I’ve been sent a rough of the cover for MURDER IN TIME, which isn’t the least bit what I expected, but is really rather good. We’re quibbling at the moment about the shadow of a man which falls across the lawn in the picture, but yes; I think it should do the trick nicely.

One dismal note: the moths are back!!! I am so cross!!! My trusty electronic racquet is back in daily use. Oh dear.

I rather liked the blessing/farewell I put in the last newsletter, so I make no apologies for repeating it here. May your days be full of interest and all your aches and pains manageable. Till next time . . .

 Veronica Heley

www.veronicaheley.com

http://blog.veronicaheley.com/

Recent releases.

FALSE DIAMOND.  Bea is drawn into the questionable doings of the members of the multi-billionaire Holland family, which include an engagement with a fake diamond ring, an alleged suicide attempt, an abusive man who tries to put the frighteners on Bea, and the ambiguous behaviour of the black sheep of the family, who turns out to be the joker in the pack. ISBN 978 0 7278 8298 1.

Booklist: An action-packed variation on the British cozy, this latest from Heley is full of unexpected twists and gentle humour.

Publishers Weekly: Starred: Excellent . . . suspense and betrayal combined with appealing players make this a superior series entry.

MURDER MY NEIGHBOUR. Large print, hardback. Pub Nov 2013. ISBN 9780727896551.

MURDER FOR MERCY.  Ellie finds some deaths in the community are not exactly what they seem, while her pregnant, difficult daughter Diana is concerned that her husband is still in a wheelchair. Sabotage at the big house nearby is being blamed on young Mikey. Can Ellie track down whoever it is who is killing for mercy, keep Mikey out of the clutches of Social Services, and steer her difficult daughter Diana into calmer waters?  ISBN 9780 7278 8281 3

UNSUNG HEROES is now available as an e-book. This is a collection of short stories originally published in the Methodist Recorder, concerning the problems of three retired men and their families, plus some Ellie Quicke short stories. £3.40 UK, and $4.90 USA. http://www.veronicaheley.com/othertitles.php

FALSE ALARM, the 7^th Abbot Agency story, is now available in hardback and also as an e-book. Bea is asked to find the person who laid a booby trap for the powerful tycoon, Sir Lucas Ossett,  in his own block of flats.  ISBN 9780 7278 8237 0 for the hardback and ISBN 978 1 78010 289 4 for the ebook.

MURDER BY MISTAKE is now available in large print. ISBN 978 0 7278 9935 4.

FALSE REPORT is available as a paperback  and also as an ebook . ISBN 978 1 843751 408 0. Ebook: 978 1 78010 201 6.

Find details of all the other E-books at http://www.veronicaheley.com/ebooks.php?l1-11

I’m always pleased with myself when I have learned to do something new in my old age . . . don’t you find it satisfying to master the art of screwing a thingy into a whatsit, or solving a different type of crossword? Or even producing a satisfactory baked potato in the microwave, which is something I am only just learning how to do, courtesy of the delightful boys at our local greengrocery, who assure me that their way with this variety of potato will work. As indeed it does! Whyever didn’t I ask them to help me with the problem ages ago?

Congratulate me on another achievement; I have joined a small women’s choir. My first venture into choir land was at the age of seventeen, singing second soprano in the chorus of the Messiah in Birmingham Town Hall, and for many years after that I sang wherever and whenever the opportunity arose. In later years this and that has prevented me from doing so. Singing in church was not a happy matter, either, as I found my voice was not what it had been.

Solution! I am now officially an alto, and enjoying it. I took part in my first concert just before Christmas, for which I had to wear a white top and black skirt. Panic! Did I have a black skirt? I knew that somewhere . . . in the depths of the wardrobe . . . but oh! Weren’t those the traces of moths? I brushed and the marks went away. I washed with care. No holes to be seen! I ironed with even more care  and lo and behold, a decent enough skirt. And yes, thank you, I enjoyed the concert very much. It’s fun singing down, down, below…

My short story, Christmas is coming, duly went out in the Methodist Recorder on December 20. This is the one in which Kerry is in trouble. He stands firm by his principles and, with the assistance of his friends, he wins through. The usual arrangement applies; if you can’t get hold of a copy and would like to read the story, let me know and I’ll send it to you by e-mail.

You may remember I was telling you that an early historical romance of mine originally entitled The Siege of Salwarpe, was being brought out by Chivers in November under the title: A Heart Besieged. The company has ceased to trade and I now have no copy of this story. Does anyone have one to spare? I hate not having it as it was a particular favourite of mine. But there it is; over the thirty odd years in which I have been getting published, I have lost one or two titles. Sometimes they re-surface. Sometimes not. Please keep a lookout for me, won’t you?

Now for some more good news. The manuscript of the next Ellie book  – Murder in Time – has been approved by my editor, and it’s all systems go. Copy editing in February, publication in May 2014. I like this story; it’s got some fun bits in it which I hope you, too, will enjoy when it comes out.   

I have made a good start on the next Bea Abbot, despite all the extra work that doing Christmas entails. (There were calls from no less than four churches for carol singers one week! I only managed one date.) I have managed the switch from being Ellie into being Bea Abbot reasonably well, but I am alarmed to discover that Leon is being sought not only by members of his family, but also by the police. However, all will be revealed in due course . . . I hope.

Meanwhile, FALSE DIAMOND duly came out in November. It won’t be out in America till March, but the reviews are beginning to come in. Booklist has said, ‘An action-packed variation on the British cozy, this latest from Heley is full of unexpected twists and gentle humour.’ Not bad, eh? This story sees Bea drawn back into the questionable doings of the members of the multi-billionaire Holland family, which include an engagement with a fake diamond ring, an alleged suicide attempt, an abusive man who tries to put the frighteners on Bea, and the ambiguous behaviour of the black sheep of the family, who turns out to be the joker in the pack. ISBN 978 0 7278 8298 1.

Oh yes, and if you think you’d like an interesting variation on the Sleeping Beauty story, set in the Middle Ages, then have a look out for a book called While Beauty Slept, by Elizabeth Blackwell, to be published in February. I was happy to oblige with a good review for it.

My very best wishes to you for 2014. May your days be full of interest and all your aches and pains manageable. Till next time . . .

 Veronica Heley

www.veronicaheley.com

http://blog.veronicaheley.com/

Recent releases.

MURDER MY NEIGHBOUR. Large print, hardback. Pub Nov 2013. ISBN 9780727896551.

MURDER FOR MERCY.  Ellie is asked to investigate whether some deaths in the community are exactly what they seem, while her pregnant, difficult daughter Diana is struggling to cope at work, and her husband is still in a wheelchair. What’s more, sabotage at the big house nearby is being blamed on young Mikey, who is certainly up to something. Can Ellie track down whoever it is who is killing for mercy, keep Mikey out of the clutches of Social Services, and steer her difficult daughter Diana into calmer waters?  ISBN 9780 7278 8281 3       Reviews; Publisher’s Weekly, ‘ . . . this rewarding cosy.’ And Kirkus, ‘Heley’s 13^th finds Ellie beleaguered but resolute as ever . . .’

UNSUNG HEROES is now available as an e-book. This is a collection of short stories originally published in the Methodist Recorder, concerning the problems of three retired men and their families, plus some Ellie Quicke short stories. £3.40 UK, and $4.90 USA. http://www.veronicaheley.com/othertitles.php?11-11

FALSE ALARM, the 7^th Abbot Agency story, is now available in hardback and also as an e-book. Bea is asked to find the person who laid a booby trap for the powerful tycoon, Sir Lucas Ossett,  in his own block of flats.  ISBN 9780 7278 8237 0 for the hardback and ISBN 978 1 78010 289 4 for the ebook.

Review for this:  Kirkus: ‘The Abbot Agency’s seventh outing will be just the thing for readers who like their cosies with a bit of bite.’  And from Library Journal:

‘Think of the series’ seventh outing as a big old-fashioned country-house case, Agatha Christie-like, but dressed-up smart and chic for today.’

MURDER BY MISTAKE is now available in large print. ISBN 978 0 7278 9935 4.

FALSE REPORT is available as a paperback  and also as an ebook . ISBN 978 1 843751 408 0. Ebook: 978 1 78010 201 6.

Find details of all the other E-books at http://www.veronicaheley.com/ebooks.php?l1-11

CHRISTMAS  IS  COMING. . .

I’ve made that the title of the new short story featuring my three retired friends and their families, which will appear in the Dec 20 edition of the Methodist Recorder. This time it’s Kerry in trouble . . . which naturally concerns both of his friends, who have problems of their own in this season of the year. I enjoy writing these stories because they deal with the problems we Christians have to face in everyday life, such as other people swearing. Some people don’t realise what they are saying, but others do.

The usual arrangement applies: if you can’t get a copy yourself, then let me know AFTER Dec 20, and I will send you have a copy by email.

Now for some unexpected news. Bad news. You may remember I was telling you that an early historical romance of mine originally entitled The Siege of Salwarpe, was being brought out by Chivers under the title: A Heart Besieged. I’ve now heard that the company has gone into liquidation! Talk about surprise!

I have other titles with this company as well, so after I’d recovered my wits, I looked on the Amazon books site to see what they make of it. They are still advertising SUE FOR MERCY (the very first book I had accepted for publication over thirty years ago) as a Kindle download. SCREAM FOR SARAH is also apparently available for a Kindle download, and for a paperback. FEAR FOR FRANCES, which they brought out fairly recently, is unavailable and so is A HEART BESEIGED.  Ah well. Happy days. I suspect that if you have managed to get a copy of one of these early books in this edition, they’ll appreciate in value, but . . . oh well. The ups and downs of a writer’s life! My agent is applying to get the rights back and in due course I suppose these stories may well reappear with another publisher.

Also, there’s a delay on the paperback of MURDER IN MIND. It was supposed to come out this week, but alas, I see it’s been postponed till early next year.  Ah well . . . it would have made a good Christmas present for someone. But, something I had completely forgotten; a large print hardback of MURDER MY NEIGHBOUR is now out. Hurray.

Now for some more good news. The manuscript of the next Ellie book  – Murder in Time – has finally gone off to my editor. The word count has fluctuated rather a lot on this story. At one time I was a couple of thousand words short, but in the end I scraped in with a couple of hundred to spare. Now comes the wait to hear from Rachel if the story can go straight through for copy editing, or if I need to do some extra work on it. It’s got some fun bits in, but have I tied up all the plot points? 

As of today, I have to do the dread mind-switch, from ‘being’ the housewife Ellie, to assuming the mantle of the business woman, Bea Abbot. I know just how the next Abbot Agency book starts and how it finishes, and most of what happens in between. I don’t plot chapter by chapter as some people do, but I work out how the main threads affect my characters, and how they might react to them. This next story will feature most of the characters in the recent Bea Abbot books, and carry them on. There are one or two things I’m not sure about yet. I think Maggie is pregnant, but I’m not entirely certain. And does Dilys end up in another abusive relationship? N-nno. But something is going on there . . . All will become clear as the work unfolds.

Meanwhile, don’t forget to reserve your copy of FALSE DIAMOND, the Bea Abbot story which was published in the UK on November 28^th.  Yes, I know it takes another three months to get to America, Australia, etc. But, be patient. It’s on its way! This story sees Bea drawn back into the questionable doings of the members of the multi-billionaire Holland family, including an engagement with a fake diamond ring, an alleged suicide attempt, an abusive man who tries to put the frighteners on Bea, and the ambiguous behaviour of the black sheep of the family, who turns out to be the joker in the pack. ISBN 978 0 7278 8298 1

Till next time . . . and remember, if Christmas gets too stressful, you can always take a book or a Kindle off into a corner for a good read . . . preferably one of mine, of course!

 Veronica Heley

www.veronicaheley.com

http://blog.veronicaheley.com/

Recent releases.

MURDER MY NEIGHBOUR. Large print, hardback. Pub Nov 2013. ISBN 9780727896551.

MURDER FOR MERCY.  Ellie is asked to investigate whether some deaths in the community are exactly what they seem, while her pregnant, difficult daughter Diana is struggling to cope at work, and her husband is still in a wheelchair. What’s more, sabotage at the big house nearby is being blamed on young Mikey, who is certainly up to something. Can Ellie track down whoever it is who is killing for mercy, keep Mikey out of the clutches of Social Services, and steer her difficult daughter Diana into calmer waters?  ISBN 9780 7278 8281 3       Reviews; Publisher’s Weekly, ‘ . . . this rewarding cosy.’ And Kirkus, ‘Heley’s 13^th finds Ellie beleaguered but resolute as ever . . .’

UNSUNG HEROES is now available as an e-book. This is a collection of short stories originally published in the Methodist Recorder, concerning the problems of three retired men and their families, plus some Ellie Quicke short stories. £3.40 UK, and $4.90 USA. http://www.veronicaheley.com/othertitles.php?11-11

FALSE ALARM, the 7^th Abbot Agency story, is now available in hardback and also as an e-book. Bea is asked to find the person who laid a booby trap for the powerful tycoon, Sir Lucas Ossett,  in his own block of flats.  ISBN 9780 7278 8237 0 for the hardback and ISBN 978 1 78010 289 4 for the ebook.

Review for this:  Kirkus: ‘The Abbot Agency’s seventh outing will be just the thing for readers who like their cosies with a bit of bite.’  And from Library Journal:

‘Think of the series’ seventh outing as a big old-fashioned country-house case, Agatha Christie-like, but dressed-up smart and chic for today.’

MURDER BY MISTAKE is now available in large print. ISBN 978 0 7278 9935 4.

FALSE REPORT is available as a paperback  and also as an ebook . ISBN 978 1 843751 408 0. Ebook: 978 1 78010 201 6.

Find details of all the other E-books at http://www.veronicaheley.com/ebooks.php?l1-11

Apologies for being a couple of days late with this newsletter, but as I warned you, I’ve been having visitors on and off for a while, which – although delightful in itself – is bound to cut down the amount of time I can spend at the computer. But now the house is quiet again, and I can get back to work.

I spent most of the last month picking up one job and working on that for a while, and then having to leave it to get on with something else. A short story, some blogs, and editing the next Ellie all came to the top of the To Do pile in turn.

The short story came first. I had to get down to work on another one for a Christmas issue of the Methodist Recorder. Delivery date: mid November. Title: to be decided. They like to have them in early so as to find appropriate pictures to illustrate the story. This one is partly about the preparations for Christmas – but homes in on the problems our old friend Kerry is having with a new intake of students. It’s not just their bad behaviour in the house that gets to him, but also their dismissive attitude to Christianity and their bad language. I believe it’s scheduled for the week before Christmas. I had a Harvest short story in the Methodist Recorder a few weeks ago, titled A Change of Address. Only one of our old friends moves, you’ll be glad to hear, and that turns out well. If you missed reading it and would like a copy, just drop me an email and I’ll send it to you.

Now that the draft of the next Ellie book  – Murder in Time – is on the computer I have to go over and over it, tying up loose ends, making sure that the time line is correct, and generally giving the text a good polish. I have to watch the word count, too. Usually my first draft is about a thousand words short, but I know very well that as I go over the text, I will want to expand on this thought here, or explain that motive there. If I’m not careful, by the end of the second edit, I’m a thousand words over the target, and then I have to start looking for bits to cut out, and for unnecessary words or phrases that have crept in.

Bad habits creep in as I write the first draft. Once I overused the word ‘really’. In another story, I over-indulged in that useful phrase ‘of course’. Sometimes these bits of careless writing even get as far as the copy-editing before they have to be excised, allowing no quarter. The manuscript is all the better for this pruning, though cutting down to size can be painful. I am going to have a few days off work on this, and then do one final read through before I send it off. As of today, I’m just under the specified word count, so if I add any more material, I will probably have to cut elsewhere. I’m really too close to the story at the moment, to be able to judge whether or not I’ve got the balance right.

You may remember that an early historical romance of mine titled The Siege of Salwarpe, is being brought out by Chivers under the title: A Heart Besieged. I’m looking at the cover now . . . and it’s full of rather heavy-handed clues to the fact that this is a Romance. Not only does the girl have long, blondish hair but she’s holding a rose, and there’s a branch of candles beside her. I don’t think readers will misinterpret these hints. I just hope they won’t mind all the fighting that goes on as well in this story. I’m not sure of the publication date, but it’s some time in November. Hardcover: 978147 1353994. There will be a soft cover edition next April.

I appeared as a guest blogger on Susan Sleeman’s website for Christian Mystery & Suspense authors. This was a new one for me, and I was delighted to be asked. If you’d like to have a look, you can find it on The Suspense Zone.

Meanwhile, don’t forget to reserve your copy of FALSE DIAMOND, the next Bea Abbot story, which will be published at the end of this month. And yes, I know it takes another three months to get to America, Australia, etc. Just be patient. It’s on its way! This story sees Bea drawn back into the questionable doings of the members of the multi-billionaire Holland family, including an engagement with a fake diamond ring, an alleged suicide attempt, an abusive man who tries to put the frighteners on Bea, and the ambiguous behaviour of the black sheep of the family, who turns out to be the joker in the pack. ISBN 978 0 7278 8298 1

MURDER IN MIND, the 13^th Ellie Quicke, should also be out in paperback at the end of November 2013. 978 1 84751 435 6

Till next time . . .

Veronica Heley

www.veronicaheley.com

http://blog.veronicaheley.com/

Recent releases.

MURDER FOR MERCY.  Ellie is asked to investigate whether some deaths in the community are exactly what they seem, while her pregnant, difficult daughter Diana is struggling to cope at work, and her husband is still in a wheelchair. What’s more, sabotage at the big house nearby is being blamed on young Mikey, who is certainly up to something. Can Ellie track down whoever it is who is killing for mercy, keep Mikey out of the clutches of Social Services, and steer her difficult daughter Diana into calmer waters?  ISBN 9780 7278 8281 3       Reviews; Publisher’s Weekly, ‘ . . . this rewarding cosy.’ And Kirkus, ‘Heley’s 13^th finds Ellie beleaguered but resolute as ever . . .’

UNSUNG HEROES is now available as an e-book. This is a collection of short stories originally published in the Methodist Recorder, concerning the problems of three retired men and their families, plus some Ellie Quicke short stories. £3.40 UK, and $4.90 USA. http://www.veronicaheley.com/othertitles.php

CRY FOR KIT, and SCREAM FOR SARAH. First published l970s, have been joined by FEAR FOR FRANCES in large print versions from Chivers. Warning; some sex and violence in the first two! The third is a Victorian romp-cum-whodunit. They are also available to download as e-books. 

FALSE ALARM, the 7^th Abbot Agency story, is now available in hardback and also as an e-book. Bea is asked to find the person who laid a booby trap for the powerful tycoon, Sir Lucas Ossett,  in his own block of flats.  ISBN 9780 7278 8237 0 for the hardback and ISBN 978 1 78010 289 4 for the ebook.

Review for this:  Kirkus: ‘The Abbot Agency’s seventh outing will be just the thing for readers who like their cosies with a bit of bite.’  And from Library Journal:

‘Think of the series’ seventh outing as a big old-fashioned country-house case, Agatha Christie-like, but dressed-up smart and chic for today.’

MURDER BY MISTAKE is now available in large print. ISBN 978 0 7278 9935 4.

FALSE REPORT is available as a paperback  and also as an ebook . ISBN 978 1 843751 408 0. Ebook: 978 1 78010 201 6.

Find details of all the other E-books at http://www.veronicaheley.com/ebooks.php

Yes! I’m now back on the internet. Mind you, I had to get a clever friend to connect everything up for me. My days of scrabbling under the desk to find out which plug to push and pull are not quite over, but severely limited. I now have a black box with lights that wink at me all the time. I have no idea why they do this, and please don’t try to enlighten me. I am content to know that they indicate I’m on line or whatever. (Actually, I find them extremely irritating. I have tried turning the box away from me,  but it won’t turn very far because of the wiring. And yes, I know I ought to go wi-fi and I do intend to . . . when I’ve got a minute to organise it).

The Methodist Recorder published the next short story – entitled A Change of Address – in the middle of September. Harvest is a movable feast nowadays, isn’t it? In different churches it can be from September through to the end of October. If visiting churches in different parts of the country, you could – and indeed we have on occasion – managed to fit in two harvest festivals. Anyway, if you can’t get hold of the Recorder and would like to read this story just drop me an email and I’ll send it to you. Don’t forget that the earlier stories about these old friends in retirement – together with some Ellie Quicke stories – are available as an e-book titled Unsung Heroes.

There’s yet another good review in for Murder with Mercy, which was published in May. Sometimes I only get one review, sometimes two, and this time there’s three. This one is from Booklist (Online) and it says at the end ‘This is a pleasant read that’s part British cozy and part women’s fiction, given its celebration of a woman who can do it all.’  I’m not at all sure that Ellie would agree with this assessment of her character because she’s a modest soul. I am thrilled with this review. It’s pleasant to get a word of praise every now and then, isn’t it?

I’m finding it hard to keep up with all of the titles that are now available in E format. I know that some time soon an early romance of mine, set in the Middle Ages, will be coming out in large print, and as an e-book. It was originally called The Siege of Salwarpe, but the new publishers, Chivers, feel that as it is a romance as well as a slice of baron-bashing, it ought to have a new title. I suggested several. What do you think of ‘The Lonely Knight’ as a title? Or should it be ‘The Lonely Man?’ I liked the first title because at least it indicates the story is set in medieval times, whereas the other one might just as well be set today. Ah well. In the end they chose A HEART BESEIGED. They are having a new cover done as we speak, and I await it with interest. Publishers slant the covers towards what they can sell, and sometimes I have been somewhat taken aback by what they have produced. Publishers always say They Know Best. Well, sigh, they may do.

So now, with proof reading out of the way, I have finally managed to struggle through to the end of the first draft of the next Ellie, Murder in Time. This is due to be delivered at the end of November, with publication scheduled for next May. This is a whodunnit,  with side swipes at the question of appropriate punishment for a crime committed long ago. This theme started me thinking about whether or not justice is best served by taking the perpetrator to court if he or she has gone ‘straight’ ever since and truly regrets what happened. And yes, I know that the courts can take repentance into account when sentencing the person concerned, and that some crimes are so horrible that a prosecution should always follow. But . . . well, you will probably have your own views on the subject.

This is not a theme which I would have chosen, but once it arrived in my story, I had to try to deal with it as best I can. Have I got the balance right? I can see that long-ago sins can throw a long shadow over the present. Some crime committed by a schoolboy or girl can affect not only their own lives, but those of others. On the other hand, what if the perpetrator went on to commit yet more crimes because he wasn’t found out in the first place? It’s something of a dilemma and I’m not sure I’ve worked it out satisfactorily. Am I, in fact, becoming too serious in this book? Well, there’s a long way to go yet, as I have eight weeks to work on the manuscript before it is due to be submitted.

Looking at the calendar, I see I’m due to have some waves of visitors at the end of October and into the beginning of November. So please forgive if I’m a couple of days late with the next newsletter.

Veronica Heley

www.veronicaheley.com

http://blog.veronicaheley.com/

PS. The invasion of the moths appears, hopefully, to be on its last legs. (Do moths have legs?) Well, you know what I mean . . .

Recent releases.

MURDER FOR MERCY.  Ellie is asked to investigate whether some deaths in the community are exactly what they seem, while her pregnant, difficult daughter Diana is struggling to cope at work, and her husband is still in a wheelchair. What’s more, sabotage at the big house nearby is being blamed on young Mikey, who is certainly up to something. Can Ellie track down whoever it is who is killing for mercy, keep Mikey out of the clutches of Social Services, and steer her difficult daughter Diana into calmer waters?  ISBN 9780 7278 8281 3       Reviews; Publisher’s Weekly, ‘ . . . this rewarding cosy.’ And Kirkus, ‘Heley’s 13^th finds Ellie beleaguered but resolute as ever . . .’

UNSUNG HEROES is now available as an e-book. This is a collection of short stories originally published in the Methodist Recorder, concerning the problems of three retired men and their families, plus some Ellie Quicke short stories. £3.40 UK, and $4.90 USA. http://www.veronicaheley.com/othertitles.php?l1=11

CRY FOR KIT, and SCREAM FOR SARAH. First published l970s, have been joined by FEAR FOR FRANCES in large print versions from Chivers. Warning; some sex and violence in the first two! The third is a Victorian romp-cum-whodunit. They are also available to download as e-books. 

FALSE ALARM, the 7^th Abbot Agency story, is now available in hardback and also as an e-book. Bea is asked to find the person who laid a booby trap for the powerful tycoon, Sir Lucas Ossett,  in his own block of flats.  ISBN 9780 7278 8237 0 for the hardback and ISBN 978 1 78010 289 4 for the ebook.

Review for this:  Kirkus: ‘The Abbot Agency’s seventh outing will be just the thing for readers who like their cosies with a bit of bite.’  And from Library Journal:

‘Think of the series’ seventh outing as a big old-fashioned country-house case, Agatha Christie-like, but dressed-up smart and chic for today.’

MURDER BY MISTAKE is now available in large print. ISBN 978 0 7278 9935 4.

FALSE REPORT is available as a paperback  and also as an ebook . This is the story in which Bea finds that assisting a vertically challenged musician to get some home help is asking for trouble, especially when a pretty girl has been trafficked into this country by a gang who target wealthy men. Paperback: ISBN 978 1 843751 408 0. Ebook: 978 1 78010 201 6.

Find details of all the other E-books at http://www.veronicaheley.com/ebooks.php?l1=102