Back to work

Did you have a good holiday? I did take a week off work. The problem with that is that I went early and everyone else was going away as I returned home. And, a favourite café is closed for one whole month!

I’m deep in the next story – False Witness – which is causing me some problems. The contract stipulated 5000 words less than usual. I said, airily, ‘Oh, that’s all right. I can do that.’ Only to realise it would mean cutting a big chunk out of the plot to do so. I told myself I was a professional and should be able to do something as simple as cutting out a chapter and joining both ends. In the end, my editor very kindly said I could have the usual length (which is 85,000) so for the time being, I’m keeping to the storyline I’d originally planned and hoping I don’t overrun on the final draft.

Do you have a problem with pockets? Or the absence thereof. I prefer wearing a skirt to trousers but this means there is nowhere to store a handkerchief or tissue, your house key, or a credit card or a comb or . . . you can add to the list, can’t you? Ever since I had my knees done, I’ve taken to using a stout cloth bag that goes cross-wise over my body. It works well, I can carry a certain amount of shopping but is not exactly the height of fashion. Also, it was a gift from someone who likes to advertise the virtues of a camping holiday, which is not precisely me at this age. How do other people manage?

The garden is doing fine, thanks to alternate days of rain and sun. The runner beans and tomatoes have done well, and some fuchsia plants have been a real delight, as have the cosmos. Mama Owlet has been praying for naughty Awol, and prompt on cue, Hope arrived. Let’s hope he can exert a good influence on the sinner. See them all here, with some of the cosmos from the garden.

The next short story from the archives is: Why Bother? When two of our old friends meet a man who makes a mockery of their faith. See it here.

My daughter Frances successfully walked from Leeds to London, to raise awareness of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). She raised over £5000 for the charity, met her MP at Westminster and got some media coverage. She then went on to walk from West to East on the Bannatyne trail, met Cherylee Houston (of Coronation St), got more radio interviews, had one writeup in the Church Times, and another in the Yorkshire Post. Next week it’s the Daily Mirror. What a mission! It’s taken its toll of her and of her husband, who’s been looking after her so well despite braking his arm when she was on the first walk! If you would like to know more, click on the link here.

Advance notice – Joffe Books is bringing out Kindle versions of the first three of the Ellie Quicke mysteries in September:

Book 1: Murder at the Altar — Saturday, 16 September
Book 2: Murder by Suicide — Saturday, 23 September
Book 3: Murder of Innocence — Saturday, 30 September

A blessing on those who take the time to listen when we suffer a meltdown.    

Veronica Heley

My 90th birthday celebrations are over – yes, they are great and thank you for all your good wishes! – and suddenly it’s August, which sounds verry much like autumn and holidays to me. I’m going to take a few days off from my desk, knowing that I shall get withdrawal symptoms.

It’s a good thing – I tell myself – to stop work for a bit now and then. After all, I can still mull over the final couple of chapters in my head. Maybe I’ll even get an idea for another story.             I let my thoughts drift here and there . . . and something irrelevant comes shooting up from nowhere, and Bingo! An idea begins to form.

I understand that ‘False Name,’ the recently published Bea Abbot book, is providing some enjoyment for holiday reading. This is the one in which Bea stumbles across a rough sleeper who is actually nothing of the kind and who has no idea why he’s been beaten up and left for dead. Disentangling the mystery draws Bea into danger. Too.

I’m now deep in the follow-up to this story, ‘False Witness,’ which won’t be published till next summer. It’s been interesting to take Bea away from the city and throw her into a countryside where jobs are limited and family feuds can still divide public opinion. Yes, yes. I do know that can happen in a town, too. But these family feuds do help the story along nicely.

We’ve been hearing a lot about heat waves in Southern Europe, but here in the UK we’ve been having rain, interspersed with showers, accompanied by thunder, interrupted by strong winds and then – just to whet our appetites – a few hours of sunshine before the next lot of clouds come between us and the sun.

However, my garden has, on the whole, enjoyed the rain, and I must admit I’ve never had sweet peas like it. Every couple of days I pick a small bunch and put them on the mantelpiece. As you will have noticed from today’s picture, a vase of these flowers were placed rather too near Awol and I did wonder if he’d try to upset it. What a problem he is! See the latest portrait of the Owlets here.

As for the rest; the next short story for the Methodist Recorder will be out this weekend. ‘Rachel has a Garden’ is about an older lady who chats to passersby and gives away flowers, until she upsets a neighbour with nasty results. For your short story this month I’m including another tale about Max, the undersized black cat who makes up for lack of inches by luck and perseverance. You can read ‘Hide and Seek’ here.

Advance notice: Joffe Books is bringing out the first of the Ellie Quicke mysteries, starting on September 30^th. As they say in the adverts; Watch This Space.

A blessing on those who can make us see the funny side of things in life.  

Veronica Heley

Yes, it’s true! I was 90 years old this week. I didn’t want presents but I did want a party with friends from all the different circles in my life. And that happened. Oh, it surely did! Now you know that I love hearing from you all now and then, but on this occasion please don’t be upset if I don’t reply. I’m gong to need a while to get over this event.

This last couple of weeks I’ve been getting up early to do the watering. I have sweet peas, pansies, Busy Lizzies, nasturtiums, lilies, sunflowers, runner beans, tomatoes, etc., in pots and they all need watering. On the plus side, the roses have been wonderful this year.

I have three writing projects on the go at the moment. The first is the next Bea Abbot book, which is coming on a treat. Bea is out of her comfort zone here, visiting friends in the countryside. She’s only made aware of how much she doesn’t understand about life outside London, when someone observes that Bea doesn’t know anything about horses.

Then there’s a short story about what gardens can mean to older people. That’s for the Methodist Recorder and will be out at the end of July. And the last thing I’m working on is a very short story about Maximilian the Magnificent who is an undersized black cat finding life hard in a word populated by larger cats, even larger rats, vets-who’s-aim-in-life-is-to-torture-felines-with-needles.

Next: Joffe Books finished bringing out most of the e-books of the Abbot Agency series with A FALSE FACE on 27^th May. They have acquired the rights for the first eight of the Ellie Quicke mysteries and I’m told will be starting to bring them out in the autumn. I’ll let you know as soon as I have dates.

Now, what about the Owlets. Well, Awol is in disgrace, of course. But manages to wheedle his way back into the next picture with some flowers picked from my garden this morning. See him here.

The short story I’ve attached from the archives is called ‘Remember Me!’ It’s all about regrets for past mistakes and, hopefully, looking to the future. You can access it here.

My daughter Frances successfully completed her long walk from Leeds to London in aid of Ehlers-Danloss Syndrome, despite wading through a field of nettles, her husband falling off his bike and fracturing his elbow, the tills at the supermarket all going down just as they’d had finally managed to locate something to eat, and . . . well, there was a long list of mishaps which will make good stories later but which at the time almost made her give up. Which she didn’t. Now she’s back at work and looking for opportunities to do more for EDS in the future. Pathway to Parliament in aid of EDS UK | Leeds | Facebook

A blessing on those who can make the time to be with people who need someone beside them at difficult times in their lives.

Veronica Heley

The plants which died over winter in the garden have been removed, and the foliage from the spring bulbs has been tidied up, hurray! This year I’m growing some sunflowers. I’ve some eight inch high seedlings and have hopes they will one day grow to be taller than me. Unfortunately, it’s a constant battle here with slugs, snails, blackfly, greenfly and something new to me that’s attacking the roses. Ouch!

I am slowly getting on with the next Abbot Agency book, titled FALSE WITNESS. I got myself in a tangle in the plot, and had to go and do some gardening to recover my equilibrium. The problem is that, for the purposes of the plot, the hero has to spend a night in hospital, which set me wondering what sort of accident he might have had to cause that. Eventually, I decided on something that worked. Oh, the relief!

I tell myself that as long as Bea is in charge of the story, we will see things through her eyes and she can sort it out for us. She’s brought us through sixteen titles so far, hasn’t she? And without anyone throwing the book across the room and declaring they haven’t a clue as to who’s doing what to whom, and whose name I’ve got confused with two others in the same chapter. I once tried to read a book in which the names of the first four people concerned all began with the same initial. I made it to the third chapter and then put the book gently to rest in the recycling bin.

Joffe Books are continuing to bring out the Abbot Agency e-books. A FALSE CONCLUSION came out on May 14^th while A FALSE FACE was due on 27^th May. Now what’s next? I think it will be some Ellie Quickes in the autumn. Watch this space.

I have to tell you a shocking thing; naughty Awol, the blue owlet, knocked his brother Owen off the mantelpiece, and he ended up on the floor in pieces. I have glued him back together again and repainted his stripes, but he’s feeling very sorry for himself. See him here showing his bruises to the rest of the family, while Awol chuckles to himself.

The short story I’ve plucked from the archives is called SUMMER HOLIDAY, and is about the choices our three old friends about where to go and why . . . and how that turns out. Read it here.

Did you manage to keep up with my daughter Fran on her walk for the EDS (Ehlers Danloss Syndrome) charity from Leeds to London? Disaster struck on day 4 when her husband had a fall from his bike and fractured his elbow. They spent most of that day in A&E. Fran had a difficult decision to make but decided to carry on because it’s so important to so many people. Friends are helping out as and when. What a business! If I’ve counted correctly, today she’s got as far as Wellingborough and is aiming for Harrold. She’s over half way! You can catch up with her through Facebook.

Pathway to Parliament in aid of EDS UK | Leeds | Facebook & https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fran-heley

A blessing on those who will listen to us when we hit a bump in the road.

Veronica Heley

The flowers that bloom in the spring, tra la . . . are accompanied by weeds, patches of moss, and the dead twigs of plants that died in the winter. However, some plants have pleasantly surprised me by rejuvenating themselves. Seeds are beginning to germinate, lifeless-looking bushes are showing a haze of green and the birds are busy chasing the squirrels away from their nests.

Work continues. The short story ‘New Lives for Old’ was duly published in the Methodist Recorder at Easter and they have asked for another for July .I did manage to finish off the story about the tiny little black cat Max for the choir concert. Maximilian the Magnificent, Menace to Mice, goes on a wander, gets stranded up a tree but earns a new title. You can read it here.

I’ve been told that the hardback of the next Bea Abbot – False Name – will be out at the beginning of July, and they’re giving me another contract for No. 17 in the series. As you may have guessed, I’m really a cat person, but there’s a beautiful Alsatian in this book (and on the cover) who has quite won my heart.

I’m happy to say that the Abbot Agency e-books are still being published at regular intervals. A FALSE PRIDE came out on l7th April and A FALSE ACCOUNT is scheduled for 1st May. Then comes A FALSE CONCLUSION on May 14^th while A FALSE FACE is scheduled for May 28^th. And yes, there is still a black cat on the covers.

It seems that The Owlets – Mama plus children A,B,C and D – have gained a place in your affections. Here they pose with flowers from the garden. Thanks to Brenda W, Donna C and my daughter Fran, they now have names. Introducing: Mama Luna Owlet and son Owen, with his sisters Olivia and Ophelia. Unfortunately Owlet A is a very naughty boy and always trying to hide. They call him Awol. (Owl + A)

Starting on the 21^st May, my daughter Fran will be walking the 200+ miles from Leeds to the Houses of Parliament to raise awareness of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and funds to support it. She’ll be inside the Chamber on the 7^th June, as her M.P. attempts to raise the difficulties faced by EDS sufferers at Prime Minister’s questions.

She is hoping that a good number of the EDS community will join her for the final (short) day’s walk to Parliament Square. The symbol used by EDS Uk is the Zebra – hence her striking outfit. The collective term for Zebras is a “Dazzle”, and she’s hoping for a final Zebra stampede to really create a spark.

Her Facebook page is:

Pathway to Parliament in aid of EDS UK | Leeds | Facebook

A blessing on those who can make us laugh even after listening to the news.

Veronica Heley

I don’t ‘do’ April Fool’s day. Do any of you? I quite enjoy trying to work out which item of the news in the papers might be a ‘con,’ and I suppose some people enjoy tricking others but it can get out of hand and cause people to be really upset. Instead, I celebrate the start of the fortnight before Easter because our wonderful local baker starts making his Hot Cross buns at that point . . . and not a day earlier! What joy it is to have local independent shops serving good quality food. What’s more, everyone working for them seems delighted to see you when you enter, and gives you a smile. And you smile back. Remember: smiling keeps you healthy. (I don’t know where I read that but it’s something to do with the muscles doing this or that . . .)

So, where was I? Well, the garden is beginning to show signs of waking up. The grape hyacinths in the border in front are beginning to look their best – quite a river of blue, and the winter-flowering clematis is a great mound of white petals. I must confess, though, that I haven’t sown any seeds as yet. I really must get down to it.

Work continues. I want to write about the problems of old age for the next short story which is going to be in the Easter issue of the Methodist Recorder. Living longer can throw problems your way. I want my stories to be upbeat because there is also a great deal to celebrate in our later years, but to ignore the downside of old age is also not good. I think I managed a reasonable balance.

I also managed to finish off the next story about the tiny little black cat Max for the next choir concert. Max gets stranded u a tree . . . oh dear! I’ll let you read the story soon.

I’ve been writing and re-writing the first three chapters of the next Bea Abbot but finally – hopefully – it’s now taking shape, the characters are beginning to tell me who they are and what they look like, and my heroine bought a new pair of boots and strode into another delicate situation as to the manor born. Yes, that’s a pun as the next story is mostly set in a country estate.

More good news: Joffe books advised me that the e-books of the Abbot Agency series are doing well. A FALSE WALL came out on March 25^th and A FALSE FIRE is expected on April 4^th. A FALSE PRIDE comes next, on 16^th April and A FALSE ACCOUNT on 1st May. Look out for the black cat on the covers.

PARSLEY and POSY have gone off on a trip round the world, but another family have moved in to take their place. The Owlets are an indoors lot, admiring the vase of Japonica which is just coming into flower. There’s Mama Owl and her quadruplets, numbers One to Four. They don’t have any other names at present. Maybe they don’t need them. What do you think? You can access their picture here.

The story from the archives this time is about Ellie Quicke visiting a writing group, and you can find it here. It’s called DEATH IN PRINT. Enjoy!

A blessing on those who can absorb bad news and still manage to help others.

Veronica Heley

So, Covid came. And went. And yes, I’m still getting tired. I look at the neglected winter garden and think how much it would be improved if I could only get out there and do a bit of tidying up. The other day I decided to stop thinking about it, and actually do a little chopping back and pulling out of dead plants. I set myself a twenty minutes deadline and of course I went over that because neighbours kept passing by and saying they wished I had my energy, and had I heard about so-and-so, or called on the new neighbours yet. There were consultations about a bush which had caught the frost and had I seen the camellia which was covered with blossom in the nest road, and altogether a good time was had by one and all. It was a splendid break from work and I wasn’t too tired at the end of it.

So many plants that usually live through the winter here, have died. It’s received wisdom that any bedding plants put into the garden before Easter will need replacing at Whitsun but perhaps, if I put them new plants in the greenhouse to harden off a bit, they might survive? Shall I chance growing sweet peas this year?

The e-books coming out on Amazon are apparently selling well. FALSE IMPRESSION came out on February 25, and in March we have FALSE WALL on the 25^th. Because of the low price, it seems that new readers are beginning to look out for these stories, and that can only be good news. And yes, the black cat continues to feature on the covers.

Meanwhile, first the copy editing and then the proofs of the next Bea Abbot story – FALSE NAME – have arrived on my doorstep. There had been this delay and that, and my editor wanted them back in record time. Unfortunately this particular copy editor was new to my way of expressing myself and held strong views about the necessity of writing good grammar even for people who ‘speak it like it is’ with double negatives and lashings of ‘likes’. So we had a few disagreements, but finally the text has been agreed and will shortly be passed for production. The hardback is scheduled for publication in July this year.

So far, so good. Now I have to write another tale for the Methodist Recorder, and another story about Maximilian the Magnificent, the tiny black cat who is lucky to get out of his adventures with a whole skin.  

PARSLEY and POSY are fed up with this cold weather and are threatening to emigrate. Perhaps I shall get them to stay if I promise they can pose indoors with flowers cut from my garden. I’d welcome your advice on this. You can see them here, posting with the forsythia which has flowered early this year. (And yes, I cheated by buying the daffodils)

Delving into the archives I came across an early story about a time of change for my three old friends who featured in so many short stories for the Recorder over the years. It’s called SPRING CLEANING, and you can access it here.

A blessing on those who ask others how they’re doing and then actually listen to their tales of woe.

Veronica Heley

I’ve been thinking about angels. Yes, well . . . I got Covid, didn’t I? My first dose of it. I’ve had all the boosters and been out and about and in touch with all sorts and I hadn’t got as much as a sniffle until . . . Yes, well. Unmistakeable. Cooking? Forget it. Work? Well, I did try, but had to stop. Puzzler problems? Brain not responding. Telephone calls? Cough, cough, blow nose, cough, cough. Lie down. Keep warm. Drink plenty.

So, enter the angels. Now, I’ve read about Angels in the bible. They came in all shapes and sizes. They are NOT human. Some are frankly scary. Imagine meeting the Archangel Michael in a strop! Just consider what it takes to defeat evil: the power of thunder and lightning comes to mind. He’s wonderful and also terrifying.

Some of the lesser angels in the Bible bring good news. Some bring warnings. And in this day and age I fancy some are humans whom God has used to help matters along. I don’t suppose any of my neighbours think of themselves as angels. Each has their own busy life to lead, fitting me in somewhere between looking after grandchildren and cooking for their families. One even understood my craving for a bunch of yellow flowers, daffs or tulips, I didn’t care which, but I wanted them NOW! And they duly appeared in my porch! All I can say is; Thank you. And mean it. And hope to repay their kindness some-day, when it will be my turn to play angel.

The next lot of e-books from Joffe are now in the pipeline. February has A FALSE ALARM on the lst, A FALSE DIAMOND on the 12^th, and A FALSE IMPRESSION on the 25th. They have continued using the black cat who appears on all these covers, hurray! I gather the e-books are all doing well but the ones with an animal on are doing better than the others.  

You may remember me talking about the lyrics of a song I wrote a while back. One of my kind friends says he knows someone who might be interested in setting it to music. I wonder if it will work? Who knows? Watch this space.

Meanwhile, the next Bea Abbot story called False Name is going through copy editing and will be returned to me soon for this and that. I have a rough of the projected cover for this one already, and think it’s very good. You will be amused to hear that the dog Bruno, who plays a major part in the story, is featured stage front. We’ll have to wait and see if this makes a difference to sales!

PARSLEY and POSY have spent the last month taking shelter in my little conservatory at the back of the house, and say it’s still too cold to pose outside. So here they are with my amaryllis bulbs which are now in full flower. See them here.

I think it’s too early to feature an Easter story so have delved deep into the archives to find you an early Ellie Quicke short story, called Death by Lily. You can read it here.

A blessing on those who shop for those who can’t get out and about.

Veronica Heley

January comes in with a splash and a crash and I don’t suppose many of us look back on the last year with pleasure. So much changed in that time. The Christmas story for the Methodist Recorder this year was very different, being about the problems that many of us encounter as we get older. This tale does remind us that we are not alone in find life difficult nowadays and that sometimes we can act as today’s ‘angels’ to others in the same position. It’s titled ‘Louise’s Christmas.’

Presents can mean different things to different people . . . not to mention cats. My stories about the tiny back cat whose missus miscalls him Maximilian the Magnificent, seem to amuse people who came to our choir concert, so here is what he got up to in ‘A tree for Christmas.’ You can access it here.

So much of the news recently has made me want to go home, slam the front door shut, draw the curtains and reach for comfort food. However, I’m told the e-books from Joffe of the Abbot Agency series are doing well, and their choice of covers recently has made me applaud, instead of reach for indigestion tablets. FALSE MONEY came out on 11^th December, FALSE REPORT will follow on January 10^th, on FALSE ALARM on February lst.

Now in False Report I wrote the lyrics of a song about a girl who was trafficked into this country with promises of love, and ends up walking the streets. Re-reading the words recently it occurred to me that it could be set to music . . . but what do I know of such things? I’ve asked a musician I know to look at it. Perhaps something will come of it, perhaps not.

Murder for Profit, the latest in the Ellie Quicke series, is now out and about and doing well, too. This story covers the fatal fall of a student from one of Ellie’s housing charity’s houses, which triggers an attack on the estate agency’s reputation. It’s also about sibling rivalry.

Meanwhile, my editor has read the next Bea Abbot story called False Name which I’ve spent the last nine months writing, and accepted it straight away. However, she questioned my statement that two brown-eyed parents cannot produce as blue-eyed child. Isn’t it odd how you grow up with these misconceptions? I could have sworn it wasn’t possible, but apparently there are decent odds are for it. Anyway, that manuscript is now going to the copy editor and I’m starting work on another Bea Abbot which will be a follow-up to False Name.

PARSLEY and POSY have decided it’s too cold to pose outside, so can be found in my tiny lean-to conservatory, admiring the poinsettia. See them here.

A blessing on those who help us to face the New Year with courage.

Veronica Heley

The garden has sunk into its winter rest. The winter jasmine and the viburnum tinis are out, as are the first of the iris unguicularis. Hurray! We draw the curtains earlier and earlier or – in the case of some of my neighbours – leave them open so that people can admire the Christmas trees set up in their front rooms.

The Christmas story which comes with this letter was first published in the Methodist Recorder last year and it is a dual-purpose one; first there’s Joseph’s take on the birth of Jesus and then a story of today with Sally and Bruce having a problem with family presents. It’s called GIFTS WITH A MESSAGE and you can access it here.

My Christmas story for the Recorder this year is a little different. It is not about people who have recently or are almost retired. In my ninetieth year I am only too aware of the problems of old age. In general we are living longer but with imperfect health, technology is getting too much for us and family members no long live round the corner. I want to write stories about this special time in our lives and I’m hoping that you will approve. This next story is tentatively called Louise’s Christmas, though the editor may change that to something she likes better.

Some good news: the first e-books from Joffe in the Abbot Agency series are selling well. I am still feeling tense about the choice of covers. FALSE STEP and A FALSE PRETENCE (originally ‘False Pretences’) came out in November and are just fine. There’s even a black cat on the cover for A FALSE PRETENCE. FALSE MONEY is out on 11^th December, FALSE REPORT on 21^st December and we’re being very polite in our discussions about covers for these. Rereading these books has been quite a treat for me, and I hope they please you, too.

I understand that the new Ellie Quicke – that’s Murder for Profit– is doing well, too. Hardback and e-book came out together last month. This story concerns the fatal fall of a student from one of Ellie’s housing charity’s houses, which impacts on the estate agency’s reputation. It’s also about sibling rivalry becoming very nasty indeed.

I’ve just off the manuscript of the next Bea Abbot story called False Name which has been a real treat to write. In fact, there is so much more to say about some of the characters in this book that I want to continue writing about them. But that’s for next year. Hasn’t this past year gone quickly?

We bought our Nativity set years ago on a visit to Prague. I put it out every year and move the pieces around as the shepherds are replaced by the wise men and so on. Parsley and Posy are too big to appear next to these little figures, so have taken themselves off for a holiday. Visit the Nativity Set picture here.

A blessing on those who can cope with the parties and presents for the season without forgetting what Christmas is really all about.

Veronica Heley