How are you all coping? I am fortunate in having work to do. Also I have good neighbours who seem determined to make me put on weight, bringing round home-made cake and asking if I want anything from the shops. I am also fortunate in having a small but pretty garden to work in, and I can take a walk along my quiet road admiring other people’s gardens. Often I stop to talk – at a safe distance – with anyone working in their garden, too.

The Easter short story came out on April 10th. It was written before lockdown and the characters don’t observe social distancing. It was hard to write a story about what following Christ cam mean but I think it was important to do so. It’s titled ‘I HAVE A DIFFICULT JOB FOR YOU . . .’ I sent out copies to those on my list, but it you’re not on that and would like to read the story, let me know and I’ll email it to you.

People who were usually busy from morning to night are finding life difficult. Some become depressed. There’s lots of advice about how to keep sane is in the newspapers but one thing I’ve learned is not to listen to a news channel after six pm, or I won’t sleep! I’ve just written a story called ‘STRUCTURE’ which is about the lockdown and its effect on our four older friends, and it’s being published TODAY! Copies will be sent out in the usual way to everyone on the Always Send list. If you’re not on the list . . . see preceding paragraph.

Recently I’ve been wondering if my readers might like the newsletter more often, with lots of gossip and stuff to amuse . . . plus I could attach one of the short stories I’ve written in the past for the Methodist Recorder. What do you think? Do remember that I love to receive emails from you, and I do try to answer every one asap . . . provided I’m not on deadline for the next book, in which case it does take a bit longer.

Now, a knotty question has arisen in my family and circle of friends: what method do you use to change your bed? For us oldies, this is a daunting task to be attempted only when we are feeling strong. My friends and I usually start with the pillow-cases as being the easiest to do. Then we go and have breakfast. Sometime later we take off the under sheet and then have a mid-morning sit-down and coffee. Later in the day, we tackle the worst bit – the duvet. By bed-time the bed is newly made up. ‘No, no!’ says my practical daughter. ‘You must start with the duvet because that’s the hardest bit. Once you’ve done that, the rest is easy.’ So how do you approach this task?

The copies of the new Bea Abbot – FALSE CONCLUSION – were delivered to the libraries before they closed, and will be available as soon as they re-open. E-book and paperback copies should be available via Amazon soon. I hope so, because I enjoyed writing this story about a wealthy but backward schoolgirl being dumped on Bea Abbott and her ward, Bernice. There’s an unexplained death, rumours abound and Evelina’s cousins are taking undue interest in young Beatrice. Then Piers, Bea’s long-divorced ex-husband arrives and maybe, just maybe, it’s time to forgive him.

A blessing on all who entertain and amuse others . . .

Veronica Heley

It’s life, but not as we knew it (with apologies to Star Trek!) So much confusion finally settling into a different way of living. Oh, the heartache of being unable to see dear friends and family, the uncertainties of work, the limitations on what we’ve always regarded as the norm. Some friends were completely thrown by the restrictions and took a while to devise a new routine for themselves. And above all, the fear!

I’m so grateful that I had work to do and needed to get on with it, and the spring flowers cheered me up no end. Daffodils, early tulips and grape hyacinths formed a spectacular border at the front of the house and I would go out to admire it whenever I felt gloomy. Prayer partners helped, too. We check every morning that we’ve got out of bed and say what we plan to do. Then we recheck in the evening to make sure we’d done it.

I spend a lot of time on phone and email, but have got a little further with the next book. There’s been quite a lot of email about my naming a new and somewhat unpleasant character ‘Felicity’. I had completely forgotten that I’d had someone called that name in an early book, but clearly in my subconscious I wasn’t happy about it, or I wouldn’t have talked to you about giving someone else the same name. A friend has duly suggested ‘Cynthia’ and yes, that does seem to fit the bill. Many thanks to all who’ve chimed in on this issue.

Another short story came out in March, about ten year old Joe’s investigations into the meaning of life – and Chocolate Easter Eggs – in Lent. I have already sent a copy to all those on my Request List, but if are not on that and would like to read it, then let me know and I’ll send it to you. The Easter story will be published on April 10th. It’s titled ‘I have a difficult job for you . . .’ I’ll send out copies in the usual way, after it’s published.

I believe lots of people have asked the libraries to reserve them copies of the latest in the Abbot Agency series . . . Hurray! This is FALSE CONCLUSION. Evelina, a wealthy but backward schoolgirl is dumped on Bea Abbott and her ward, Bernice for the holidays. An uncle of Evelina’s suddenly dies and her family signal that the girl had something to do with his death, while at the same time making a huge fuss of young Bernice. Is this because she will be a very rich girl one day? Then Bea’s long-divorced ex-husband turns up and tries to mend fences with her. Is it time to forgive him?

Also out last month are the large print, paperback and audiobook versions of MURDER BY SUGGESTION, in which the dreadful Diana and her friends have all been accused of murder by their husbands. Naturally they take refuge with Ellie, and d expect her to find a way out of their problems.

A blessing on all who can spare the time to listen to other people’s problems . . .

Veronica Heley

We’ve been having a very mild winter here in London, GB. (Yes, I know! Global warming!) I must admit that I enjoy not having to dress up in so many clothes that I waddle like penguin. I know there were storms and some frosty nights, but I do so appreciate the afternoons getting longer, getting up in the daylight and seeing the flowers begin to appear in gardens. I cross the road every morning to walk past a superb pink Daphne in full flower. What a display! And we who garden discuss why that particular plant is splendid whereas our own Daphnes have failed to thrive.

I’ve been mulling over how to name various characters. Sometimes the right name for a particular person comes easily but every now and then I have to use the Search and Replace key two or three times before I am satisfied. Names can tell you a lot about the age and background of the person concerned. Fashions come and go. It’s likely that someone called Violet, Gladys or Herbert will be of a certain age, while you can probably make a good guess at when Jason or Kylie were born.

Then, adding a ‘y’ or ‘ie’ to a name infantilises them; think of Timmy, Freddy or Georgy. Give them their full name and they grow up; Timothy, Frederick and Georgina. I had to find an appropriate name for Joe’s annoying elder brother in a new story about him which comes out in Lent (no, I don’t have a date yet). I asked around and collected some beauties, but none were quite right until I chanced on Teddy, which I think has the right connotation. Teddy’s been spoiled because of ill health and he often behaves badly. Yes, I think that’s about right.

I continued to work on the next book, where I came across another character who was difficult to name. This is an older woman who could be a clone of our much-loved-and-hated Diana. Only, this woman is where Diana aims to be. She’s rich and bitchy. I’ve called her Felicity, which is the opposite of what that name represents. I think it works. Maybe I’ll have to change it as the book progresses.

The next in the Abbot Agency series comes out this month. It’s called FALSE CONCLUSION. Evelina, a wealthy but backward schoolgirl is dumped on Bea Abbott and her ward, Bernice for the holidays. An uncle of Evelina’s suddenly dies and her family signal that the girl had something to do with his death, but at the same time they make a fuss of young Bernice. Is this because she will be a very rich girl one day? Then Bea’s long-divorced ex-husband turns up and tries to mend fences with her. Is it time to forgive him?

Also out this month are the large print and paperback versions of MURDER BY SUGGESTION. This is the one in which Diana and her friends have all been thrown out by their husbands who accuse them of murder . . . so they take refuge with Ellie and expect her to find a way out of their problems. And finally, I’ve just received the new MP3 CD of this same story as an audiobook read by Julia Franklin. Available in bookshops and libraries.

A blessing on all who show kindness to others.

Veronica Heley

Ding, dong, merrily on high . . . the bells are ringing out the old and ringing n the new.

Will the new year be any different from the old? Will we repeat past mistakes, or will we find that we can move on without regrets? I’m not one for making resolutions to change. At my age, I know that life throws stuff at you, and sometimes you can deal with it easily, and sometimes you can’t.

What I do know is that writing something to remind people that good people can make a difference in the world is what I am supposed to be doing, so I will continue for as long as I can. Which, being translated, means that the next book is coming along nicely, now that I’ve untangled what every character is doing at any particular moment in time, and where the stairs are in the renovated house. And yes, Diana is well to the fore in this book. You didn’t think she could get any worse, did you? Well, I am happy to say that she is Much, Much Worse than she has ever been before! I cannot believe how awful she is! It makes writing about her so enjoyable.

Meanwhile, everyone who read the pre-Christmas story about Joe and his Scientific Investigation into which of three Father Christmases on offer was the real one, said how much they enjoyed it. That came out at the end of November. And the Christmas story – titled Christmas Mislaid –about a nasty character demanding attention over Christmas, came out in the double issue of the Methodist Recorder on December 27th. If you aren’t on my list to have them automatically sent to you, and would like to see either or both of these stories, just drop me an email and I’ll send it/them to you.

You remember one of my old friends told me that an earlier Ellie Quicke – titled Murder in the Park – had dropped off the available list? There’s good and bad news about this. My agent got the rights returned, but as it’s the only title in the series which is out of contract with Severn House and no one wants a singleton, so far she hasn’t found anyone else to take it on. A pity. I liked that story. Maybe things will change in the future and we can bring it out again.

Here’s wishing us all a New Year in which we have more reasons to rejoice than to be sad. God bless.

Veronica Heley

Oh, woe is me! Catastrophe! And no, it’s nothing to do with the line edits for the next Bea Abbot story, which are pretty well finished. Nor is it anything to do with the Christmas story for the Methodist Recorder, which will be out at the end of the year sometime. You will be glad to know that yes, the broken, unsalable Christmas tree which my nearest and dearest christened ‘Percy’ has been included in the story. So that’s all done and dusted for the Christmas issue.

Nor is the catastrophe related to the idea I had for a pre-Christmas story. This is about ten-year old Joe, who conducts a scientific experiment to discover which of three Father Christmases on offer that weekend might be the real one. And he comes to a surprising conclusion. The Methodist Recorder published this one on November 29th so if you’d like a copy just drop me an email in the usual way and I’ll send it to you. (The same, of course, applies to the one in the Christmas Issue. I can send copies as usual once the story has been published, but not before!)

All those projects went well. The catastrophe occurred when I was trying to make a floor plan of Ellie’s big old house now that it’s divided in two. I couldn’t for the life of me work out where the new stairs go, and how Rafael’s new study gets a window. Have you ever tried to make a floor plan of a fictional house? I thought I could walk through both sides of the conversion with ease. I believed I knew exactly where the bedrooms and bathrooms lay. But I didn’t. I really do have to get my floor plans straight, or I’ll have my characters walking through solid walls to get to the new kitchen . . .

Once, years ago, a reader asked me for a map of the area around Ellie’s house and I couldn’t do that, either. You see, I’ve based these stories on my own neighbourhood, but I’d taken bits of this road and bits of that, and put the library on the wrong end of the shopping lane, which isn’t called the Avenue in reality and . . . well, I had to confess I couldn’t do it.

You remember one of my old friends told me that an earlier Ellie Quicke had dropped off the available list? Well spotted! The rights are now being returned to me, and we are hoping it will soon become available again in print and as an e-book. Thanks to Gill.

And now, when I’ve got my floor plan sorted, I’m going to start on a new story which is to be called Murder-In-Law. I’d never realised before how much room a staircase takes up . . .

If everyone around you is in a tizzy about parties and presents, may you still remember what Christmas is really about.

Veronica Heley

Congratulations are called for since Severn House have accepted the next Bea Abbot story – FALSE CONCLUSION – and said some nice things about it. They have suggested a cover which I like very much and the book will be published next March in the UK and three months later in the USA, etc. So now I can relax for a couple of weeks until the line edits come through. As you know, these have to be dealt with quickly, or it puts the proof reading back . . . and that puts the production date back and . . . I’m sure you get the picture. But for the moment I can bask in the kind words of my editor, while turning my thoughts to . . . Well, actually, I am having a short rest before I turn my mind to . . .

The Christmas story for the Methodist Recorder. I don’t have to put it in till the end of this month or possibly even the start of December, but as you know I like to take my time and think every little plot point through before I send it in, on the basis that if I make a mistake, it’s likely to make it through to the printed page. So, CHRISTMAS MISLAID is coming along a treat, and yes, the broken, unsalable Christmas tree which my nearest and dearest have christened ‘Percy’ has been included in the story. When will this tale see the light of day? I’m not sure yet. I’ll let you know when I hear.

At some point I will have to start thinking about the next Ellie Quicke story. For some time now I’ve been wondering if I’d seen the last of her and her dreadful, grasping daughter, Diana. And yet . . . and yet . . . there was a tickle at the back of my imagination (if you’ll pardon the description) about Diana’s husband and the way he was carrying on. So I began to think about this and that.

Where, in fact, do stories come from? I don’t know about other writers, but I pick up a stray thought here and an odd comment there and see what happens next. It’s rather like making a jigsaw. I think about the people I’ve already written about and their circumstances. Then a small idea floats into the back of my mind as to what might happen to them if . . . Then, there’s a nice piece of action here, and perhaps there’s a conflict of interests there . . . and before you know it, a story begins to come together. Perhaps it will work, perhaps it won’t. The only thing I am sure about is that I am getting a trifle tired and will have to work less hours in future than I have been doing.

An odd thing was reported by one of my faithful readers. Many years ago I needed information about killer-type dogs, and my friend obliged. She herself is into Golden Labradors but she knew all about the other breeds and I used what she told me in MURDER IN THE PARK, No. 9 in the Ellie Quicke series. This came out in 2007, went into paperback and large print – and now has dropped out of the list of titles available. I didn’t realise it had gone out of print and now my agent is negotiating to see if we can bring it back as an e-book. Thanks to Gill for pointing this out.

May you only remember the good points about your friends and overlook the occasional irritations . . . hoping they will do the same for you.

Veronica Heley

I have come to the end of the next Bea Abbot story, which I’ve called FALSE CONCLUSION. At least, I think I have finished it. I’ve stopped waking up in the night and thinking, ‘That bit’s wrong!’ and ‘You meant to add a bit there, didn’t you?’ And so I sent it off to my editor with fingers and toes crossed. I think it’s a good story, but I’m really too close to it to judge. I check my emails a dozen times a day, hoping to hear that she likes it and it doesn’t need too much work to be publishable. Only when that happens can I breathe a huge sigh of relief and think about the next story . . . that is, until the copy edits arrive for FALSE CONCLUSION, demanding to be attended to Now! This Minute!

Before that happens maybe I should give some thought to the next Christmas story. Yes, that’s a horrible thought, isn’t it? Christmas, in October? I know what the title is – CHRISTMAS MISLAID. So far so good. But for the rest? I haven’t a clue.

Away on holiday with family, I asked for their ideas for this Christmas story. And they started talking about a broken, discarded Christmas tree which they named ‘Percy’. Or maybe it is ‘Pursey?’ I’m afraid we couldn’t agree on the spelling or even why he appears in the story. Will Percy make it to publication? ‘Watch this space!’ as they say in the adverts.

People have been writing to me to say they’ve been into the library to order copies of the latest Ellie Quicke book, published at the end of August. Every year the figures drop for hardback with the closure of libraries, but e-book sales seem to be holding up. This story – MURDER FOR GOOD – is one I rather like because it could happen. It’s the one in which Ellie’s husband receives some bequests from people he hardly knows, and Ellie tries unavailingly to get an unwelcome guest out of the house. And it’s about Diana, of course. Someone asked me once why I didn’t get rid of the wretched woman and I said I couldn’t do that because everyone, including me, loves to hate her!

And, as it happens, the first review of MURDER FOR GOOD is now in, from Booklist. It says . . . ‘Entertaining, quirky, madcap and heart warming, this is a good choice for fans of traditional mysteries.’ Hurray!

My musings on what makes a friend continue. Recently I concluded that a friend is someone you rejoice with in good times, and sympathise with in bad. I wanted to qualify that by saying that you should rejoice without envy and offer practical help as well as sympathy in bad times. I’m not sure about that. What do you think?

May you remember with pleasure the good things that have happened in your life and let the mistakes and hurts fade into the past.

Veronica Heley

First the good news: the short story which I titled ‘Lost Child!’ came out on August 16th. I send a copy out to a short list of people who can’t get it in the usual way and have had emails back saying how much they enjoyed it. Someone said it was both touching and funny. (Hurray!)

If anyone else is unable to get a copy and would like to read it, let me know, and I’ll email you a copy for free. This is the story in which Bruce hates the very thought of having to help man the HQ tent at the local big event in the park and ends up having to do some detective work to find the parents of a lost child who can’t, or won’t speak. A story for high summer about taking part in a community event where things do occasionally go wrong.

The 20th Ellie Quicke book came out at the end of August. It’s called MURDER FOR GOOD and on the cover there’s a steaming hot meat pie which has been cut into and a large knife. And no bloodstains. I suppose you might call it a domestic or ‘in house’ drama since it’s about Ellie’s husband receiving not one or two, but six bequests from people he hardly knew. This upsets him a lot. Oh, and Ellie is trying unsuccessfully to rid of a guest who wants to be her housekeeper and won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. It’s also about Diana’s latest problem. Of course. Whatever will she do next? (No, don’t answer that; I have no difficulty working that out!)

Also out at the end of August were the paperback and large print versions of the Bea Abbot tale, titled FALSE PRIDE. This is the one in which Magda Summerleys, who is acting as housekeeper to a reclusive art critic, discovers he’s disappeared just as he’s about to be painted by Bea’s ex-husband, leaving Piers suffering from concussion and Magda holding a fortune in family jewels and with no idea what to do – except to ask for Bea’s help.

Two more bits of good news; Soundings, the Audiobook people want to take on another Ellie Quicke – this one is to be Murder by Suggestion, and the Harlequin Book Club are taking another in the Bea Abbot series – this time it’s False Impression.

I’m well on the way now with the next Bea Abbot, which is the one about different forms of friendship. I’ve had some lovely emails from you saying what it means to you. I do appreciate hearing from you when you like something I’ve written. Recently there’s been a couple of people who’ve come across the book of short stories titled UNSUNG HEROES (e-book) and said how much you’ve enjoyed them. Such emails do perk me up nicely! And so, back to work . . .

May we have time to enjoy and thank God for all the good things of summer before the nights start to draw in and we look out our winter clothes.

Veronica Heley

I don’t know about you, but I struggle to work in this warm weather. I have fans upstairs and downstairs and go from one to the other. But, I am happy to report that my To Do pile has decreased considerably. In fact, there’s just the filing to be done now. ‘Just’ is not quite the right word, because that looks like a five coffee pile to me. But nevertheless, I do feel better for having got some of the business stuff out of the way.

I’ve also finished and sent off another short story. This is going to be published in the Methodist Recorder some time in August, but I don’t have the date yet. When I do, I’ll let you know. And yes, if anyone would like a copy, just drop me an email and I’ll send you one free after the publication date. This story is about a lost child who won’t or can’t speak. Can Bruce work out what’s happened? Ah, but he’s feeling really grumpy and he doesn’t know how to talk to children, anyway.

Also coming out in August is the next Ellie Quicke. This one is called MURDER FOR GOOD, and features another of my difficult-to-like-but-pitiful characters . . . Oh, and Diana, of course. At the end of this one, I almost feel sorry for Diana. Well, not quite, of course. She really is not a likeable woman, is she?

So now it’s back to work on the next Bea Abbot, which is coming on a treat. I suppose this story is really all about friendship and I’ve had to ask myself what makes a friend as opposed to an acquaintance?

How would you define ‘a friend?’ Some of my real-life friends and I have been debating this. Is it frequency of meeting? Is it even-handed so that each relies on the other to the same extent? Is it based on having similar interests? One of my friends said; ‘If you feed me, then you are my friend.’ (Fine, if you’re a cat!) And then, what about those people you’ve known for a long time but don’t see on a regular basis . . . do you drop into the same relationship when you meet again even after, perhaps, a year’s gap? In False Conclusion the fourteen-year old Bernice grudgingly begins to develop a relationship with a needy school friend who has a different agenda. Can it last? I don’t think I’ve ever had to think so much about true friendship.

May we have a good balance in our lives of work and play, of helping others and of accepting help for ourselves, of sunshine and sorrow. But in all things may we look forward with confidence to what is to come.

Veronica Heley