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Newsletter 193
Feb. 19th, 2018 07:24 pmI’m starting with one apology looking back and another looking forwards. I’m sorry that the usual every-other-Friday newsletter due last week is delayed until today. I’ve been struggling with a respiratory tract infection that’s still here after ten days so nothing very useful is getting done. Looking ahead, we’re about to embark on a cruise, so the next newsletter is unlikely to appear until the 16th of March. On the plus side, that means one less item in the inbox!
News
Given the lurgy that’s hit me, this will be short and sweet.
The final Cambridge Fellows re-release from Endeavour Media (note slight change of publisher title, as there have been changes afoot in the organisation) will hopefully be live by the time the next newsletter goes out. The cover art is as lovely as all the series has been. Lessons in Chasing the Wild Goose will be live by then, too.
I’m head down (or would be if I had a functional head) over a fourth book for the Lindenshaw series but have also got another set of sleuths out of mothballs. Because ‘This Ground which was Secured at Great Expense’ will be going into a collection of WWI stories with Williams and Whiting, the story it was originally paired with – ‘The Case of the Overprotective Ass’ – needs a new companion piece, so that’s my next writing project. Those two will also be with Williams and Whiting.
The amateur sleuths are two post WWII British film actors, Alasdair and Toby, who made their debut in ‘The Roaming Heart’ which is available on my free stories page. The snippet this week comes from that very tale.
“Linda, my dear, you look terribly tired.” Charles Prior laid his hand on the girl’s arm. She did look weary, dreadfully pale and drawn.
“It’s this wretched job. I can’t afford to give it up, as Mama depends upon me.” Linda fought back the tears, a fierce, brave look on her lovely face.
“There is another solution — we’ve spoken of it often.”
Charles took her hand, gently caressing it. “If you would only do me the honour…” His eyes shone with hope and a desire that, this time, those expectations shouldn’t prove forlorn.
“No — no, my dear. It would never work. I could never make you happy as you deserve to be.” Linda patted Charles’s hand, smiled at him as a sister might. “You know that my heart will always lie elsewhere.”
Charles glanced out of the café window, better to observe the man who was coming, with an eager stride, down the street. “Shall I go? I wouldn’t want him to be angry with you.”
“No. I won’t let him be rude to you as he was before. He must understand that you are as dear to me as a brother.” She stood up as Ralph Allen came through the door, a huge smile lighting up her face, a smile she had never produced for Charles. “I’m so pleased you could come. You’ve met before, of course?” She indicated her companion.
Ralph scowled, fists clenching. “Oh yes, I remember you, Mr. Prior.”
“Cut!” The director’s voice rang out and everyone relaxed. “That was wonderful, my dears. All in one take as well, excellent job. We’ll do the close ups this afternoon, everyone.” He came across to where his stars were beginning to laugh and joke with one another. “Alasdair, you were marvellous. Your Ralph really did look as if he was going to punch Charles there and then. Toby, no-one does unrequited love like you can, dear. And Fiona, that was simply wonderful. Now, my dears, go and take a rest so that you’ll sparkle again for me.”
And finally, one of the things I hope to see on our cruise – sea creatures!
News
Given the lurgy that’s hit me, this will be short and sweet.
The final Cambridge Fellows re-release from Endeavour Media (note slight change of publisher title, as there have been changes afoot in the organisation) will hopefully be live by the time the next newsletter goes out. The cover art is as lovely as all the series has been. Lessons in Chasing the Wild Goose will be live by then, too.
I’m head down (or would be if I had a functional head) over a fourth book for the Lindenshaw series but have also got another set of sleuths out of mothballs. Because ‘This Ground which was Secured at Great Expense’ will be going into a collection of WWI stories with Williams and Whiting, the story it was originally paired with – ‘The Case of the Overprotective Ass’ – needs a new companion piece, so that’s my next writing project. Those two will also be with Williams and Whiting.
The amateur sleuths are two post WWII British film actors, Alasdair and Toby, who made their debut in ‘The Roaming Heart’ which is available on my free stories page. The snippet this week comes from that very tale.
“Linda, my dear, you look terribly tired.” Charles Prior laid his hand on the girl’s arm. She did look weary, dreadfully pale and drawn.
“It’s this wretched job. I can’t afford to give it up, as Mama depends upon me.” Linda fought back the tears, a fierce, brave look on her lovely face.
“There is another solution — we’ve spoken of it often.”
Charles took her hand, gently caressing it. “If you would only do me the honour…” His eyes shone with hope and a desire that, this time, those expectations shouldn’t prove forlorn.
“No — no, my dear. It would never work. I could never make you happy as you deserve to be.” Linda patted Charles’s hand, smiled at him as a sister might. “You know that my heart will always lie elsewhere.”
Charles glanced out of the café window, better to observe the man who was coming, with an eager stride, down the street. “Shall I go? I wouldn’t want him to be angry with you.”
“No. I won’t let him be rude to you as he was before. He must understand that you are as dear to me as a brother.” She stood up as Ralph Allen came through the door, a huge smile lighting up her face, a smile she had never produced for Charles. “I’m so pleased you could come. You’ve met before, of course?” She indicated her companion.
Ralph scowled, fists clenching. “Oh yes, I remember you, Mr. Prior.”
“Cut!” The director’s voice rang out and everyone relaxed. “That was wonderful, my dears. All in one take as well, excellent job. We’ll do the close ups this afternoon, everyone.” He came across to where his stars were beginning to laugh and joke with one another. “Alasdair, you were marvellous. Your Ralph really did look as if he was going to punch Charles there and then. Toby, no-one does unrequited love like you can, dear. And Fiona, that was simply wonderful. Now, my dears, go and take a rest so that you’ll sparkle again for me.”
And finally, one of the things I hope to see on our cruise – sea creatures!
