Veronica Heley, March Releases, and Free Books!

Bea Abbot ran a domestic agency whose watchword was discretion and whose clients did not wear fake diamonds . . . until, that is, the Holland family crashed into her busy office.

Today we're revisiting novelist Veronica Heley, author of False Diamond (Severn House Publishers, March 2014).

Veronica Heley celebrates the publication of her 73rd book this spring, having been in the business for 40 years. She is currently writing two gentle crime series; the Ellie Quicke Mysteries and the Abbot Agency series. She also writes a short story once a quarter for the Methodist Recorder.

Her early books, which include more crime and some historical novels, are currently being brought out as E-books.

She’s involved with her local church and community affairs, likes to break for coffee with friends and does the garden when she has time. She has been a member of a book reading club for 40 years, but has decided that life is too short to read depressing literature any more.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

-- I believe in allowing myself a piece of fudge or chocolate when I’ve written to my target.

-- I like to buy my clothes in Bruges, because their styles are different from High Street shops in the UK.

-- I like to identify with the heroes and heroines of the books I read, and get depressed if all the characters are unlikeable.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of 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.

Why will readers care about Bea?

Bea is a widowed businesswoman with a heart, who has taken in two dysfunctional youngsters and is helping them to become worthwhile adults. She works hard but her only son causes her great anxiety and in this story, she has to face up to a physical threat, causing her to realise how hard it is to do so. A spot of gentle humour helps her through the day.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

Bea would be a good part for many of the older actresses, who’d relish her fine grooming and authoritative air. There are no parts for actors who stand around being beautiful, these are all character roles.

What fictional character would you like to meet?

Miss Marple. I adore the way she applies real life situations to her mysteries.

What a good match, considering the tenor of your Ellie Quicke series!

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

Stoner by John Williams. It is beautifully written about a small town professor who leads an apparently unsuccessful life, but in hindsight you can see that he was a success in his own terms. He recognised that he was born to teach – and that is what he did.

What are you working on now?

I am in the throes of writing another Bea Abbot story, called False Impression, in which nothing is exactly what it seems at first sight, and Bea’s house becomes a refuge for those involved in a war between two brothers.

Next month I’m due to do the copy editing of the next Ellie Quicke story – Murder in Time, which will be published in May 2014.

Where else can readers find you online?

My website is at www.veronicaheley.com. I send out a monthly newsletter with lots of news and views on it. A shortened version of this is later posted as a blog on my website,  blog.veronicaheley.com  Both can be accessed through the home page of my website.

The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:





Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

Some of my readers like the fact that my two older heroines have a second marriage in view, but some don’t. My agent thinks my readers would like her to have a love interest nowadays, but I’m not sure that’s true. What do you think?

Thanks, Veronica, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Veronica has offered to send a PDF copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, March 17. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Veronica's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Rachel Hauck , below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

Also, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.

Finally, as you scroll to the bottom of this post to leave your comment, take a look at some of the excellent new Inspirational fiction being released in March! 

Contemporary Romance:

Wild Mint Tea by Valerie Comer -- A local-foods chef caters events to keep her farm, but the first wedding comes with a ruggedly handsome brother-of-the-bride with no interest in settling to one place. (Contemporary Romance from Choose Now Publishing)

Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter -- Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she'd never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return. The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He's loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she's back, his feelings are stronger than ever. Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing [Thomas Nelson & Zondervan])

Love Redeemed by Kelly Irvin -- Phoebe Christner is thrilled when the families of her close-knit Amish community decide to spend a week at the lake. And it doesn't hurt that Michael Daugherty will be coming along. They'll find ways to spend time together--she's certain of it--and their romance will have time to blossom. But when tragedy strikes, Phoebe and Michael are torn apart by their pain and the knowledge of their guilt. (Contemporary Romance from Harvest House Publishers)

An Amish Garden by Beth Wiseman, Vannetta Chapman, Kathleen Fuller, and Tricia Goyer -- A collection of charming Amish stories centered around the theme of gardening by four of this genre's most popular authors. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing [Thomas Nelson & Zondervan])

Historical Romance:

Healer of Carthage by Lynne Gentry -- A modern-day doctor gets trapped in third-century Carthage, Rome, where she uncovers buried secrets, confronts Christian persecution, and battles a deadly epidemic to save the man she loves. Historical Romance from Howard [Simon & Schuster])

Tide and Tempest by Elizabeth Ludwig -- Two years ago, her fiancé perished during their voyage to America. Now she discovers it may have been murder... (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)

Vow Unbroken by Caryl McAdoo-- Susannah Baylor, a spunky young widow with a young daughter and teenage nephew in her care, raises cotton on a small farm in northeast Texas. When a local buyer reneges on his offer to purchase her crop, she finds herself with only one option: cart her cotton to market in Jefferson herself. Sue employs Henry Buckmeyer to accompany her and the children. Facing the elements and other dangers, the foursome starts out with the common goal of getting their goods to market. (Historical Romance from Howard [Simon & Schuster])

The Guardian's Promise by Christina Rich -- An evil queen and her royal guards will stop at nothing to find - and kill - the rightful heir to the throne of Judah. When their pursuit leads them to Mira's village, only her father's bond servant, Ari, a man shrouded in secrets, can keep Mira safe. (Historical Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Contemporary:

Because of the Rain by Deborah Raney -- One unimaginable night changes a couple's lives forever. Their love for God and for each other is put to the ultimate test as they confront heart-wrenching decisions. (Contemporary from Greenbrier Books)

The Shepherd's Song by Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers-- Psalm 23, written on a piece of paper, travels around the world changing the lives of twelve people. (Contemporary from Howard [Simon & Schuster])

Faith Departed by Elizabeth Maddrey -- Starting a family was supposed to be easy. Twin sisters June and July have never encountered an obstacle they couldn't overcome. Married just after graduating college, the girls and their husbands remained a close-knit group. Now settled and successful, the next logical step is children. But as the couples struggle to conceive, each must reconcile the goodness of God with their present suffering. Will their faith be strong enough to triumph in the midst of trial? (Contemporary Women's Fiction from HopeSprings)

Romantic Suspense:

Beneath a Navajo Moon by Lisa Carter -- What happens when love and danger collide deep in the heart of the Navajo Nation? (Romantic Suspense from Abingdon Press)

Stolen Memories by Liz Johnson -- Attacked and left for dead, "Julie Thomas" has amnesia, and doesn't know why anyone would want to hurt her. But when surveillance video of that night shows Julie holding a baby—a baby nowhere to be found—she panics. Is the child hers? Where is she now? With no answers and no place to go, Julie accepts Detective Zach Jones's offer to help her solve both mysteries. The handsome, loyal cop makes her feel safe. But someone is trying very hard to make sure her memories stay buried forever. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Dark Tide by Susan Sleeman -- When the woman Derrick Justice has never stopped loving and the baby he's come to adore are in a killer's crosshairs, can Derrick trap the cold-blooded murderer before he strikes again? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Historical Mystery:

Death by the Book by Julianna Deering -- Drew Farthering is determined to convince his American sweetheart Madeline Parker to accept his marriage proposal and stay on at his English country estate, but a series of baffling murders, each with a cryptic clue pinned into the body of the victim, might keep him from doing so . . . permanently. (Historical Mystery from Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)

Mystery:

Final Trimester by Dianna T. Benson -- Paramedic Jodi Duncan recognizes the work of a serial killer before Myrtle Beach PD even suspects a connection between the deaths of two pregnant women. Despite the vast differences in the two cases, Jodi urges Detective Nate Quigley to think outside the box. After digging deep into the separate investigations, Nate finds no evidence to support a serial killer theory, and he warns Jodi to back off police business, which only fuels her obsession with the cases. (Medical Mystery from Ellechor Publishing House)

Murder Simply Brewed by Vannetta Chapman -- When the coffee shop manager is murdered in Middlebury's Amish Artisan Village, two women from different walks of life must join together to solve the mystery and in the process renew their faith in God's promises. (Cozy Mystery from Zondervan)

Red Gold by Sandy Nadeau -- When someone tries to sabotage Mandy Phillips' Colorado guest ranch, she risks everything to protect her guests and the land she loves. (Mystery from Harbourlight Books [Pelican])

Happy reading!