Meg Sheppard Series Now Available As E-books!

Both books in the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series are now available as e-books.

You can find them on Amazon Kindle, Apple i-books and Kobo, as well as others.


To make it easy, here are links that, when you click on them, will give you the icon for each book at your favourite e-book retailer.


For "What Happened to Frank?" (the first book in the series): Universal Link to Book 1

For "Over Frank's Dead Body" (the second book in the series): Universal Link to Book 2

Enjoy and please leave a review!

N.B. Both books are also available in soft-cover at Blue Heron Books in Uxbridge; blueheronbooks.com; and at Books Galore in Port Perry; booksgaloreportperry.com
They make great gifts!!

Happy reading!

"Operation Caper": a story

I wrote this story as my submission to our monthly "word challenge" _ the words I had to use are shown in italics. I had some fun writing this: a departure from the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series (I should be editing my third book!).
Hope you enjoy this!

Mitch was sure he was about to die of boredom as he pushed the tea trolley along the interminable length of the shiny corridor, towards the secret, underground offices of the MI32. The clatter of the cups on the saucers rebounded off the walls and he was pretty sure any enemy of the state could pick up the racket anywhere in the world, given today’s technology.

            A hand dove around in front of him and grabbed his badge.

            “Hey!”

            “It’s okay. It’s me. You can have my badge in exchange.”

            “Come on, don’t be nuts. What’s going on?” Mitch watched with his mouth gaping as his brother, Joe, took off his suit.

            “There are cameras everywhere,” Mitch reminded him.

            “I’ve seen to that,” Joe said. “Now give me your uniform.”

            “What’s going on, Joe, for Pete’s sake?” Mitch could get muddled, but even his brain could tell something was amiss.

            “I’m Mitch now. You’re Agent Joseph Fond, just for one day. Nothing’s going to happen, I promise. Just a routine day at the office. All you have to do is sit at my desk and stare at the computer screen. You’ll be fine.”

            “What about everyone’s tea?”

            “I’ve arranged for Tinman to take over. He’s coming now.” They turned and watched the slow, ponderous metallic robot whirring and creaking. “He’s programmed to deliver the tea, and he knows who wants sugar.”

            “He’ll do a better job.”

            “Yes, he probably will.”

            Mitch smoothed down his hair as Joe gave the black shoes a buff with a bit of spit and a rub with the sleeve of his brother’s uniform.

            “Okay, you’re ready. My badge works the same way as yours, but it gets you in everywhere except the dungeon.”

            “The dungeon’s where they keep the Elephant server.”

            “Only two people have access to the Elephant and I’m not one of them. So, don’t go down there.”

            “Why am I doing this, by the way?”

            “So I can play a round of golf on that new course up in Scotland.”

            “I thought it’d be something important.”

            “It is for me. See ya.” Joe sprinted back down the corridor.

            Mitch soon caught up with Tinman. He had an urge to spray some oil into the robot’s joints. What with the rattling tea trolley and the clanking robot, Mitch could feel a headache coming on. It wasn’t helped by the fact that he sensed eyes on him and that these eyes would know that he’d recently failed all of the MI32 analytical examinations and that he didn’t have the fortitude to be an agent. 

            He accessed Joe’s office without a hitch and sat in the chair which adjusted itself to fit his back, legs and arm lengths, as well as his distance from the computer screen. The sensation of being positioned by the chair made Mitch nauseated and he glanced around to see if there was a waste paper basket. None. No paper anywhere either, he noted.

            “Ah, glad I found you here.” A large man with an incongruous moustache, deep gravelly voice and thick lenses in black-framed glasses almost filled the doorway. “Joe, you must leave immediately. You’ve been assigned to “Operation Caper”. You’ll be briefed by Agent Barking.”

            “Operation Caper?”

            “Thanks, old chap.”

            I’m not old, Mitch thought. He dared not move for fear of the chair re-positioning him again but he would have liked to look in a mirror to check if he’d aged dramatically since he got out of bed that morning.

            “Agent Barking here. We’ve not met.” A lithe woman with long blond hair and sparkling blue eyes grabbed Mitch’s hand with such vigour he reckoned he should ice it afterwards. He moved and the chair started purring, so he sprung up.

            “Oh, is your chair faulty?” Agent Barking asked.

            “I think it must be. Tell me about ‘Operation Caper’.”

            “This is of the utmost importance and, of course, top secret.”

            “Top secret.”

            “We must leave within the hour to fly to Paris.”

            “To Paris.”

            “We must retrieve the stolen data which was collected by the Bubble Telescope and stored in the Elephant.”

            “The Elephant.”

            “Were you aware that the invaluable pictures of AMIS training camps had been stolen?”

            “No, I don’t think I was. Was I?”

            “Probably not. That’s top secret too. Pick up your bag and follow me.”

            Mitch saw a bag in the corner of the office and followed Agent Barking, clutching it to his chest. He wondered if everyone got their tea. He hadn’t seen any sign of Tinman outside his office.

            “Look as relaxed as possible at the airport,” Agent Barking said. “We have special clearance, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”

            It was a pretty short flight across the Channel but Mitch was disappointed that he wasn’t flying business class. He wanted to ask Agent Barking so many questions about “Operation Caper” but she was snoring. He could hear her rumbles above the engine noise.

            They landed safely.

            “Once we get to the hotel,” Agent Barking told him, “we must be very cautious. There is a change of clothes in your bag. We have to lie low and not draw attention to ourselves.”

            His room was nice but not extraordinary. Weren’t MI32 agents given suites? He found a pair of jeans and a shirt in the bag, as well as socks and loafers. He changed and made sure he was in the lobby to meet Agent Barking at the precise time she had instructed him to be there.

            She walked towards him wearing slim black slacks and a red, silky blouse. Her make-up highlighted her shimmering blue eyes and bright smile. She grabbed his arm.

            “We need to look like a couple.”

            “A couple.”

            She led him to a pair of imposing, dark-oak doors.

            “We have to meet some important people in here,” she said.  She opened the doors. It was dark. Lights flashed on and a room full of about seventy-five people yelled “surprise!” and then “happy birthday!”.

            Joe bounced over to Mitch and gave him a bear hug.

            “It’s not every day you turn forty and I thought this should be an extra special celebration. I can never thank you enough for saving my life in that op. I know things have been rough for you since then, because of your injuries. Just want to say thanks and many happy returns of the day!” Joe handed him a glass of beer.

            They all lifted their glasses and cheered, breaking into “for he’s a jolly good fellow”. Mitch beamed at them, but deep inside he yearned to be Agent Mitch Fond again, speeding after the bad guys in his Aston Martin, switching on the jet propulsion, firing his missiles and bringing those devils down. But his muddled brain was uncertain as to whether that memory was real or not. He looked around the room and decided that he’d best enjoy this party in Paris. Life is short.

            Agent Barking poured him another beer.

Vicky Earle Copyright 2018

           

           

           

First Book in Meg Sheppard Mystery Series Available on Kindle

"What Happened to Frank?", the republished version, is now available from Amazon Kindle, ibooks, and many other ebook retailers. If you haven't already read it, you're missing a good mystery!
Bill Bells says "This book reminded my of why I like a good "whodunit". The tight writing and fast pace quickly drew me in and didn't let go of me until the last page. Move over Hercules Poirot and Inspector Banks - there's a new sleuth in town!".
Another review by "Mamoset" says "Thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot and multiple subplots certainly keep you guessing along with the characters - hard to put it down even when my eyes were telling me to sleep."
Danielle Crean says "A terrific read. I loved that every suspect had a secret, making the twists and turns very intriguing."
Please leave your own review at your favourite retailer.
You can find the ebook by clicking here: Universal ebook link to "What Happened to Frank?"
Enjoy!
The second book in the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series will also be released as an ebook soon.

Writing Tips From Authors' Events

Blue Heron Books organizes great Authors' Events and I've attended most of them this fall (I recommend them!).

I jotted down some notes when Kate Morton, Patrick Dewitt, Iain Reid, Craig Davidson and Nathan Ripley talked about their books and their writing.
They, of course, don't use the same approach to writing and these notes reflect that.

These are some of the points the authors made about structure and planning:

1. I use layering of time and tether the "then" to the "now". 
2. I use structure - not random.
3. I like to have a sense as to where the book is going.
4. I don't plot and plan but the ending is so crucial. I believe that you have to know where you're going. I wrote the last line early on and worked towards that last sentence. 
5. I have an idea or image but no outline - seems bizarre to outline a story you don't know.
6. I have disparate ideas which then grow together. 

These are some points related to description and setting:

1. I take photographs, use visual images to provide references for description. 
2. I research the area where the book is set.
3. I like to reference specific detail rather than a lot of general description. 

Some comments on character:

1. Need to do research so that characters as well as the historical period are authentic, including how people spoke. 
2. Ability to be in that particular character is important. 
3. Usually takes a while to get a fabricated character to be three-dimensional.
4. Moving character - hard to walk away without some degree of empathy.
5. Some of the characters won't have names at first - a name eventually emerges. 
6. There is a lot of dialogue - my novels feel personal. 

General comments:

1. Complicated and surprising and also in line with my take on the world - subversion of what's expected.
2. Grounded in realism but open to the hint that more is happening than we're aware of in our real world. 
3. Appreciation of poetry is helpful - for rhythm and making it pleasant to say (audio books are more and more popular).
4. Memories - people can hold different perspectives - why do our memories change? We tend to want to make them more palatable - this is a rich and shifting terrain for writers. 
5. Used present tense to allow room for instinct - not too intellectual. 
6. My books don't fit a specific genre. 

And a couple of my favourites:

1. Write with genuine passion and love - put some of yourself into it. 
2. It's impossible to please everyone with a book!

Excellent Review for Second Book in Meg Sheppard Mysteries Series!

William Bell is a fan of the Meg Sheppard Mysteries Series. He gave my first book "What Happened to Frank?" a rave review and I hoped very much that my second book wouldn't disappoint. 

Apparently, it didn't!

Hearing from readers that they enjoy reading my books and stories lifts me up and encourages me to keep on writing! (My third book is in rough draft form).

Here's William's review, which I sincerely appreciate:

"This is a great follow-up to “What Happened to Frank” and another great mystery by writer Vicky Earle.   Once again, Ms. Earle keeps things moving at a torrid pace, wasting no words while winding the main character, Meg Sheppard, into the centre of a complex web of crime, including of course, a murder.  This book would adapt well to a thrilling stage play like Sleuth or The Mousetrap, with key events unfolding in surprising ways literally at Meg’s doorstep.    

“Over Frank’s Dead Body” is much more than a mystery however, it’s also a treatise on love.  While I found myself trying to sift through the clues along with my new favourite, albeit somewhat reluctant sleuth Meg, to connect the dots and solve the crime, I also realized that I was witnessing the disturbingly wide scope of love’s power. Ms Earle skillfully reveals Meg Sheppard to us in ways that makes the reader share in the main character’s emotional journey - sad, angry, and tortured at one moment, and then hopeful, grateful and even blissful the next.  Love is perhaps life’s greatest mystery and this book is a reminder as to why." 

Thank you!

Meg Sheppard Mystery Series Now In Books Galore!

Thrilled that the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series is now available at Books Galore, Port Perry.
It's a great book store - check it out!!

Ten-minute On-the-spot Writing!

I wrote this in ten minutes during our October Uxbridge Writers' Circle meeting (check out our blog: uxbridgewriterscircle.blogspot.ca
The prompt was a bookmark with a picture of a branch with lichen growing on it.

LICHEN

She sat and stared at the grey and yellow fuzzy lichen clutching to the old branch lying on the thick, green grass. It  had missed her by a couple of inches. She'd felt the cold breeze on her face and in her hair as it tumbled down.
    Hadn't she told Angus at least ten times to cut that tree down? If he'd done it twenty years ago she wouldn't have had this near-death experience.
    She turns her body and heaves herself off the wet ground as her hyper-active border collie runs backwards and forwards to the barn. Looking around, she wonder what on earth Angus has been doing. Nothing, obviously.
    The fences are missing rails and, as she touches one of the posts, it wobbles precariously, signifying its separation from its anchor in the ground. The vines obliterate the fence in some areas, making it look as if there are escape routes for the horses.
    Where are the horses? She can't see them anywhere. She fights with the sliding door, stuck on its rusty wheels, as she peers into the dark, damp  gloom inside the barn. No sign of life. No smell of wood-shavings, hay, grain or cat food. Her dog wags his tail and turns towards the house, as if encouraging her to leave. She mumbles that she really must have a word with Angus. Things have gone to rack and ruin. 
    On the verge of a panic attack, she takes off her boots and coat, climbs the stairs and a strange looking container sitting on her mantle-piece catches her eye. The urn has a simple inscription on it. She gasps as she reads her husband's name and that he'd died fifteen years earlier.

Copyright Vicky Earle 2018

A Short Memoir: Arrival in Canada as Immigrants!

This is a picture of the Stefan Batory - the ship which transported us across the Atlantic from England. We landed as immigrants on November 19, 1973.
For the August 2018 word challenge piece, which I read out to the Uxbridge Writers' Circle, I wrote a short memoir, copied below, giving insight into our naivete about Canada.
The words which we were to use in our writing are shown in italics.

Naivete

As the ship rumbled and vibrated, cutting through the chilly waters of the St. Lawrence, I leant on the rail, disappointment cooling my excitement. The topography was flatter than I’d imagined. The only photographs of Canada that I’d seen were of the Rocky Mountains and I’d assumed that these pictures represented the country from coast to coast. My only geography lessons at school had focused on the Great Lakes, but I had only a scant understanding of their size and significance. Such was my ignorance as we made slow steady progress towards our new home.

            When we docked at Montreal the bright colours and welcoming atmosphere astounded me. This place was in vivid contrast to the dull dreary Tilbury Docks we’d left behind. Everywhere was alive with bustle. Such was the efficiency and helpfulness of the Canadians who guided us, that we were ushered onto a train to Toronto before we had intended to leave Montreal.

            We were young, having just graduated from university in England. We didn’t know where we wanted to live but all recommendations pointed to an apartment in the High Park area. Within six weeks we bought a house in Streetsville, and within ten months after that move, we bought a small brick bungalow on eleven acres in Uxbridge Township.

            We’d neither of us lived in the country before and still knew little about Canadian life.

            We adopted a town-raised Irish Setter the day after our move, and she was equally as naïve. The first thing Tessa did was visit the next-door neighbour’s bull, circling him and barking, her silky tail swinging from side to side. Fortunately, the bull wasn’t a particularly aggressive animal and probably had not seen an Irish Setter before. He appeared to have a quizzical look on his face as our neighbour helped me to rescue our townie dog.

            Despite the certainty that this incident raised their eyebrows, this neighbour and his wife have been our friends for the forty-three years since the interesting encounter.  

            Tessa also introduced us to our neighbours on the other side of our property. She had an uncontrollable urge to chase their ducks. At first, these neighbours were, naturally, upset. I think a couple of their ducks died as a result of our dog’s pursuit of them and her picking them up in her mouth. She was a gentle dog with a soft, retriever’s mouth, but the ducks hadn’t been told that. Despite these sad and distressing outcomes, we later discovered that these neighbours fed Tessa biscuits every day, so she must have used her special charm on them with some success.

            One particularly challenging Canadian phenomenon we knew nothing about until Tessa introduced us to it, is the skunk. I couldn’t believe that its rank stink couldn’t be washed off with shampoo. I didn’t know about tomato juice or the concoctions which I’ve since learned can be helpful. So, we just had to put up with it until the sticky smelly stuff wore off.

            Tessa learned her lesson though. If ever there was a sign of a skunk, by sight or odour, she would half-close her eyes as if to wince and beetle back to the house.

            We’ve lived in Canada for almost forty-five years, and we’re still learning about this amazing country and what it has to offer. We’ve had many adventures and hope to enjoy many more memorable experiences. We believe that we were fortunate to be approved for immigration in 1973 and are eternally grateful for the warm welcome we received.

Vicky Earle Copyright 2018

For more writing/stories, go to: Short Stories

           

Meg Sheppard Mystery Series Now Available On-line!

Both books are now available in-store and on-line at Blue Heron Books.

Here's the link: Meg Sheppard Mystery Series

They are both cozy mysteries set in the unique world of thoroughbred horse-racing and of country living.

The first in the series is What Happened to Frank?

I think you might enjoy the second one, Over Frank's Dead Body, more if you've read the first one!

Bill Bell, a reader, gave this review of the first book:

"This book reminded me of why I like a good 'whodunit'. The tight writing and fast pace quickly drew me in and didn't let go of me until the last page. Move over Hercules Poirot and Inspector Banks - there's new sleuth in town!"

Happy Reading!!

Thank You for Book Launch Success at Blue Heron Books!

Thank you to all the readers who supported my book launch on October 13 at Blue Heron Books!
It was a great success and I hope you are all enjoying the books.
I re-issued What Happened to Frank? and launched the second novel in the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series, Over Frank's Dead Body. I offered them at special launch prices and sold over 70 books!
They are available at Blue Heron Books (the store) and will be included in their website soon for purchase on-line.
And the e-book versions will be uploaded in the near future.
The plan is to have them available at another bookstore - I will keep you posted.
These books are cozy mysteries and the set of two makes a great gift!
Happy reading!

Article about Book Launch appears in the Uxbridge Cosmos!

Here's the article which appears in the Thursday, October 11, 2018 issue:

 Local writer launches second book at Blue Heron Books this week-end

It took Vicky Earle over fifteen years to finish her first book “What Happened to Frank?”. When asked why it took so long, Earle confesses that horses and her career were the main time-consumers. Since publishing her first book, Earle, now retired, completed her second in the Meg Sheppard mystery series in about three years. 

  “Most of my readers would like me to write faster!” Earle says. “But they’ve been patient, and I’m excited that I’m finally launching ‘Over Frank’s Dead Body’ at Blue Heron Books on Saturday, October 13.” 

  Earle adds that everyone is welcome.

  When asked what the setting is for her books, Earle says she draws on her long experience of living on the family’s 10-acre horse-farm in the Uxbridge area which is home-base for the small, family-run, thoroughbred breeding and racing business. She and her husband, Martin, race at Woodbine Racetrack and are very familiar with the backstretch from the owners’ point-of-view.

  “I enjoy writing about horses and country-life, as well as the thoroughbred horse-racing business. And I have fun developing plots and characters. But the most rewarding thing about writing is having readers who enjoy your stories.”

  Earle is a member of the Uxbridge Writers’ Circle and credits this group, as well as courses she attended at the Blue Heron Studio, for both encouraging and challenging her.

  “Without the support of other writers, I wouldn’t be launching my first book, let alone my second. And a big thank-you to Blue Heron Books for being there for fledgling authors like me, who need a little help learning how to fly in the real world of books.”

  At the launch on Saturday October 13, Earle will read a few excerpts and will be available to sign the novels for readers between 2pm and 4pm. Both books will be offered at a special reduced price during the launch. 

  “And readers will be glad to hear that I’ve already made a good start on the third in the series.” Earle adds. Readers can keep up-to-date by connecting with Earle through her blog: vickyearleauthor.blogspot.ca

                                                           

Setting for My Books

As you can guess from the covers of my books shown here, the stories are set in country life (in which Kelly, the border collie plays a significant role) and in the thoroughbred horse-racing business. These are the worlds I know quite a lot about - although horses keep you humble - I continue to learn every day.
There are many ups and downs.
We have a three-year-old called George, who did poorly in training last year, so came home early and didn't race.
We decided we'd give him a head-start this year and send him for preliminary training in Florida - a big step for us. At the beginning of January, two days before we'd arranged for him to leave, he got into trouble in his stall and demolished a wooden wall (we don't know what happened). His injuries were serious including a fractured jaw, cracked gum, broken hyoid apparatus (supports tongue and larynx), chunks of his lower leg missing (one was the size of a tea-cup). We were in shock.
The snow was bad. The vet got stuck. Transport was hard to find. But we finally got him to the equine hospital at Guelph University. There was little they could do - he needed TLC and time.
At first he wouldn't eat, but things gradually improved. He loved having four small meals a day along with his grated carrots. Then the bandages could be left off. He got stronger. We regained hope that perhaps he could go back into training at Woodbine one day.
Sure enough, he went back on April 25. But it was a slow start. Nevertheless, we all decided to be patient. He had been through so much.
And yesterday he ran his first race and came third. I don't think we've ever been so pleased with a third place before. I'm posting the video on the page "Wins at Woodbine Racetrack" - even though it's not a win. His racing name is I'm a Home Brew, he's number 4 and has white blinkers, and he's the only one who's not raced before ("maiden" means having not won a race). Wins at Woodbine Racetrack Page Yeah, George!!
Perhaps this will give you a taste of the setting that I enjoy to write in and why. Hope you have fun reading my books.
See you at the launch on Saturday, October 13, 2pm to 4pm, Blue Heron Books.

Book Launch! Save the Date!

You're invited! The exciting launch of my second book in the Meg Sheppard mystery series will be:

On:     Saturday, October 13, 2018
       2pm until 4pm
At:     Blue Heron Books, Uxbridge

My first book, "What Happened to Frank?" will also be available.
I hope to meet current fans of the Meg Sheppard series as well as new readers!

Stay posted. There will be more information coming. (Sign up to receive email notifications of new posts by clicking on "follow by email" at vickyearleauthor.blogspot.ca).
Information on Blue Heron books can be found at: blueheronbooks.com

Two New Micro-Stories and One Micro-Non-Fiction Piece!

These short pieces were each written during a meeting of the Uxbridge Writers' Circle as part of the "ten-minute on-the-spot" writing segment. We can use the photos provided or we can just write what we like. No editing!
Then we share!

The first one is based on the picture "Grandpa and Me Ice Skating" by Norman Rockwell:

Grandpa was a boring old man with white whiskers and deep wrinkles. He sat in his recliner and it seemed to me that he spent more time snoring than he did talking. He must have had so much he could tell us about, so many interesting things, but we didn't hear any of it.
But he was the best Grandpa in the whole wide world when we went skating. Somehow his stiff body would unwind and energy seemed to travel from his toque to his toes. His scarf would fly around this way and that as he spun and twirled. He skated backwards at an atrocious speed, often barely missing us.
We would watch in awe, the cold seeping and creeping, until we realized we hadn't moved for several minutes as we watched his show.
One afternoon, as he untied his skates, I plucked up the courage to ask him how he learned to skate like that.
"Ah, I was a hockey player many, many years ago."
"Wow. With the NHL?" I asked.
"Yep."
"That must have been the best."
"It was okay, but we didn't wear helmets like your Mom makes you wear."
"I'd like not to wear one."
"You could hit your head on the ice and end up like me."
So, I always wear my helmet. I don't want to get wrinkles like my Grandpa.

Vicky Earle Copyright 2018

The second one is non-fiction about our foal, Chase, who was born on May 15, 2018.

We watch as the foal kicks up his heels, bucks and then canters around the patchy green field, almost colliding with his mother. She ignores his display, making the best of her time outside to graze, seeking out the blades of grass in between a myriad of weeds.
The two-month-old colt takes a nip out of the man repairing the fence - as he does, he shows off the scrape he gave himself as he pranced by the loose oak plank. The man pats him on the rump and tells him to go away. The colt's answer is to rear and then tear off to the other side of the paddock and stick his muzzle onto my husband's phone as he attempts to capture the antics of the new member of the family.
Our grandsons have named him Chase and we can already imagine him flying out of the starting gate and crossing the finishing line. With each new arrival there is excitement and optimism. Breeding, raising and racing thoroughbreds is fraught with set-backs and liberally scattered with disappointments, and we've had our share. But, for the moment, we're wallowing in the pleasure of watching Chase enjoying life. Every buck and every dash bring smiles, and makes everything seem worthwhile.
Photo: Chase with his mother, I'm a Kittyhawk. Taken by Vicky Earle. 

Vicky Earle Copyright 2018

The third one is based on a photo of a cat with the caption "Missing You".


Beluga, the fat grey cat, sat on the windowsill - looking much like an overstuffed furry pillow with whiskers - and watched the family leave for the cottage again. Looking at him, one couldn't see the frown on his face but the fury flashed in his eyes and twitched along his whiskers. They had left him alone once too often and he was going to show them.
He thought of the big plan as he sat staring at the chickadee which looked far too cheerful. But, since he couldn't reach him, he closed his eyes and focused on the plan.
He woke up with a start as the grandfather clock struck. He must have had a nap. He stretched, yawned, landed with a thud on the wooden floor and waddled to his food dish. Just that foul dry food awaited him. Where was the fresh fish? Beluga remembered he'd been left again and recalled the great plan.
The first thing on the list was to leave grey hair liberally spread on Anne's new white bedspread. He lapped at the water which was lukewarm, not cold how he liked it, and then heaved himself up the stairs. The bounce had gone out of his steps. He clawed his way up the side of the bed, hanging onto the bedspread. He was exhausted, and curled up in a dip between the pillows and fell asleep.
"Beluga!" Jenny called. "We're home!"
The great plan was put on hold again.

Vicky Earle Copyright 2018

The Grand House: A Story

This is the story I wrote incorporating the words for the July writing challenge (which are shown in italics). 

Hope you enjoy reading it!

She sits in the drawing room staring up at the chandelier. The oranges and pinks of the setting sun are streaming in from the tops of the tall leaded windows and should be dancing in the crystal droplets. But there’s no sparkling. She presses a button and notes how long it takes for Charlie to reach her. It should take one minute precisely, but Charlie often takes two. She can feel her blood pressure rise as the large, dark grandfather clock ticks past one minute and past two.

            “You called, your Ladyship.”

            “I did indeed. Quite some time ago.”

            “Yes, your Ladyship.”

            “This chandelier. When was the last time you cleaned it?”

            “I think it was last week, your Ladyship.”

            “You think. That isn’t good enough. It must be cleaned every Friday so that it’s at its best brilliance for each and every week-end.”

            “Yes, your Ladyship.”

            “When is the car coming?”

            “I’ll check, your Ladyship.”

They both turn towards the French doors as the patter of little claws approaches. Charlie’s face reddens as she turns back to face the woman.

“What is Samuel Junior doing out of his crate?” Lady Devon demands. “I asked you to put him to bed an hour ago. I don’t want spaniel hair on my black dress. What are you thinking? Not much, evidently.”

“No, your Ladyship. I’ll put him to bed right away.”

“Pick him up, then. Before he comes in.”

“Yes, your Ladyship. The car must be here. Mr. Swan’s at the door.” Charlie lifts the dog up and pets him.

“About time too.”

“Lady Devon, I trust you’ll be comfortable in this vintage Rolls Royce,” the chauffeur says.

“No need for chit-chat. Just get me to the theatre in one piece and two minutes late.”

“Just as you say, your Ladyship.” He opens the door.

“I can’t be seen arriving in this!”

“What do you mean, your Ladyship?”

“There’s a hubcap missing, you fool.”

“Must have come off when I went down one of them there pot holes, your Ladyship.”

“I don’t care how it happened. You’ll have to call for another car. I’ll be waiting inside.” She brushes past the butler, leaving a trail of heavenly scent, apparently ignoring his existence. 

She anticipates a twenty-minute wait but a replacement car shows up in ten. That puts her in a better mood, much to the relief of Charlie who’s been summoned to clean the dust off the gilded picture frame hanging above the stone fireplace.

Lady Devon sinks into the leather seat and watches the sun sinking into oblivion as it lengthens the shadows of the grand oaks lining the one-mile drive.

The driver turns away from the city. She presses the communication button.

“You’re to drive me to the theatre. Where are you going?”

“Short cut, your Ladyship.”

“Is this car bullet-proof, as Mr. Swan ordered?”

“I wouldn’t know, your Ladyship. I’m just the driver.”

The speaker crackles, but she can detect something familiar about the man’s voice. She can’t see his face in the mirror in the semi-darkness and realizes she didn’t give him so much as a glance as she got into the car. She remembers that Mr. Swan opened the door for her. The driver didn’t even bother to get out and acknowledge her.

Something isn’t right.

She can make out the slope of the man’s shoulders and the squareness of his head. His hands are partly visible. A tremor of recognition quivers down her spine.

“Bartholomew, stop the car.”

“I don’t think you want to stop here, mother. This is the disreputable end of town.” There’s a hint of disdain.

“What’s going on?” This is why the dusting wasn’t done and why Samuel Junior wasn’t in his bed. No-one expects her to return. She’s going to be shot and her body hidden so that Bartholomew can inherit her fortune. He’s been blatant about his quest but she’s refused to bend to his demands. He wants to turn Dorset House into a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts and alcoholics. What a disgrace for the beauty of the old mansion to be destroyed so that people, who brought misery on themselves, can writhe in their vomit and scratch at the walls.  

“Let’s just hope the car is bullet-proof,” Bartholomew says. She can’t see the faint smile on his lips.

“Can we talk?”

“What do you want to talk about? We’re nearly there.”

“Where?” She looks around but can’t distinguish anything out of the shadows.

“Where we’re going.”

“You want to turn that beautiful house, my home, into a lunatic asylum.”

“That’s not exactly correct.”

“Why?”

“Because your grandson died of an overdose and I think it’s because we all failed him.”

“Johnny died of an overdose?”

“We hid the truth because of you - fearing your judgement, knowing you’d feel angry and ashamed. We shouldn’t have. We should have done something. We should do something. I’ve tried everything I can think of to get you to listen – threats and more threats. But you only hear what you want to hear. You haven’t wanted to know.”

“Johnny was only sixteen when he died.”

“Yes.”

“He was your only son.”

“Yes.”

“We should have done something.”

“Yes.”

“Where are we?”

“We’re back at the house. The lights are out. This is my last threat. I’m so desperate to do something so that my son, your grandson, didn’t die in vain, that I’m going to burn this place down and collect the insurance money. Yes, I fixed it so that I’m the beneficiary and I’ve a plan so that arson won’t be suspected. Then I can make the rehabilitation centre happen. Or, you’re going to help make this rehabilitation centre a reality in Dorset House. Your choice.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Because you don’t listen and you have contempt for people who are poor, sick or addicted to anything.”

She believes he’s bluffing. It would be almost impossible to burn such a large place down without it appearing suspicious. But he’s planned it well: the missing hubcap, the dust, the dog; and he’s got her attention. She pulls her head out of the sand, and her grief stings like a wasp in her heart.

“I don’t believe you can burn the house down, but,” she pulls out a lace-trimmed handkerchief to dab at the strange drops which dampen her powdered cheeks, “I’ll help for Johnny’s sake. But they’ll be conditions. I’ll run the business affairs and I’ll have the east wing for my living quarters.”

“Done. I have the documents drawn up. Mr. Swan is waiting in the drawing room.”

“I’ll read them carefully before signing.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

  

Vicky Earle Copyright 2018 

Second book in Meg Sheppard series is on its way!

This book follows "What Happened to Frank?" which I'll be reissuing at the same time as my launch of the second book.
Watch for the announcement!

I'm grateful for the assistance of Stone's Throw Publications who have provided excellent services to me in this journey.

I'm thankful to my readers who have encouraged me and helped me to work through self-doubt. And thank you for your patience. This has been a long time coming.

And yes, I'm working on a third book in the series.

The books will be available in print and as e-books.
I will provide all the information soon.

I'm looking forward to hearing your feedback on book 2! 

"The Decision": A story from a racehorse trainer's point-of-view!

This short story was written for a "word challenge" which members of the Uxbridge Writers' Circle often participate in. 
We select words at our meeting and then read our stories which incorporate all these words at the following meeting, a month later. 
The chosen words are in italics. 
What would you have written?



Photo by Gene Devine on Unsplash

A fat rat scampers under the rusty but sturdy metal shed which houses the hay for the five horses I train. The pests are the only ones doing well around here. This racetrack has lost a lot of its dignity, and so have most of the people involved in the horse-racing business.

Where the horses are stabled is the place you notice it the most. If there is any paint left, it’s peeling and flaking, and the old neon lights are flickering - if they work at all. There isn’t a tap that doesn’t leak, and the doors to each barn either won’t move at all or get stuck every other day, requiring a team effort to open or close them.

The race purses have diminished and costs have increased. Foreign workers are hard to come by since the new regulations have come in. Not many locals want to clean out stalls, walk hot horses or groom them, or even ride them.

Every day I ask myself why I’m still in this business, scraping a living, barely making it through each racing season.

That’s not true.

I haven’t examined my reasons for hanging in here until today. And I wish I hadn’t started to think about it: it’s as if my thoughts have entered a labyrinth so complicated and confusing that I’m more conflicted than when I started. I should know better than to try to analyse, in a rational way, why I train racehorses. Horseracing defies logic.

I chuck my empty cup into the garbage and walk down the shedrow past several pairs of bright eyes and large nostrils, towards my area of the barn. One of my five horses whinnies. I like to think that it’s a greeting but I suspect it’s a plea for his grain. Bertie’s racing this afternoon, so hasn’t been fed his lunch. His whinny is half-hearted, though, because he understands he’s going to run. He knows the ropes probably just as well as I do.

I talk to each of them in turn, offering mints which are grabbed by soft, fuzzy muzzles from my outreached palm. I take out the empty feed buckets and as I’m scrubbing them under a tap which refuses to ever be shut off, my thoughts delve back into the labyrinth. My lips are dry and my stomach unsettled. Perhaps I need to get out of this business. The fact that I’m asking questions probably means that my heart isn’t in it any more.

But I can’t think of what I’d do instead. My father was a racehorse trainer. I was immersed in this world from a young age.

When Dad was injured in a car accident, I got my trainer’s licence, graduating from assistant trainer. So, it’s as if this is my heritage.

Dad had been a private trainer for a wealthy family, but I had a falling out with the grandfather, the patriarch. His ideas of horse management and horse care didn’t come up to my standards. So, I became a public trainer. But I only have five horses so far. I’d like twenty. But to get twenty you have to have success. You have to win races and get noticed.

Bertie doesn’t have much of a chance today. The competition has come up tough.

I can hear Sally, my horses’ groom, humming. She dumps a cracked laundry basket on the rubber mat near to the tap and picks up a clean saddle pad. As she folds, she glances at me and asks why I look so glum. Ever the optimist, Sally gets excited about every race. I shrug and put the feed buckets on their hooks handy for later use.

We get Bertie ready and take him over to the paddock for saddling up. I give the jockey a leg-up and Bertie trots almost on the spot, in anticipation. Sally hands him off to the pony who escorts him, in the company of the other nine horses with their ponies, through to the post parade, and on to the starting gate.

I’m at the rail near the finish line and Bertie’s coming around the last turn. Sally and I scream at him, although I doubt he can hear anything of our impassioned encouragement over the thunderous pounding of thirty-six hooves and the explosive puffing of eighteen flared nostrils, all on his tail.  

If Bertie wins, I’m staying in this business: and that’s my final decision.

Vicky Earle Copyright 2018