Leslie Scase Author

  Highlight of the week was abviously Wales winning 7-1, but coming second was the arrival of a proof copy of Pagan Rite. Its the first time I've ever had a proof copy of one of my books. In the past it's always been a last minute rush by the publishers to get vaguely near the launch date. With this book I've got several months to make any changes before the 1st March 2026. Couldn't wait to take it indoors to open it, so that's my garage workbench in case you were wondering (who uses their garage for keeping a car in?)

  Always a joy to pop across the border to visit Llangollen yesterday. A lovely little town and the scenery on the drive is wonderful. River in full spate but still some hardy souls in Kayaks riding the rapids.

  This is a poster from a little later than Chard's time as the proprietor has changed from the redoubtable Mrs Miles. Whilst I'm posting, I did mention a while back that I might be at the Storyville Christmas Book Fair in Pontypridd in December. Sadly, after realising the impossibility of getting there in time (including parking) for a 1030 start, I passed on my booking to G B Williams (Gail) a Crime Cymru friend,. Do pop by and say hello. That means my last trip to South Wales this side of Christmas will be to Cardiff by train at the end of November for a midday meet-up for a rare Crime Cymru face to face gathering. On a final note, I also mentioned some time ago that Pagan Rite will definitely be the final Inspector Chard novel and that the previously envisaged sixth book won't be written. Suffice it to say that I'm having my arm twisted. So far I haven't given in, but you never know. Let's leave it at that.

In Fatal Solution we find the mining village of Cilfynydd. As you can see the term village doesn't quite conjure up the right image for most of these 'mining villages' were more like small towns. (Credit to Roger Cheeseman who is adept at colouring these images).

 Just saw a newspaper article from 1918 on a local history site. It referred to a new railway station to be built at Treforest. Initial impact - aargh, did I get it wrong? Thankfully no. The article referred to a proposed new one by a different company. The TVR station was built in 1847. Phew..... 

  Sometimes authors of historical fiction can be accused of stretching credibility too far, but often truth is stranger than fiction. I was tempted (when writing Sabrina's Teardrop in particular) to put a couple of gadgets at Chard's disposal but restrained myself. Here's one which was considered, brought to my attention via a post by one of my favourite sites (the Virtual Museum of Police in Wales. )some time ago :- This newspaper article comes from 1897........................ BETTER THAN THE TRUNCHEON. In the midst of the discussion as to the best means of dealing with the street ruffian, Mr. Frank Garrett, of Armscote Manor, Stratford, appropriately puts forward the claims of a new weapon, which he has patented, and which he suggests should be placed in the hands of every policeman. Mr. Garrett's invention is a small revolver-shaped instrument, which discharge fluid instead of lead, and the idea is to disable the assailant by directing the charge into the eyes. It...

  I like libraries, I always have; at least the quiet ones. This one is probably the best I've visited. Built on the site of a Victorian one. It's at Hawarden. What's the relevance to my writing? If you know, you know