Welcome to the official website of Veronica M Podbury.
Author of Secrets and the sequel 'Watching'.
Author of Secrets and the sequel 'Watching'.
Veronica on booksI have loved books for as long as I can remember. Even before I could read, I used to hold a book in front of me and pretend to read aloud.
I believe the books we read change us and stay in our minds forever, even when we think we have forgotten them... And on mysteryIt is very important to me that the characters in my books are believable and engage your attention so that you keep turning the pages right through to the end.
Although all the people in my books are fictional, they reflect real life, which is always full of mystery, hidden just beneath the surface of ordinary things. |
Veronica reads an extract from Secrets |
NewsNew Year 2019
Celebrated the New Year watching the fireworks in Philadelphia November 2018 In Ghana, meeting some beautiful people and privileged to be invited to speak in some wonderful churches. October 2018 Walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain - fifteen miles a day, and no blisters! October 2015 Back in America again, this time New Jersey September 2015 Starting to learn Spanish - a completely new language for me! July 2015 Summertime in Northern France - beautiful sunshine, blue sea. June 2015 Just back from visiting Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia. Saw some great re-enactments from the American Revolution. 2015 New Year's Resolution 1: Climb 2 mountains and 2: Learn something new. September 2014 Climbed Snowdon in North Wales- it was hard but wonderful- must climb another mountain soon! July 2014 Sizzling in the sun in Lincolnshire- even my summerhouse in the shade is too hot! Working on my third novel. June 2014 Delighted to publish comments from a talented young student at City of Derby Academy: In school on the 2nd of July we had a visit from an author called Veronica M. Podbury who has written a short series of books called 'Secrets' and 'Watching'. Veronica read out the first few pages of the first book 'Secrets' and we were all hooked! We all buzzed with excitement and felt a little disappointed when she stopped. We urged Veronica to carry on as she left us at such a 'cliff hanger'. It was great to have an author part read a book to us as it gave us the anxiety and apprehension which Veronica intended and it also gave us a chance to ask questions and make comments about the book and for her to answer any questions. This makes reading the book a little more enjoyable. It was also amazing that at lunchtime Veronica held a book-signing and question-asking conference where we could go and buy books and have them signed, as well as ask any questions. It was a marvellous experience and I hope that Veronica comes back and visits us when she publishes her third book. Charley Heelis Form 7J May 2014 Visiting family in Philadelphia and New York, with time to relax on the New Jersey shoreline- the horseshoe crabs are huge! December 27th 2013 In Scotland for mountains, Scottish music and dancing and meeting with parts of my family not seen for too long! Publication Date of new novel "Watching"- 22nd August 2013 "Watching" is another mystery thriller for teenagers. The central character, teenage girl Brooke, encounters an evil network hidden just beneath the surface of a quiet neighbourhood. The foreword is written by the national charity Hope for Justice, which aims to end modern-day slavery. Veronica at Walton Girls School, Grantham 17th July 2013 Spent time with girls in Years 9 and 10, discussing and answering questions on many aspects of reading and creative writing, as well as giving a reading and lunchtime book signing. Veronica on cycling marathon to raise funds for children’s home 30th June 2013 Along with other inexperienced cyclists, Veronica cycled 26miles to raise much-needed funds for children and babies in New Life Homes Trust in Kenya. Along with people at her church, Veronica volunteers at these superb homes which offer love to abandoned babies and children, some with complex health needs. At The Grammar School at Leeds 26th June 2013 Veronica read from her teenage mystery novel “Secrets” to pupils in Year 7 and Year 9 and then led an interactive session as they discussed the plotline of the novel, and other aspects of writing. Pupils took the opportunity for more questions and discussion with Veronica in the library over lunchtime, with the chance to have their own copy of “Secrets” signed. |
Upcoming EventsNovember 10th
Speaking at the historic Davenant Foundation School June 29/30th Speaking at the Arts Festival at English Martyrs School, Leicester Wednesday 25th February Opening New Library Caistor Yarborough School December 11th 2014 St John Fisher Catholic High School Saturday December 2nd 2014 Filey School August 2014 ONE Event , Lincolnshire Showground Saturday 5th July 2014 Ladies' Breakfast, Lincolnshire 25th June 2014 City of Derby Academy Monday 12th May 2014 Creative Writing Week William Farr School, Welton, Lincs Friday 21st March 2014 Caistor Grammar School Wednesday 12th February 2014 The Grammar School at Leeds Wednesday 29th January 2014 Neale Wade Academy, Cambridgeshire Saturday 23rd November 7.30pm The Pudding Club Caistor Arts and Heritage Centre Lincolnshire Thursday 21st November The Newark Academy, Nottinghamshire Wednesday 20th November Caistor Yarborough Academy Thursday 14th November Gateways School, Harewood, Yorkshire Wednesday 16th October 2013 1pm Caistor Library /Arts and Heritage Centre 5th October 2013 1.45-2.45pm Ilkley Literature Festival Fringe More information available www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/fringe/ |
Books by V M Podbury

Truth and lies, love and deception are all tangled together in this mystery on the windswept Yorkshire Moors.
Brooke’s mother has met a man on the internet and is excited about them going to start a new life with him and his son in their isolated cottage. Brooke is wary of Shaun, and suspicious of his changing moods. Then she makes some disturbing discoveries, and is determined to uncover the truth. But how will she convince her mother, who is blinded by love?
Alone and afraid, Brooke meets a Gypsy girl and her brother out on the moor who promise to help, but can they be trusted?
Buy Secrets in paperback on Amazon
Buy Secrets Kindle edition on Amazon
Brooke’s mother has met a man on the internet and is excited about them going to start a new life with him and his son in their isolated cottage. Brooke is wary of Shaun, and suspicious of his changing moods. Then she makes some disturbing discoveries, and is determined to uncover the truth. But how will she convince her mother, who is blinded by love?
Alone and afraid, Brooke meets a Gypsy girl and her brother out on the moor who promise to help, but can they be trusted?
Buy Secrets in paperback on Amazon
Buy Secrets Kindle edition on Amazon

Things are never quite what they seem, as Brooke discovers when she goes to live with her grandmother and begins to suspect that the quiet neighbourhood hides a dark secret. As more evidence of this underworld comes to light, she realises that she and those close to her are in danger. Shocked by what she is finding, she realises this network may even involve her family and close friends.
Watching is the exciting sequel to author Veronica M. Podbury's first novel, Secrets, but this teenage thriller is itself a complete novel, dealing with another reality hidden just beneath the surface of everyday life. Brooke and her friend Greg must show courage as they face some awful truths, knowing that they must find out who is hidden behind the locked door of the last house on Albert Street.
Foreword written by Hope for Justice, the UK charity working to end slavery and people-trafficking
Watching is available in both paperback and Kindle edition from Amazon and all good bookshops.
Watching is the exciting sequel to author Veronica M. Podbury's first novel, Secrets, but this teenage thriller is itself a complete novel, dealing with another reality hidden just beneath the surface of everyday life. Brooke and her friend Greg must show courage as they face some awful truths, knowing that they must find out who is hidden behind the locked door of the last house on Albert Street.
Foreword written by Hope for Justice, the UK charity working to end slavery and people-trafficking
Watching is available in both paperback and Kindle edition from Amazon and all good bookshops.