House with Two Letter-Boxes

Set in the North East of England, these are dark, dangerous and witty tales of a close-knit community. Here, neighbours have sharp tongues, suspicious minds and hidden talents. This a place where money doesn't grow on trees and where women and girls endure a damn sight more than anyone should have to. But kindness can still come from unexpected quarters...Also available in Audiobook form (Audible, Amazon, Apple)Janet H Swinney was born and grew up in the North East of England, when soot, formica and winkle punkers were all the rage; when it was actually compulsory to smoke on buxes, and packets of crisps used to have blue twists of salt inside them! Extracts:From story 'Mr Singer's Empire'"e;I'll just give it a once-over,"e; the man said. "e;Call us Victor, by the way. I don't like to be too formal."e; "e;Eee, well, I don't know, Mister,"e; her Mam said."e;It was the full service you were after, eh?"e; His words were freighted with a meaning Sheena couldn't quite identify but knew she didn't like."e;Why, that's what I thought. It hasn't been used for a long time,"e; her Mam replied."e;No man about the house, eh?"e;Her Mam hesitated. "e;No, I'm a widow."e;"e;It's a joke, pet. No offence."e;Her Mam looked at him sourly. "e;Shall I put the kettle on, then, while you see what the matter is."e;The man ran his hand through his hair."e;I'm not interested in tea, pet. Do you get me drift?"e;Sheena strained to getter a better look. It was hard to tell, but her Mam seemed to be confused. This was a phenomenon rarely seen and never discussed."e;Why, you'd better get straight on with it, then,"e; her Mam said.The man leaned closer in to her and placed his hand on her arm. Sheena saw her Mam bridle."e;I'm not really interested in the machine either, pet. What is it? Some antiquated thing you've had in a cupboard gathering dust?"e;"e;It was me mother's machine,"e; her Mam said. "e;There's many a canny thing been made on that in its day: me Da's shirts for one, and the bairns' clothes for Sunday school, even my wedding dress come to that. Me mother took very good care of it when she was alive."e; Sheena could see her Mam's eyes glittering in the yellow glow from the scullery."e;So what is it then, a treadle?"e;"e;No, it's not. It's a manual. It's got a shuttle case that looks like bullet..."e;"e;That's called a boat shuttle, pet,"e; the man said."e;...and it's got a decorative plate on the end, above where the needle is."e; "e;It's probably a 127,"e; the man said. "e;Worthless, man. Ye know, Mr Singer produced masses of these things. The British Empire's full of them. You can be sure there's nothing special about yours."e;Again, Sheena got that sense of something being said that was not a matter of the words that were actually spoken.