by Kal Smagh
Across the years it still reached me the same way: excited, hopeful, optimistic. Saying ‘Get With It, Helen! An undiscovered country is right here in your own garden!’
That chord!
Blang!
You might be wondering when I'll get to that beautiful sound. First, I have to tell you about 1963.
The End
And now...an excerpt of the next story in the Cozy Beatles Mystery Series: Mayhem for Her Majesty
read on!
Excerpt from
Mayhem for her majesty
Prologue
Daily Mirror Supplement Online
McCartney Recalls Unsung Hero
Sir Paul McCartney recently recounted memories of his time with the Beatles, identifying an unsung hero no one had heard mentioned in past interviews.
"Helen Spencer was one of those behind-the-scenes people able to work through difficulties supporting the Beatles’ success. She started out as a fan girl in our club, our first Beatles fan club, in Liverpool. She worked for Freda Kelly, the fan club president. I think it was the early sixties when we first met."
When asked what role Helen Spencer played Sir Paul shared, "She was one of these people who could figure out problems and solve them. A big brain. John and I talked about it. It freed us up to write music rather than deal with people stealing things or knocking the band from a playbill, or even dealing with shady Hollywood producers. Helen took care of all those dodgy people as a teenager.”
When asked if it was actually the role of Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ late manager, Paul added, "That’s who Helen was hired by. And she was good. Unbelievably good. Ringo loved her; I remember George teasing her a lot. It was great fun. I don’t know everything she had to go through, but when the Beatles became big, she became big along with us." He added, a twinkle in his eye, “Lots of times she struggled and got in over her head. We all did back then.”
He was asked why her name had never come up before.
"She’s very well-known inside Beatle circles. I’ve lost track of her over the years a little bit, maybe a card during the holidays long ago, but I know wherever she is now she’s probably retired, rich and sunning on a beach."
When asked where he thought she might be, McCartney shared, "It would take a Scotland Yard Inspector to find her."
Sources close to the singer and co-writer of countless number one pop songs including I Want To Hold Your Hand, Hey Jude, and Let It Be, say he's 'interested to know where she is’ and is offering a US $500,000 reward to anyone who can locate her.
At this large sum, his contact with her must be on an important matter, the substance of which he did not elaborate.
Who are you, Helen Spencer? More importantly, where are you?
Sir Paul wants to know!
#
1963.
Uniformed Bobbies with linked arms, tidal waves of boys and girls gasping at a glimpse of the Beatles, raucous rallies of joy and love. Sold out shows nationwide.
Mop tops, shaggy hair and beaming smiles.
Taking the stage, the contrasting black coats and white shirts, the shine on their boots and a burst of heart pounding energy at opening chords played on three guitars and accompanying drums, in harmony.
In London is where they came of age, culminating a frenetic snowball of a year speedily rolling to enormity, exerting a heavenly gravity on the masses.
And for John, Paul, George and Ringo, it was playing for the Queen Mother that almost didn’t happen, because of the powerful men taking action to prevent it.
I was just an eighteen-year-old girl living in Liverpool whose job was to open Beatles Fan Club mail.
Books By This Author
Mayhem for Her Majesty
1963...The Royal Variety Show, London...Super smart Helen is called in to unravel why the Beatles are bumped from playing for the Queen Mother...and who is behind it...can she figure it out in time to save their place in the Show?
The Beverly Hills Beatles Burglary
1964...The Beatles first American tour...Helen must use all her wits, and her mother, to find the people who stole George Harrison's new Rickenbacker 12 string...before the Beatles play at the Hollywood Bowl. Can she sort out the burglary in time to save the tour?
The Beatle Car Bandits
Beatle cars stolen in London...Helen uncovers the plot, and must match wits with mysterious Londoners to foil their plans...or lose the most famous car in the world...can she do it?
Punching Up: A Cozy Beatles Short Story
Super smart Helen is backstage at the Cavern Club on release day for Please Please Me, where the Beatles reveal the identity of their mysterious nemesis.
Acknowledgement
With love and thanks for John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr; and Brian Epstein and Freda Kelly.
Many thanks for their love and support in crafting this fictional story: my teacher of the craft Author Linda Silva; Craig Martelle for his motivating Facebook posts, robust instruction, and being a coordinating influence to indie authors; readers and expert commenters Kim Lynn, Linda Hope, Marilyn Monahan, and Carol Yannarella; for my mom, Willemina, for encouraging me to be artistic, and my father, Malkiat, for being my dad.
Last, for wonderful Loretta, for her encouragement and support and being my lifelong trusted Alpha, and our super sons, Zach and Brian, for knowing more about the Beatles than most.
About The Author
Kal Smagh
A Beatles enthusiast since age ten, and a three year writer for his college humor magazine, Kal grew up in Colorado and lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
He can be reached at [email protected]
A Cozy Beatles Mystery Series
Follow super smart amateur sleuth and Beatles fan club helper Helen Spencer through the 1960s as she solves mysteries for the Beatles...and usually gets in over her head. Whether in Liverpool, London, the USA or everywhere else the Beatles lived, visited and performed, Helen uses her brilliance and persistence to figure problems out and help John, Paul, George and Ringo to bring their music to the world...with hilarious results every step of the way.
Larceny in Liverpool
1962...Liverpool...Who stole the Please Please Me song lyrics? Fan girl Helen helps fun-loving John, Paul, George and Ringo set a trap...can she save their big break?
Mayhem for Her Majesty
1963...London...Super smart Helen is called in to unravel why the Beatles are bumped...from playing for the Queen Mother...it was supposed to be a relaxing weekend in London...can she figure it out in time to save the Beatles' place in the Royal Variety Show, helping them get their big break?
The Beverly Hills Beatles Burglary
1964...Beverly Hills... Helen must use all her wits, and her mother, to find who stole George Harrison's new Rickenbacker 12 string...before the Beatles play at the Hollywood Bowl on their first tour of America.
Can she do it? Can she survive her mother? Will she come through for the Beatles, or will the show fail, and with it Helen's hopes to keep working for the best band in the world?
The Beatle Car Bandits
The Beatle Car Bandits ... Helen moves out of Liverpool as the Beatles move to London...and working with the Beatles she stumbles across a dastardly plot to steal the Beatles' cars ... one at a time or all at once? She's on the case...and she's got one job to do...to match wits with the mysterious car thieves and foil their plot.
She's out on her own now...can she still come through for the Beatles, or will their cars, including John's famous psychedelic Rolls Royce, disappear forever?
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