[Francis Vivian, writer of popular fiction, author of the Inspector Knollis mysteries.] Typed Letter Signed to Eileen Cond, assessing his books and giving a synopsis of forthcoming story ‘The Frog was Yellow’.

An excellent letter to enthusiastic autograph collector Eileen Margaret Cond (1911-1984). It shows Cond’s ability to draw a more than perfunctory response from her targets. 1p, 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and folded for postage. Signed ‘Francis Vivian’. He is ‘very grateful’ for her ‘appeciation of my book, The Three Short Men. I have to confess that I thoroughly enjoyed writing it, even though both Pam and Hathersage at times refused to obey my orders, and went their own sweet way. I hope to revive their adventures in the autumn of next year.’ He is glad she ‘missed’ his ‘Black Alibi’: ‘It is my worst book, although it has sold well to the cheaper libraries.’ He reports: ‘A new Vivian appeared ten days ago, entitled Dark Moon. It is a story of the occult, Satanism, and witchcraft, staged on the Derbyshire moors, and may or may not go down well with Vivian readers.’ He is working on ‘a story for early spring publication, THE FROG WAS YELLOW. You are the first to know about it now! It deals with the death of Mrs. Georgie St. Dane, of Black Canons, and the inevitable investigation. She was a crusader, and sponsor of lost causes. She tried to reform the Women’s Institute, organised a Health-Through-Breathing Society, went into action against the Howard League of Penal Reform and finally interfered when she discovered that her brother was interested in the Freedom Movement in Nazi Germany. She died. The stone frog on the marge of the Long Pond saw it all, but was yellow, and wd not talk.’