Dear Sir,
Phone Call from Matthew Kelly
The debut novella, The Valley of Vengeance, written by local author Leonard B. Williams, is a true work of passion. That passion began in 2004 when Matthew Kelly graced the stage at Darlington Civic Theatre with his award-winning performance as Lenny in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men.
Matthew, best known as the host of the classic television show Stars in Their Eyes and the famous catchphrase, “Tonight, Matthew, I’m going to be…”, is just as comfortable on stage as he is in front of the camera. In 2004, alongside George Costigan, he delivered a remarkable performance that further established his reputation as a talented actor, earning widespread acclaim and contributing to his Olivier Award-winning career.
The performance in Darlington was unforgettable. There was a lump in everyone’s throat as the audience rose to their feet in rapturous applause. For Leonard, it was more than just a performance—it was the inspiration for a journey that would eventually lead to the creation of The Valley of Vengeance.
Inspired by the story, Leonard began researching 1930s America and the migration of thousands of people from Oklahoma to the so-called “Land of Plenty” in California’s fertile valleys. As his research deepened, he started developing his own story set during that era of hardship, loss, and struggle.
However, it was not until 2020 that the manuscript was finally completed. Leonard entered the draft into the Page Turner Awards, where it was nominated as a finalist. Earlier this year, the book was published on Amazon as a Kindle edition before being released in paperback format.
As a gesture of thanks, Leonard sent a copy of the book to Matthew Kelly. Then, one afternoon, completely out of the blue, Matthew personally telephoned Leonard to congratulate him, telling him how much he had enjoyed reading it.
“What a fantastic story. A true labour of love.”
Matthew was warmly thanked for the inspiration he unknowingly provided all those years ago on a stage in Darlington, setting in motion a journey that would culminate in the publication of The Valley of Vengeance.
The Valley of Vengeance is now available on Amazon. Search for the title and author, Leonard B. Williams.
Name and address supplied.