Tag Archives: Second World War

New Cat, New Editor and New Book

I feel awful not having written anything on this blog since the beginning of the year. It’s been a very worrying time, owing to my sister, Carole, being dangerously ill whilst waiting for a heart operation. She’s finally had the surgery and is now back in her own home after five whole months away. I’m so relieved and happy to report that she is doing remarkably well and has recovered her independence.

However, I have some catching up to do in my writing, not only on the current work in progress, but here on my blog, so I do hope you are still around and reading this one. As the title suggests, life has to carry on whatever the difficulties.

Betsy

In January, the local rescue centre rang to see if I would be interested in a mature cat who came in over Christmas and needed a loving home. Of course, I said yes, as I missed my little Bella terribly. Already left with only one eye and lopped ears from tumours when she lived with her previous owner, Bella was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. Going to sleep permanently was a release for her. Now, Betsy, a tabby, has come to live with me. She has the same gentle nature as Bella, but what a different character. She acts like she’s two instead of ten, always jumping and rushing and demanding. But by the sound of her purr when she’s on my lap, she loves being with me and I love having her.

In May, my editor rang to say she was leaving Avon HarperCollins and going alone as a freelance editor. I’ve had many different editors in the past decade. They’ve all been extremely professional as well as warm and friendly but it’s always a bit concerning to have to begin with a new editor as they play an important part in an author’s career. I shouldn’t have worried. I’ve met Billy, my new editor, on Zoom who comes across in the usual Avon style with enthusiasm and efficiency, so I’m hoping this will prove a good relationship for both of us.

Many people tell me that their summer holiday is the only time they manage to read, so I’d like to mention my new book, out on 17^th July, called The Wartime Librarian’s Secret. This time, I’ve modelled the setting on the famous country house, Longleat, near Bath. I think some of its fame comes from the highly regarded safari park – in fact, I read in a recent travel article in the Telegraph about the best leisure parks in the country and Longleat won hands down as the overall winner. However, during the war the safari park didn’t exist. What did exist was a temporary military hospital in the grounds and therein lay a perfect foil to my heroine’s new place of work in the mansion itself. I won’t say anything further, but I hope this snippet has whetted your interest.

If you’ve only been to the Safari Park at Longleat, I urge you to walk round the stunning house, and even better if you can join a guided tour with one of the knowledgeable staff, where you’ll learn some fascinating historical details, some of which I’ve incorporated in this latest novel.

Happy reading throughout what I hope will prove a wonderful summer.

Molly

Trains, Bath and books

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The four Diamonds

Well, looking out of my First Class compartment window (many of you will know I now write my novels in a 1930’s replica of a railway carriage in the garden), one would never know it’s summer by the temperature and gloomy grey skies. I just hope it improves as I have lovely summery events coming up soon: two trips to Glyndebourne, one of them on my birthday to see The Merry Widow which I know well, having sung in the chorus many years ago in an amateur operatic production, and I’m presenting my garden to the public on the 23^rd so it really must keep fine that week – for all of us!

My writing friends who, with me, formed the Diamonds writing group ten years ago, decided to have a day out as when we meet each month, it’s always to concentrate on our work in progress. We decided to go by Pullman train to Bath (my selfish suggestion as my new heroine is an assistant librarian in the Bath Lending Library). What a fabulous train. As you can see from the photograph at the top, here are the four of us lapping up the luxury. We were waited on hand and foot.

Inside the Pullman coach

It was ages since any of us had visited Bath, so how lovely to wander round and become reacquainted with the stunning buildings and quaint shops.

We looked in at the Pump Room (where my current novel opens!) and I was able to have a chat with a waiter who’d been there for 25 years and was very aware of its history, and then made for Persephone Books which moved from Bloomsbury in London three years ago.

Just walking through the door, I felt completely at home, as the store is laid out in a similar fashion. I’m a big fan of this company that reprints authors – mainly female – who were well-known in their time but fell out of fashion over the following decades. Nicola Beauman, founder and owner, now on the brink of handing the reins to her daughter, was there to greet me with a big hug. It was wonderful catching up with her and of course I couldn’t leave without a bagful of books, and neither could any of the other Diamonds.

In Ringmer (near Lewes) where I now live, I made fast friends with Liz, the librarian. She’s given me some fascinating details about cataloguing during the war. The system was devised in 1876 and we still use it today. Even better, she put my name down as a volunteer in the library for a couple of afternoons, just to get a flavour of being behind the counter.

My only experience of working in a ‘library’ was when I was about 6 years old and my older sister cut out a potato which, when inked, was used as a stamp for the books, representing their return date! A sharp contrast to the computer. It was such a jolly afternoon meeting some really interesting borrowers although libraries nowadays are so different. For one thing, you’re allowed to talk in them! The heartwarming part was the children choosing their books. They were much more focused on what they wanted to read than the adults! I can’t wait for the second session in July.

Photo by Comstock on Freeimages.com

In the meantime, I must check the proofs of the next novel out on 26th September: Courage for the Cabinet Girl. This is set in Winston Churchill’s underground War Rooms. He conducted practically the whole of the war from his Cabinet Room. If you’ve never been there, I do urge you to go. You’ll find it incredibly atmospheric and full of fascinating detail.

Happy summer reading,
Molly

Marching into Spring

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Good morning, everyone. It’s hard to believe it’s almost spring when I look out of my office window where rain is hurtling down and it’s still cold. But I’m lovely and toasty in my railway carriage where I write.

Bella, my elderly rescued cat, finally plucked up the courage to come and see me in the carriage and when she visits, she likes to jump onto the train seat. I’ve prepared it in advance for any wet paws by unfolding an old sheet across it. She then curls up to nap for a few hours (that’s her definition of a nap!) until I emerge needing coffee. (photo attached)

I’ve written the first draft of a new novel which I’ve just finished editing for the umpteenth time. This last edit was serious as it was the one my critique writing partner, thriller and historical fiction writer Alison Morton, meticulously went through, leaving a trail of red-penned alterations and suggestions.

My heroine, Katie, is a secretary, nursing a devastating personal secret, and lands a job in Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms in Whitehall. It’s a wonderfully claustrophobic atmosphere for a novelist to explore and perfect for secrets to be kept under wraps (though not always successfully!) and romantic liaisons to develop!

I’m thinking about the next novel after this. As an author, it’s wise to have at least one good idea ahead of your current one. This time, the setting will be on a country estate, requisitioned for more than one other purpose. Because of the war, a twist of fate will bring my new heroine and hero into contact with one another. That’s all I’m up to in my head and I have to trust myself that I can write it and my publishers will eventually transform it into an engaging historical novel.

This requires lots of research but I can’t pretend

it’s a chore. I love research. I’ve learnt so much about the women I write who did unusual jobs in the Second World War, mostly through their published memoirs, so I’m confident I’m writing straight from the heart on behalf of these marvellous women. And my goodness, the more I uncover, the more there is to learn! But if by reading my novels, a reader gains some insight into the kinds of difficult situations these women, sometimes still in their ‘teens, faced, then I consider my job worthwhile.

And lastly, if anyone lives in the Wandsworth area and would like to come to my talk on Bletchley Park to be held on 4^th April in the Avery Care Home, do get in touch.

That’s it from me. Happy reading!

Molly Green