Tag Archives: Wartime Librarian

Cats and books go together

Surprise reader of the Wartime Librarian

The long, hot summer gradually came to an end and as I write this, today is the Autumn equinox. For many of us, there will be a sigh of relief – me for one, typing away in my railway carriage in the garden, and having to give up by noon. And when the longed-for rain finally happened, I have a green lawn again. Wonderful! And now we have the beautiful autumn to enjoy.

For those who live anywhere around East Sussex – I’m near Lewes – you must go to Alfriston and visit Much Ado, a gem of a bookshop. It really is the most charming bookshop I’ve ever been in, with one exception. When I was in Savannah a few years ago, my nephew, Adam, took me to a bookshop he knew I would love. It’s set out in a quaint and similar fashion to Much Ado but has three sofas in three different areas, all occupied by a resident cat. So you can take a book you’re interested in and flip through it, all the while stroking a cat, with that gorgeous sound of purring in your ears. Heaven! I must tell the owner of Much Ado next time I visit that cats are the only thing missing in his shop!

Earlier this month, I arrived at the University Women’s Club in Mayfair where I met fellow member, Alison Morton, my critique writing partner. Although she lives in France, this one night coincided with her short stay at the Club before going on to her crime fiction weekend at St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford, so it was great to have supper and a good natter.

Port Isaac writers

The following day, I was on my way to Port Isaac – the sweetest little village. I met up with two writing friends: Suzanne Goldring who owns a cottage a mere stroll from that stunning bay where each programme of Doc Martin opens, and Gail Aldwin. Sadly, our fourth member of the Vestas, Carol McGrath, couldn’t join us as her husband Patrick had recently died. We had a week beavering away at our novels and other writing, then using the afternoon tea-breaks to read out our chapters and Gail’s short play and critique them.

I’m delighted to say that while I was there I wrote the first five chapters of a brand-new novel set in the Second World War (as mine all are) at the BBC. That one won’t be out until Summer 2028, but the one I’m editing at the moment: Wartime Secrets at Down Street Station comes out next May. As I write this, Avon HarperCollins are designing the cover so I hope to give you a foretaste the next time I write a blogpost.

Forgive me if I do a little bragging, but the last time I checked on Amazon to see how my current book, Wartime Wishes at the Mayfair Club (modelled on the University Women’s Club) was doing in the Historical Military Fiction Top 50 Bestsellers, I was amazed to see six of my books in the first 40. This is truly a record for me and I’m so thrilled readers seem to be enjoying my stories as much as I love writing them.

I really like it when other authors tell me what novels they’ve been reading lately and can vouch for, but have to confess I read 90% non-fiction – not all, but mostly for research. And I could recommend almost every one! That’s a hugely enjoyable part of being a writer, uncovering fascinating facts you knew nothing about. And on that note, I’ll say:

Happy reading to you all.

Molly Green

Merry Christmas to you all!

7 Replies

Christmas tree I think this every year, but how can it possibly be almost Christmas? Where has the year gone?

However, this has proved a very difficult year for me with my sister, Carole, being seriously ill for the first six months and then most of the last part of this year recovering, but she’s in much better shape now which is a huge relief. I was happy to be in the audience watching and listening to her singing carols in her local Lewes choir. What a wonderful recovery she’s made.

But last month, I fell over onto my face, my cheek slamming onto the tarmac outside Clapham Junction, of all places, on the way to see my 96-year-old aunt in a care home in Wandsworth.

When I walked into the foyer bleeding hand, swollen and bruised eye and cheek, sprained wrist and very shaken, I asked if they had a vacant room I could sign for! They did rush a nurse over to see me and she patched me up, assuring me I hadn’t broken anything. So quite honestly, I shan’t be too upset to see the back end of this year and can say that managing to do some writing whenever I had a spare hour helped keep me – well, sane.

But it’s not all been bad. It’s always exciting to have a new book out and my latest, The Wartime Librarian’s Secret, was published in June. Just after that date, I gave a talk at the University Women’s Club in Mayfair on some iconic buildings I’ve used in my novels. I finished by telling the audience that my next book would be set in this very club where I’ve been a member for over 30 years.

Its title is Wartime Secrets at the Mayfair Club with the strapline The Mayfair Ladies’ Club survived the Blitz – but can it survive betrayal? and will be out on 4th June 2026. I’ve just submitted it to my editor at Avon HarperCollins.

I also can’t believe I’ve had my little rescue cat, Betsy, for almost a year. She settled in very quickly, but she never comes to my railway carriage in the garden where I write, the way my previous cat used to. She put her head in the door once, and walked up and down once, and that was it. She prefers to sleep in her own bedroom – on the guest bed, of course.

Photo of Betsy the cat

There’s only one more thing to say, Dear Reader – whenever Christmas gets on top of you, tuck into a quiet corner with a new book and I guarantee after an hour (if you can get away with it) you will feel refreshed and ready to face it all again.

New Cat, New Editor and New Book

2 Replies

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