Tag Archives: women in war

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

Accidents will happen!

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Since I wrote my Spring blogpost, it must have only been days later that I had a horrible accident. I’m almost too ashamed to tell you what happened. I was doing a Pilates exercise in the kitchen showing off to my friend that even at my age I could stand on one leg for more than the 10 seconds Dr Michael Mosley said we should do whilst cleaning our teeth. I dropped my leg down after about 30 seconds of near-perfect balance and told my friend I could have gone on longer. So far so good.

Then she said, ‘Have you ever tried it with your eyes closed?’ I hadn’t. But instead of grounding myself first and making sure there was something solid close by – just in case – I simply closed eyes and raised leg at the same time, immediately overbalancing backwards. Trying to save myself, I slid helplessly across the floor, ending in a heap by the sink. From there it was the ambulance to the A&E and an X-ray. The doctor informed me I had a tiny hairline crack in one of my vertebrae. I said, ‘That’s good, it’ll soon heal then.’ She said, ‘Unfortunately, it’s enough to give you severe pain for the next few weeks, and then it will be 6 months getting back to normal and could even take up to a year.’ Grrrrr. I’m giving it 6 months max.

The good thing is that after the first fortnight, I’m writing as much every day as I usually do. In fact, my writing has been the one thing that stopped me from slumping into despair. With the help of a steady supply of painkillers at the beginning, I could lose myself in my characters and the many problems I threw at them. I am also exceptionally lucky to have my dear group of friends, close at hand, who cook for me, chauffeur me, and generally keep me cheerful. And I’m sure I wouldn’t have recovered this much by now if it wasn’t for Emily, my fantastic physiotherapist turning up every week at my house and showing me Pilates exercises, pressing into the trigger points and having me shouting with agony, then giving me a heavenly massage. This has not been via the NHS – they said I had to wait 5 weeks and then go to Brighton for just three sessions. But as I could hardly move, I couldn’t see how I could manage any kind of transport. Enough of that!

My latest book, Wartime Secrets at the Mayfair Club, has just been published (Tesco is selling the special Fern Britton recommendation with extra material at the back), so it’s exciting to see it fly from my computer to the shelves. My fictional club is modelled on the beautiful Georgian building that accommodates the University Women’s Club (UWC) in Mayfair, London, of which I’ve been a member for over 30 years. It was open every day to its 1500 members right through the Blitz until the end of the war, providing shelter and friendship as it still does today. Thankfully, the Club wasn’t bombed although some nearby buildings were damaged or destroyed.

But it was the lamp post a few feet away from the entrance that I’d just discovered held a wartime secret which gave me the inspiration to write this book. This time I’ve cautiously dipped my toe into spy world and absolutely loved writing it, even though I kept hearing the voice of Emma, my editor, in my ears saying, ‘Don’t make this a spy novel, Molly.’ Surprised, I answered, ‘No, of course not – I wouldn’t know how.’ I will leave it to you, the Reader, to judge whether I (more or less) kept to my word.

If you’re anywhere near Lewes on Saturday, 25th July at 2.30, I’m giving a talk at Ringmer Village Hall on some of the wild and wonderful research I do for my novels It’s only a fiver and that includes tea and homemade cakes. A real bargain, though I modestly say it myself!

Molly Green holding Wartime Secrets at the Mayfair Club in Tesco, Lewes

People sometimes ask which book has been my favourite to write. I’ve loved writing every single one but if I have to choose, it’s always the one I’m writing at this very moment! This happens to take place deep within a disused underground station in 1940 and I’m enjoying the research and the writing immensely. This one will be out in the summer of 2027.

So for now, settle down on a sunbed with a large hat to shade your face, and a long, cool drink topped with one of those little floating umbrellas by your side, relax and enjoy a wonderful summer of reading – and if you begin to drift, I give you full permission to close your eyes . . . but be sure to have something solid close by to hold onto!

Molly Green

Cats and Books – what a combination!

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How is it possible that our lovely summer has already slipped into Autumn? And this time it was even more of a shock because the glorious weather had just turned a whole lot cooler. Luckily, for me, my Grecian writing retreat was just around the corner.

And what a (re)treat! Our small writing group was unfortunately one down (Suzanne Goldring couldn’t make it), but Carol McGrath, owner of a property in the sun-drenched, stunning coastline of the Mani, was a great hostess to Gail Aldwin and me in spite of having recently undergone a major operation. The four of us have annually (when possible) come together to write in The Greek House, sight-see, eat delicious food and share wine, shop (difficult to resist the colourful clothes at bargain prices), and relax in the blissful warmth of a summer evening.

This time we went to an unusual concert in the mountains, given by three vibrant young women who played different instruments and sang in 28 languages. Their voices in perfect harmony were magical. With all this going on, you’d think we’d have no time left to write. Wrong! We managed several hours every day, and at four o’clock we’d meet for tea and homemade scones (by me!) and read out our chapters and critique them. It works like a dream. I wrote 11,000 words – a record in 7 days for me. No matter that I deleted at least a thousand when I was home. That’s all part of the writing process.

In August, I gave a talk at the University Women’s Club where I’ve been a member for over thirty years. The subject was some of the iconic buildings I’ve used for my settings in my novels. It was the first time I’ve ever used a projector and screen and although I’d practised under the instructions of author Alison Morton (also a member), who kindly put the slide show together, I was still nervous on the night.

Of course, technology sometimes acts up (not my fault, of course!) but gave the audience a few laughs – never a bad thing at a talk. I was surprised so few of the women (there were only two men in the audience) had been to Bletchley Park and Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms, so I’m hoping my books on those subjects will inspire them to pay a visit.

One of the slides I showed was Longleat, near Bath. It’s been on the television several times lately but mostly commentating on the grounds and the history of the world-famous safari. However, during the war the safari didn’t exist. The Marquis of Bath was requested by the War Ministry to take in a private school called The Royal School for Daughters of the Officers of the Army. I read a memoir of one of the girls who attended there during the war. A spoilt and rebellious child, she was eventually expelled.

The Marquis also gave permission for the Americans to build an American military hospital in the grounds. Perfect! I now had an American doctor who would be the hero, working and living in a conglomeration of hurriedly built huts, and my heroine would be in the grand house as the librarian.

Throw the rebellious teen (they didn’t use the term ‘teenager’ in the war) into the mix and I had the fragments of a story which became The Wartime Librarian’s Secret, published last July. You can see how it appeals to cats as well as readers!

The penultimate building I showed was the club itself. I told them this is the setting I’ve chosen for my latest book, out next June. It’s called Wartime Secrets at the Mayfair Club: The Ladies’ Mayfair Club survived the Blitz – but can it survive betrayal?

Just days ago I wrote THE END on a very rough draft, but at least the story is down so I’m able to enjoy all the editing it needs before submission. This time I’m tiptoeing into spy-land and have discovered another piece of history – namely the British Union of Fascists – that I never realised was quite so widespread and so treacherous, and that if Oswald Mosley and his tens of thousands of supporters had been successful, they could have completely changed the outcome of the war.

* * *

If anyone is near Lewes, East Sussex on Saturday, 15th November, do come to a talk I’m giving in the library located at Styles Field, Friar’s Walk, 1.30 – 3pm and signing copies of The Wartime Librarian’s Secret. I would love to see you so please introduce yourself if you do. There will be a similar slide show to the one in the UWC and you’ll have the chance to see the last slide which is actually a video made especially for me showing the ultimate iconic building – where I write!
Until next time, happy reading.

Molly Green

New Cat, New Editor and New Book

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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

Happy New Year!

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How can this possibly be, that it’s already the New Year. I’ve been busy with writing and writing-related events since my last book, Courage for the Cabinet Girl, was published at the end of September: a talk in Ringmer village hall where as many as 50 people came; a double-page spread in December’s Writing Magazine: Shelf Life, about 5 different books that had a bearing on my writing life so far, kicking off with an Enid Blyton, because that’s how my imagination was ignited, and a live radio interview by the delightful Kathy Harding on Seahaven FM in Seaford.

The radio interview was interspersed with six songs I chose that have been important to me. Ever since my teens when I first heard the programme Desert Island Discs I’ve secretly yearned to be a guest on the show, but even more secretly knowing I would never be famous enough. But this was even better, I told Kathy, because she played the songs all the way through. You don’t get that on Desert Island Discs as Cher found out when she was a recent guest and chose for her first piece the very same song I had chosen as my first: Procol Harum’s A Whiter Shade of Pale. Kathy and I had so much fun that hour, hooting with laughter as I relived chunks of what people tell me has been an adventurous life.

One evening in Lewes, I bumped into an unknown (to me) woman who told me she was in a book club and coincidentally, they’d picked Courage for the Cabinet Girl as their next book to read before the meeting in November. I felt really honoured, especially when she asked if I would come along and talk to them. They meet in the cinema complex called the Depot, so on the appointed day, I and half a dozen women sat round a table discussing the characters and their motives, the author’s intentions – all kinds of angles. They’d obviously ingested the story and moreover could recall it – mostly agreeing, but sometimes amusingly arguing about things I would never have thought of. It was such an interesting experience and a real treat to meet a handful of my readers.

The icing on the cake was when one of the book club ladies happened to mention that Vera Lynn’s daughter had handed into the local hospice shop some more items of clothing, accessories and photographs. Next morning at 9am sharp, I was looking in the window and spotted one of her coats, a soft mohair in dusky pink and slate blue in an indistinct, large check pattern. I was sure it would fit me and so it did! Every time I wear it someone stops me and admires it. When I tell them it once belonged to that wonderful singer, they are flabbergasted.

But these last weeks haven’t all been book related and happy. I had to have my dear little cat, 14-year-old Bella, put to sleep. I’d only had her for fifteen months. She had cancer of the tongue. She’d already had one eye removed and the tips of both ears lopped off before she came to me – all because of tumours. I miss her every single day. She had the loudest purr I’ve ever heard and was so loving and communicative. It’s made a huge hole without her, so I’m determined to have another furry friend who at this very minute might be waiting anxiously to be rescued. I’m hoping this will be as early as possible in the New Year.

By the end of 2024, I had had six lots of company between August and then. But all of them turned out well and we’ve had a lot of fun. And in early December, I glammed up for a Christmas party in London given by my publishers, Avon HarperCollins. It’s always lovely to touch base with such a friendly and professional team who turn my stories into beautiful books, not to mention catching up with the other authors.

And finally, I wish you, dear Reader, and all your family, a very Happy New Year.

Back with you very soon!

Molly Green

Where I write

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Well, summer has endeavoured to arrive on a number of occasions but just as suddenly disappeared into pouring rain, but this week looks much warmer and drier. My rain garden is quite happy though and the flowers and grasses have shot up. The exciting thing for me in the garden is the flowering of my three newly planted magnolia trees. They’re the ones I remember when I lived in Georgia, USA some decades ago. When the flowers are fully out, they look like gorgeous creamy-white satin bows.

Those of you who read my posts know that I do my writing in my railway carriage, specially built by my two artisan builders. Here is the latest photograph taken when the flowers first bloomed in early ‘summer’. I still haven’t got over the novelty of sitting in the First-Class compartment, having my coffee or cup of tea, reading over the latest chapter or one of my research books, then walking through the partition into the office section where the ‘real’ work continues.

My latest novel: Courage for the Cabinet Girl is out next month, 26^th September. My heroine, Katie, trained as a secretary and wanting to do her bit in the war, grasps the opportunity to work in the mysterious underground maze of the Cabinet War Rooms, not realising at first that this is where Winston Churchill directed the entire Second World War. I’ve really enjoyed writing this particular novel (actually, I’ve loved writing all of them!) because Mr Churchill plays a leading part – he would, wouldn’t he? It’s been such fun writing dialogue in the way he used to speak to various members of the staff, his idiosyncratic and volatile personality bursting through, all too often to the chagrin of the recipient.

I’m giving a talk on the novel and how I did my research on publication day itself at Waterstones in Lewes on Thursday, 26^th September, from 6 -7pm. If you happen to be in the area, I’d love it if you could join us, as meeting my readers is so rewarding and spurs me on to write the next novel! The event is bookable through Waterstones website and the £5 ticket price will be deducted from the price of the book, should you decide to buy one. And just today the manager told me he would provide a welcoming glass of wine!

Hope to see some of you there.

Molly’s carriage in summer

Until next time, happy reading.

Molly Green

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

Where has 2023 gone?

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It seems impossible that Christmas is almost upon us. Every year I say this, but this year, really, how on earth did a whole year slip away while I wasn’t looking. Next year I’m determined to hang on to it.

To update you on my books, my last Bletchley Park novel in the series: Wartime Wishes at Bletchley Park, came out at the end of November in time, I hope, for readers to curl up for some relaxation during all the mad preparations for Christmas and over the festivities.

On Saturday I gave a talk at Ringmer Village Hall (near Lewes, Sussex) about how I do my research for my historical novels. When I’d spread all my novels out on the table I could hardly believe there were twelve, especially as I was such a late starter – just turned 60!

Once again I had a super audience who were laughing along with all my experiences that I went through to exploit for authenticity in my novels. I described going on a cargo ship as one of my modern heroines, Juliet, did when she followed in her grandparents footsteps to Australia. They had emigrated in 1913 when they were only nineteen and twenty years of age and had just become engaged and were in steerage on a magnificent ship called the Orsova. I based it on my own grandparents who did exactly the same thing just before the Great War.

Another experience was piloting a Spitfire! Yes, you read it here! All right, it was a simulator but it felt absolutely real to me. I’m not keen on flying generally but felt I had to appreciate how it felt to be in control for the sake of my heroine in A Sister’s Courage where Raine joined the Air Transport Auxiliary and flew many different planes in wartime. It was a fabulous experience. The Spitfire was so sensitive to every movement and seemed to work out what I wanted it to do before I knew myself! The instructor assured me every detail was exactly the same, even to the smell of the cockpit.

And a third example was when my late husband and I went to Ditchley Park on a Churchill tour and we slept in Clemmie Churchill’s bedroom and enjoyed her huge en-suite bathroom. Apparently, her bath was bigger than Winston’s so he often used to come in from his adjoining room and use it! So, reader, Molly Green was only a watermark away from the great man’s posterior!

In a strange way it’s easier to write novels when one has had plenty of life’s experiences. I’ve had a life full of adventures and almost always have something to draw on, particularly the emotions that have accompanied my travels and meetings with people from different backgrounds, sometimes foreign, and in unusual work places – all grist for a novelist.

Denise's 1st class compartment And my job is made even more fun nowadays as my fantastically-creative builders have now finished my new office in the garden – a First Class carriage with a real 30’s train door! I can’t wait to get in there each morning and start writing! This time I’m revealing a young woman’s life as a secretary in Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms during the Second World War. I visited them decades ago but am due to go again shortly to refresh myself as to the layout and the many different departments. Conditions were terrible to work in but it’s incredibly fascinating and I urge you to make a resolution to go this coming year.

In the meantime I hope you have a Merry Christmas. See you in the New Year!

Molly Green

Synchronicity gone berserk!

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Molly Green looking surprised!

When you’re an author you rarely know the impact one of your books might have on a reader. I recently had a Canadian lady contact me through this website and this is what happened. (She has given me permission to use it in its entirety for my blog.):

Hello Molly,
Greetings from Canada.
I just purchased your novel “An Orphan in the Snow” to give as a gift.
I felt I had to write to you and explain the circumstances surrounding the purchase.It was on a shelf in a bookstore. For some reason my eye went to it and no others. I feel that synchronicity was at play and I think you will agree when I explain.
I have a friend who is celebrating her birthday on February 13 and I was out today looking for a birthday gift for her. The bookstore visit was for myself as I am an avid reader. However I had to purchase your book for her BECAUSE her name is JUNE LAVENDER and her grandmother came to Canada in the early 1900’s as one of Dr Barnardo’s children! You definitely wrote this book for June.
I cannot tell you how excited I was when I read the inside flap of your book and saw the connection to the main.character. I cannot wait to give her the book and see the look on her face. We were born in 1940 (me) and 1943 (June) so we are both products of WWII and remember the stories our parents told us about the war.
I just wanted to let you know how happy you have made me, the giver and June, who will soon receive it. As I said, SYNCHRONICITY at work…I was destined to find that book.Be assured we will now both be reading more and more of your books.
Carleen

These coincidences are quite amazing, but for me it was the first one I couldn’t take in. Imagine wanting to treat yourself to a new novel and you’re in a bookshop facing shelves of fiction. Your eye goes to only one book which you take down from the shelf. What could have made Carleen’s eye go to mine amongst scores – even hundreds of others? It really was as though she was fated to pick that one. We’ve exchanged quite a few emails since then where another coincidence came to light. Canadian June’s father was in a wheelchair, and my fictitious one was, too, though he was faking it.

Tragically, June recently lost her only daughter and Carleen told me her friend is really enjoying my book which is managing to distract her for an hour or so whenever she picks it up. I’m not ashamed to say it brought a tear to my eye and I feel incredibly humbled that my story was able to give her a little relief – even though only in the minutest way.

Here is a photograph of the ‘real’ June Lavender (who gave me permission to use it).

Other news is that today I finished the first big round of edits for my third novel which completes The Bletchley Park series. There will be several more full edits but I find this particular stage is the most tricky as I needed to fill in some gaps of information where I was shaky at the time of writing and which could only be achieved by further research. Then I had to spot any continuity howlers, and finally determine whether I really had an entertaining and hopefully informative historical story that hung together. I will do the easy bit of grammar, punctuation, typos, tautologies, weak adjectives . . . the list goes on . . . during the next round of edits.

The publishers have just come up with the new title (not yet to be revealed) but Bletchley Park Book 3 should be on the shelves by the end of November – just in time for you know what! Hopefully, when you’re looking for a gift for yourself or a friend, your eye will go to my latest novel out of all the other hundreds of authors, just as Carleen’s in her local bookshop in Canada did!

See you in April when we’ll have longer, lighter days which will hopefully put a spring in our step.

Molly

Dizzy Heights!

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Where has January disappeared to? One minute it was New Year’s Eve and suddenly we’re almost in February. I’ve been working non-stop – well, I’ve broken off to make teas and coffees for the builders who are yet to finish the complete refurbishment of my house and seen my sister for strolls round the delightful historic town of Lewes – but mainly I’ve been chuntering along with the third book in my series: The Bletchley Park Girls. This new one is as yet untitled, although I’m hoping the Avon HarperCollins’ team will think the one I have in mind is as perfect as I do!

Winter Wedding at Bletchley Park, published at the end of last year, made no 2 on Amazon in Military Romance, War Story Fiction and Saga, and Summer Secrets at Bletchley Park, published last spring, did actually hit the no 1 spot in the same categories! I’d like to thank all the lovely reviewers who filled in lots of stars on the Ratings and Reviews of those two books which pushed me to such dizzy heights.

It’s wonderful and slightly humbling to read how people are enjoying my books. It truly gives me the inspiration to press on with the current draft and begin planning the new story which will (hopefully) follow but is usually at this juncture only in maddeningly hazy fragments. Planning a brand-new story with new heroine and hero is a really special part of being a fiction writer. I love seeing how my heroine in particular develops as I keep in close contact with her from beginning to end, although I do pop into the head of the hero occasionally if I feel he’s burning to tell his side of the story when he’s been misunderstood!

On the 11th February, in the afternoon, I’m giving a talk on Bletchley Park and a book signing in Ringmer, the village where I moved to a few months ago. If you’re in the Lewes area on that day, I’d be delighted to see you, but you do need to book at Ringmer Library. You can email them at SaveRingmerLibrary@mail.com (note, it’s not ‘gmail’ but simply ‘mail’) And after the talk, for a mere £5 per head, you can enjoy a nostalgic afternoon tea with like-minded readers. I think it’s going to be fun and I’m looking forward to hearing anyone who has Bletchley Park connections.

Will see you in March (if not before at the talk!) and in the meantime, Happy Reading!

Molly
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Google Maps link for Ringmer Village Hall Post code for your GPS/satnav: BN8 5QH