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