I love any chance I get to talk about women and history—and even more so when I get to throw some behind-the-scenes writing process conversation into it too! I have an absolute blast talking about all of those things with The Inside Flap podcast.
You can listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
I will be giving an author talk at the RUSI Library, hosted by the UoL Bibliophiles at the end of February. I’ll be speaking in depth about what it takes to research a WWII historical fiction novel like The Whispers of War.
Tuesday, 25 February 2020
18:30 – 20:00 GMT
RUSI - Royal United Services Institute
61 Whitehall
London SW1A 2ET
This event is free, but please book using the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/author-talk-with-julia-kelly-tickets-91968027847
1. There was no one inspirational moment when the idea of The Whispers of War came to me. I don’t remember when I first learned that Britain had interned tens of thousands of people during both world wars, but I grew up knowing about the US internment of Japanese people during WWII. I write about growing up near Santa Anita Racetrack, which was an internment camp, but I also have family on Bainbridge Island in the Puget Sound, which was the site of a large interned population.
When it comes to Nora’s job, I’d read a lot about the Air Raids Precautions Department as part of my research, and another bit of reading found me Hazel’s job. I picked up a book when I first move to London called Marriages Are Made in Bond Street all about a matrimonial agency that did booming business during World War II.
2. I found out I had a familial connection to US WWII internment camps because of a conversation at my sister’s wedding. I was telling my cousin, Derek, about the book and he mentioned that he’d done some research on one of our relatives who had been a teacher at a Japanese internment camp in the west. What was an off-handed comment turned into an even stronger bond with the story I was writing.
3. I’m a big fan of Simon May and Mark Kermode’s Film Review podcast, and I tried desperately to get one of the show’s signature sign-offs into The Whispers of War. It’s “Tinkety tonk, old fruit, and down with the Nazis,” attributed, much to my delight to the Queen Mother. She used it to end a letter written in 1941, and it’s become something of a recurring joke on the Film Review. Sadly the phrase was cut in edits. (But hello to Jason Isaacs.)
4. Henrik and Joseph were once the same person—and a hero! Henrik, Marie’s odious cousin, was once named Joseph and Joseph, Nora’s friend in the Air Raid Precautions Department, didn’t exist. In an early draft, the original Joseph was revealed to be a spy and Nora’s love interest. (I have a weakness for spies and am always trying to jam them into manuscripts.) However, that storyline wasn’t working, and I cut all of it, reshaped Joseph into Nora’s colleague, and created Henrik to explore Marie’s family dynamic a little further.
5. An air raid siren really did go off after the famous declaration of war broadcast. It sounded over London, scaring quite a few people. However, it was declared a false alarm.
6. Nora’s proposal that Tube stations be used as giant air raid shelters wasn’t just a sound one, it was actually put into practice. The government was initially resistant to the idea because of the disruption to transit. However, overwhelming need for shelter in the nation’s capitol meant that the stations were eventually opened up. People even slept on the train tracks because the trains stopped running after a certain hour.
7. The blackout dominated life in Britain during the war. I wanted to make sure that my characters felt like they were actually living during wartime London, which meant dealing with the blackout. People were ordered to keep all light from escaping their homes, torches were to be aimed down at the ground, and lamp posts were altered so they emit light into the night sky and help German bombers. Naturally, this made it very difficult for people to get around, and it’s easy to find posters warning people to take caution in the blackout. Department stores even began to carry lines of blackout fashion items such as white coats or white cloth flower corsages to help people be seen at night.
It truly takes a village to publish a book. While I’m the author of The Whispers of War, there’s an entire team of people behind the book that you pick up a bookstore. Today I’m bringing you the second in a series of behind-the-scenes articles about The Whispers of War and talking to Kate Dresser, senior editor at Gallery Books.
Julia Kelly: How do you approach editing a first draft of when an author sends it in? Are there particular things you’re looking for in terms of plot or characters?
Kate Dresser: Every first draft is different, so I generally read a bit (say 50 pages) before deciding on an editorial approach. From there, I take notes and plan how to translate my impressions into cogent questions or suggestions. At first read, I’m assessing both characters and plot, but I find that a lot of the questions aren’t answered until the end—characters become clearer as they’re written, and the end of the plot works backward onto the beginning and middle, so at first draft, I try to draw the author’s eye toward any opportunities or subterranean thoughts that might have been lurking as they wrote.
JK: When we were working on The Whispers of War, you’d point out parts of the story that needed work and then ask just the right questions to help me figure out my own way to fix it. I’m half convinced that skill is magic. How did you develop that approach to working with authors?
KD: It’s not magic!
Because editorial work is an apprenticeship business, I was lucky enough to read behind or alongside many different experienced editors with varied skill sets—some were wonderful line editors, some super inventive with plot, some gave answers, others asked only questions. I think the most magical part of editing is the trust placed in me by authors; if I can build trust, such that the author knows I’m questioning and suggesting with an open mind and heart, anything seems possible! That’s why the phone call to discuss editorial changes is so important: two heads are better than one.
JK: Are there unique challenges to editing a book like The Whispers of War that relies on historical research you may not be as familiar with as the author? How do you navigate those?
KD: I’ve read a lot of historical fiction (certainly more than I’ve read nonfiction!), and I also have the benefit of Wikipedia! That said, sometimes my ignorance is a blessing—if I can’t figure out what some detail is from context clues, the reader might also want more context. So I flag anything I find unclear on the page, but sometimes I take a break and delve into an internet research break.
JK: I’ve been pretty upfront with readers that the early drafts of The Whispers of War were difficult to write because things didn’t “click” the way I wanted them to. You really helped me get to a point where all of the pieces fell into place, and I absolutely love the final book. Do you have any advice to authors who may be struggling with a manuscript? What do you do if you’re also struggling to figure out what’s not working?
KD: Some of the best editorial ideas I have are like strikes of lightning, which means you can’t coax them, you can only give them time to appear. Take breaks! Read something else, especially in another category, or watch a show wildly different from what you’re WIP is. When I really can’t figure out what’s not clicking, I reverse outline (so look at, absent the content, the balance and cadence of narration, or time periods, or how much time has elapsed). When you can see that you’ve had four chapters in a row from one character’s POV, when before you’d been alternating, that might be a sign you’ve lost your way. Similarly, if something really big happens off-screen and you only hear about it from the characters, try writing that scene—whether or not it ends up in the final manuscript.
JK: Are there particular themes or time periods that you think we’ll be seeing more of in historical fiction over the next couple of years?
KD: Fingers crossed, I’m hoping for more mid-century (a la Mad Men), I think Gilded Age America is growing, and I’d love to read more historical fiction set outside of Western Europe.
JK: How has being an editor changed how or what you read?
KD: I try very hard to preserve my sense of fun when reading; if I haven’t read a book purely for pleasure for a while, it can be easy to lose perspective on why we publish books. I’d say I read more nonfiction now as a break from editing fiction, and sometimes I can see where I’d have edited a particular book differently, but the hobby is largely the same as since I was a kid: to escape and learn.
JK: And finally, what have you read recently that you just can’t stop recommending to friends and family?
KD: Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk.
I've been lucky enough to talk to a lot of podcasters about my books over the years, but I rarely have as much fun as I did with this interview I did with Allie and Katie for HERstory on the Rocks! We got into the history beyond The Whispers of War, women's incredibly important roles in the WWII, and a lot more.
Links to listen are here:
The delightful hosts even commissioned the creation of a cocktail called The Whispers of War! You can find the recipe here.
My latest WWII novel is here and to celebrate I’m doing a quick behind-the-scenes and virtual book reading! Keep reading below to find out a bit more about the book and where you can find it, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter because bonus content for The Whispers of War is coming soon!
If you would like your Whispers of War, you can pick it up at your favorite bookstore or online retailer, including:
Amazon | Apple Books | Kobo | B&N | Google Play | Books-a-Million
WHEN WAR COMES TO BRITAIN, THREE FRIENDS WILL HAVE THEIR LOYALTY TESTED
In August of 1939, as Britain watches the headlines in fear of another devastating war with Germany, three childhood friends must choose between friendship or country. Erstwhile socialite Nora is determined to find her place in the Home Office’s Air Raid Precautions Department, matchmaker Hazel tries to mask two closely guarded secrets with irrepressible optimism, and German expat Marie worries that she and her family might face imprisonment in an internment camp if war is declared. When Germany invades Poland and tensions on the home front rise, Marie is labeled an enemy alien, and the three friends find themselves fighting together to keep her free at any cost.
Featuring Julia Kelly’s signature “intricate, tender, and convincing” (Publishers Weekly) prose, The Whispers of War is a moving and unforgettable tale of the power of friendship and womanhood in the midst of conflict.
I’ve been a very lucky author when it comes to my historical novel covers. The Whispers of War and The Light Over London before it both have incredibly beautiful covers. In the first of a two-part series of articles going behind the scenes of The Whispers of War, I had a chance to chat with the designer, Laywan Kwan, and ask about the process of putting a book cover together.
JK: Can you describe the process of creating the cover for The Whispers of War? Were you set on the idea of two women at the window looking out on a third, or were there alternative versions that you worked on?
LK: There were actually several alternate versions of this cover! From the beginning I knew we should have a total of 3 women on the cover, and that it should convey a historical sense. However, it came down to trying different combinations of women and settings and process of elimination.
JK: One of the things I love about the cover is that, while it isn’t a direct scene from the book, it evokes the mood of the story as well as the time and place it’s set in perfectly. Are there certain tricks of the trade that you use to create specific moods?
LK: Absolutely! In general, the color palette will have a great effect on the mood of a cover. For example: the darker the color is, the darker the mood. But other factors like body language, lighting, cropping, texture… it’s all used to create a mood for a cover!
JK: I know that imagery showing women with their backs turned to the reader has become a trend in historical fiction, but I think the cover of The Whispers of War feels very different even from the cover of my book The Light Over London, which also featured two women seen from behind. How do you keep covers feeling fresh even if they had nods to a current trend?
LK: I try to always have my eye on what’s going on in the design world – be it book covers, posters, product branding or even fashion. Everything that’s going on around us will always inform and change how we see things!
JK: How did you start working as a graphic designer who works on book covers?
LK: I actually didn’t have a direct path to this career. I always knew that I was a creative, but when I was in college, I thought that it translated to being an architect. It didn’t really work out when I went out into the working world, and so I changed paths – going back to school for graphic design. While I was getting my design degree, I knew I had a great interest in publishing. I was able to get an internship at a magazine, and luckily, some of my professors at the time were working in the publishing industry. I took a class in book cover design, one of the editors at the magazine introduced me to a great designer in the industry, and the rest is history!
JK: Do you have any advice for people who are interested in a similar career path?
LK: Read books, learn photoshop, and build a portfolio of things you love to design!
JK: And finally, I have to ask because so many people have asked me, any ideas of where the green dress on the cover is from? Everyone seems to want to get their hands on it—myself included!
LK: Honestly, I don’t know. It was part of a stock photo photoshoot!
I always feel a little split between the country where I was raised (the US) and the country where I live (the UK) when it comes to book releases. That’s because sometimes books come out in one place before the other and there’s a big gap when readers can’t get to it.
This week, I’m fortunate enough to have a double release as s today The Whispers of War is out in the UK just two days after the US and Canada!
The Whispers of War opens on the eve of World War II, just before Germany’s invasion of Poland. The impending war’s affecting everyone, but no one more so than Marie, a German expat who’s come to think of London as her home. When Britain declares war on Hitler’s Germany and Marie finds herself labeled an enemy aliens and threatened with possible internment, all three of the friends must risk their own happiness and safety to keep Marie free.
The Whispers of War is now available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook wherever fine books are sold.
Amazon UK | Apple Books | Kobo | Waterstones | Blackwells
And as a reminder, if you’re in the US, you can buy the book here:
Amazon | Apple Books | Kobo | B&N | Google Play | Books-a-Million
While Canadian readers can get the book here:
Amazon | Apple Books | Kobo | Indigo
Happy reading!
It's no secret that I love a good podcast. (And have hosted my own a couple of times over, most recently You're Never Going to Read This with my sister.) That's why I was so happy to go on Biblio Happy Hour recently to talk about The Whispers of War!
We talked about the book, what I do when I'm not writing, and my favorite US-based indie bookstores. True to my LA/NYC roots, I gave two recommendations including one in Pasadena, CA, which was my favorite bookstore as a kid!
You can get those recommendations and a behind-the-scenes look at The Whispers of War by listening on your favorite podcast app!
The Whispers of War, my latest World War II book, is now out in US and Canadian stores!
In August of 1939, as Britain watches the headlines in fear of another devastating war with Germany, three childhood friends must choose between friendship or country. Erstwhile socialite Nora is determined to find her place in the Home Office’s Air Raid Precautions Department, matchmaker Hazel tries to mask two closely guarded secrets with irrepressible optimism, and German expat Marie worries that she and her family might face imprisonment in an internment camp if war is declared. When Germany invades Poland and tensions on the home front rise, Marie is labeled an enemy alien, and the three friends find themselves fighting together to keep her free at any cost.
You can pick up your copy of The Whispers of War in hardcover, ebook, audiobook.
Amazon | Apple Books | Kobo | B&N | Google Play | Books-a-Million
Canadian readers can also read The Whispers of War in a beautiful paperback edition.
Amazon | Apple Books | Kobo | Indigo
Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum
As a historical fiction author writing books, I’m continually amazed at the many—often unsung—ways women contributed to the war effort in Britain during World War II. The Lightseekers is an ongoing series of articles that highlights some of their work and the ways they brought light to Britain in one of its darkest times.
When the National Service Act was passed in December 1941, all unmarried British women and childless widows between the ages of 20 and 30 found themselves staring down the possibility of being called up. However, since the start of the war, thousands of women had already joined the three major military auxiliary services meant to support the army, navy, and air force.
The Navy’s auxiliary branch was called the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS). At one point during the war, posters shouted “Join the Wrens—free a man for the fleet,” encouraging women to choose the popular—and poshest—auxiliary. Even the Wrens smart blue uniform was considered enviable.
“The Wrens officer’s uniform was a lovely dark navy and it was the most coveted uniform by a mile,” Laura Clouting, curator of the Imperial War Museum exhibition on Fashion on the Ration, told the Telegraph in 2015. “A lot of women wanted to join the Wrens purely to get that uniform. The ATS uniform was not quite so loved, despite Princess Elizabeth being its most famous member.”
Wrens were expected to take on roles that would allow men to deploy to much-needed combat roles at sea. This meant that after completing her training, a Wren could be asked to serve as a clerk, cook, mechanic, driver, or weather system and radar operator. Some women were even trained to fly and transport planes from factories to bases for the Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.
The Wrens served both at home and overseas. Australia, Canada, India, and New Zealand all had different versions of the Royal Naval Services.
As conscription grew to include women up to 43 years of age, the number of Wrens in services swelled. It was at its largest with more than 74,000 women working in the auxiliary in 1944.
Like their sisters in other auxiliaries, the Wrens weren’t immune to the dangers of war despite not holding combat roles. 303 members of the service lost their lives during World War II.
If you would like to read more about the extraordinary work that the Wrens did during World War II, the BBC’s WW2 People’s War archive has a dedicated page with transcripts of oral histories that you can access.
Read every story of the The Lightseekers in the series archive. You can also read more extraordinary stories about women in World War II in The Light Over London and my upcoming book The Whispers of War.
As a historical author writing about WWII Britain, one of the things I’m most interested in doing with my books is telling the often-neglected stories of women’s contributions to the war. One of the areas where women were vital was in the various armed services, and you only need to look to recruitment posters to understand how important women’s work was during war.
(All images are courtesy of the Imperial War Museum.)
At first, it was just men who were required to go to war. In the spring of 1939, the Military Training Act passed through Parliament and meant that men between the ages of 20 and 22 were required to do six months of military training. However, when war was declared on September 3rd, the National Services (Armed Forces) Act put into place for all men 18 to 41, although some who were in Reserved Occupations—farming, medicine, engineering, etc.—were excepted from service.
In December 1941, women faced conscription for the first time in the second National Service Act. Men up to the age of 60 were no required to serve, with those as old as 50 being eligible for military service. Childless women between 20 and 30 could be called up to one of the auxiliary services. These included:
Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS)
Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS)
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
Women’s Transport Service (WTS)
Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS)
Women’s Land Army
In order to say some say in which auxiliary service of the armed forces they ended up in, many women chose to volunteer for a particular service. Recruitment posters from that time show that the services tried to play on a sense of glamor and duty.
The women’s auxiliary branch of the Royal Navy, the WRNS (nicknamed “The Wrens”) was the most glamorous of the services. It was known for attracting a posher class of girl, and was thought to have the best uniforms. A Wren might be assigned from a wide variety of roles, including cook, clerk, switchboard operator, electrician, motorcycle dispatch driver, or air mechanic.
The Auxiliary Territorial Service was the Army’s women’s auxiliary. (It is the ATS that Louise, the heroine of The Light Over London joins early in the book.) These women could take on roles as varied as spotlight operator, Ack Ack Command, clerk, cook, munitions, mail service, and more.
The WAAFs supported the Royal Air Force throughout the war. These women could be asked to pack parachutes, crew barrage balloons, cook, maintain aircraft, or work in meteorology or radar. Some did intelligence work, such as working on codes or analyzing reconnaissance photography. What the WAAFs did not do, however, was serve as crew on aircraft. That role was taken on by the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary (the “Atta Girls”) who were civilians.
Although not members of the armed forces, the Women’s Land Army—known as the Land Girls—were vital to keeping Britain fed. The women who became Land Girls did agricultural work. It was often hard physical labor, and it could be an isolated existence because often they lived on the farms where they worked. (Bunking down in town became more common in the last years of the war.)
Today marks the start of National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo) when millions of people take on the somewhat crazy task of writing 50,000 words in the month of November. That’s about the length of The Great Gatsby, but don’t let that marker intimidate you! The book you write for NaNoWriMo doesn’t have to actually be The Great Gatsby.
If you’re an aspiring author, NaNoWriMo is an opportunity to challenge yourself to do something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t yet—get that first manuscript down on paper. If you’re a published author like myself, it’s one of the best ways I’ve come across to produce a huge amount of editable work in one fell swoop.
This month, I’m going to be creating a series of videos about my experience with NaNoWriMo, tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way, and some writing advice that might be useful to you if you’re following along.
Here are two videos to get you started:
I’ve also created a new section of my site under For Writers called Writing Your Book. There you’ll find an ever-growing collection of videos, articles, and more helpful content to get you going or motivate you to push through your draft.
Good luck, and do let me know how your book writing experience goes!
Since The Light Over London has come out, I’ve received dozens of emails from readers telling me about their personal connection to the book. In several cases, the children of Gunner Girls have reached out to say that reading the book inspired them to dig in and research their mother’s history in the service. However, the research process felt daunting, and they didn’t know how to get started.
After sending several people information about accessing British service records, I thought it was probably time to write an article giving some guidance about how you can research your family’s wartime stories.
(Authors, a lot of these suggestions can be used if you are researching a WWII-set book.)
Getting started
We all know the expression knowledge is power, and starting a research project is no different. You likely already have some of the pieces you need to start your search, such as:
Name
Maiden Name
Date of birth
Hometown
Branch of service
Years served
Locations of service
Rank
The more information you have, the better. However, don’t be discouraged if all you know is your family member’s name and branch of service. You still have a good starting place.
If your family member is still alive, I would recommend speaking to them about the war. Some of the richest stories you’ll find are the first-hand ones passed from generation to generation.
If your family member served in World War II...
Here are some resource that can help you get started.
In the UK
The Imperial War Museum has a great guide for navigating different databases and other resources.
Tracing Your Family (Imperial War Museum)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission can help you find a war grave or a cemetery or memorial.
If you are looking for access to your own service records, this website can help:
In the US
The National Archives has an excellent page that highlights the various databases and lists of US service members.
It also produced a brochure to show family members how to find information about a person’s participation in the war.
CA resources
The Library and Archives Canada’s guide helps family members find service records, military medals, and more
If your family member was on the UK Home Front…
Obviously, not everyone fought in the war. People did many things on the Home Front to both further the war effort and maintain as much of their normal lives as they could. You may find it helpful to look to books and documentaries to learn more about living in Britain during the war to find out what you family family members might have experienced.
The 1939 Register was taken just after war broke out. It provides a look at the civilian population of England and Wales. You can use it to find out more about your family.
The Mass Observation diaries are an incredible resources to historians and curious historical fiction readers alike. A country-wide sociological experiment, people from a large swath of social backgrounds and geographical locations sent in records of their daily lives. This is a wonderful way to get a snapshot of the area your relatives lived in or the work they did during the war. I used the Mass Observation diaries when writing my upcoming book The Whispers of War.
And finally, the UK has been vigilant about recording as much historical accounts from people who actually lived the war. The BBC has something called the WW2 People’s War project with many different oral histories (some in audio and some in transcript form.) I actually used this resource to learn more about the Gunner Girls’ experience when I was writing The Light Over London.
Persistence is a big part of any historical research project, so don’t be disheartened if you feel like you hit a brick wall. Step back and try to think creatively about where you might look next. Keep talking to family members, digging into archives, and using resources like Ancestry.com and see what family history you can uncover!
When I started writing The Light Over London, I wanted to tell stories I hadn’t seen before. I discovered that there’s a rich tradition of books set on the home front—no matter where that might be. Here are seven historical novels to add to your reading list.
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
The first thing you should know about City of Girls is that it’s a blast to read. This is due in large part to Vivian Morris, the narrator, who takes you through her debaucherous younger years in New York City’s theater world. Then the United States enters World War II, and she’s forced to grow up quickly. The story becomes more complex, a little tragic, but also wonderfully touching.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Set in France during the war, this book tells the story of Vianne and Isabelle, two sisters who find themselves handling the German invasion of France in very different ways. Hannah’s writing is sometimes lyrical and she uses some beautiful turns of phrase to describe the sometimes impossible decisions the two women are faced with.
The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
My love for this book is pretty well documented at this point, but I can’t mention World War II fiction without bringing it up again. The Shell Seekers is ostensibly about a woman named Penelope Keeling and her mostly horrible children who are trying to convince her to sell her late father’s painting, which is also called The Shell Seekers. However, it’s much more than that with a narrative that weaves through several time periods—including Penelope’s time in the WRNS during World War II. For Pilcher aficionados, Noel from The Shell Seekers gets something of a redemption tour during September, but I’ll leave you to decide whether he’s really earned it or not.
A Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys
The war is a creeping threat in this book, set on an ocean liner bound for Australia on the eve of the German invasion of Poland. The main character, Lily, becomes fixated with a young man who is sailing with her. But the claustrophobia of the ship begins to take hold and bad thing happen the longer they’re out at sea.
The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard
I read the entire five-book Cazalet series between 2017 and 2019, and I would happily do it all over again. The books span the interwar period through to post-war austerity, but the war-time years are really the pivot point of the narrative, highlighting the way the war hurries along the slow descent of one very privileged family.
After the Party by Cressida Connolly
This book starts out like a domestic novel about the county set but quickly twists in ways that—if you don’t know the context of the story—will feel shocking. After the Party is immaculately researched and beautifully written.
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Does The Alice Network happen during World War II? No. Is that going to keep me from putting it on this list? No, because this dual timeline book takes place during World War I and right after World War II. This book stands out for me because Quinn beautifully portrays the danger and brutality of the women working as spies behind enemy lies in World War I.
It’s an exciting day over here in London because The Light Over London is finally out in UK bookstores!
Last week, US readers got the chance to buy beautiful, dark blue copies of the paperback and now UK readers can get their hands on the UK paperback edition.
If you need some help finding it, check out these fine UK retailers:
Amazon UK | Waterstones | WH Smith | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play
If you’ve been waiting to get your hands on the paperback of this dual timeline historical fiction, now’s your chance!
This World War II/present day-set book has:
A long-forgotten diary
A dramatic family mystery
Brave, badass women who are as loyal as they are smart
Some swoony love stories
Twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the last chapter
I love all five of those things in any and all of the books that I read, so it’s no surprise that when I went ot write my first historical fiction I wanted to make sure I hit all of those sweet spots.
You can pick up your copy of The Light Over London wherever fine books are sold, including:
Amazon | Apple Books | Kobo | B&N | Google Play
I've been hinting at what my next historical fiction would be about and finally (FINALLY) I can start talking about it.
I’m very proud to introduce you to The Whispers of War, a book that explores how far friendship and loyalty can be pushed during a time of war.
Here's a look at what you can expect:
In August of 1939, as Britain watches the headlines in fear of another devastating war with Germany, three childhood friends must choose between friendship or country. Erstwhile socialite Nora is determined to find her place in the Home Office’s Air Raid Precautions Department, matchmaker Hazel tries to mask two closely guarded secrets with irrepressible optimism, and German expat Marie worries that she and her family might face imprisonment in an internment camp if war is declared. When Germany invades Poland and tensions on the home front rise, Marie is labeled an enemy alien, and the three friends find themselves fighting together to keep her free at any cost.
The Whispers of War comes out almost a year to the day after The Light Over London, and although it isn’t a sequel to The Light Over London, I think you’re going to enjoy returning to the same world for another story of extraordinary women.
Amazon | Apple Books | Kobo | B&N | Google Play | Books-a-Million
Amazon | Apple Books | Kobo | Indigo
Amazon | Apple Books | Waterstones | Blackwells | Kobo | Google Play
You can be sure to stay up-to-date with all the latest news about all of my book by signing up for my newsletter. As a thank you, I’ll send you an exclusive epilogue to The Light Over London that answers the question “What happened after the war?”
Sometimes change is good, especially when it means the start of something new.
While I adore the The Light Over London's hardcover cover with its beautiful turquoise and yellow, I was pretty thrilled when I saw what Gallery Books had in mind for the US paperback edition!
This beautiful, rich blue cover will be on sale in the US starting on September 24th at all major retailers and many of your favorite indie bookstores, but you can preorder it today to make sure it ships as soon as the book comes out:
Amazon | Apple Books | Kobo | B&N | Google Play
And UK readers will start seeing The Light Over London in stores in October 3. You can preorder it here: