Boon's Bookcase

Brighter Days Ahead

by

Mary Wood

BLOG TOUR

Today, I'm delighted to be hosting a Guest Piece by the lovely author Mary Wood as part of the Blog Tour for Brighter Days Ahead. I think it is widely known now that I am a sucker for family/wartime sagas and I really can't wait to read this one! Thank you so much Mary for writing a piece especially for Boon's Bookcase and I very much hope to be able to review Brighter Days Ahead soon.









Blurb


Brighter Days Ahead is a moving story set against the backdrop of the Second World War, from Mary Wood, the author of In Their Mother’s Footsteps.

War pulled them apart, but can it bring them back together?

Molly lives with her repugnant father, who has betrayed her many times. From a young age, living on the
streets of London’s East End, she has seen the harsh realities of life . . . When she’s kidnapped by a gang and forced into their underworld, her future seems bleak.

Flo spent her early years in an orphanage, and is about to turn her hand to teacher training. When a kindly teacher at her school approaches her about a job at Bletchley Park, it could be everything she never knew she wanted.

Will the girls' friendship be enough to weather the hard times ahead? 

MARY WOOD

MY WINTER WRITING RETREAT

Hello Julie and Everyone. Lovely to be here as part of my first blog tour. 

In this guest blog, I have chosen to give a small insight to part of my writing year.

Writing books is something that I do all year round, but at the start of winter, when those first winds begin to bite, and the swaying trees are bare of their summer-green glory, my mind turns to warmer climes.

And so, the ferry is booked, the car packed with items from home that we need, and off we set. Our destination is – to me, the lovely jewel in the crown of Spain – The Mar Menor (The little sea)

Life now takes on a different mantle, as truly there are, BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD, (very apt, as that is the title of my latest release – read more about it below) as grey skies are swapped for rich blue, and the odd snatched day sitting in the garden, for the endless available days when this is possible. And writing seems almost like a hobby, rather than my way of life. 

A very enjoyable hobby it is, though.

I still start my day very early in the morning, but with a difference. At home, I begin work at 5 am and sit in my little-bedroom-office away from the world and usually to the pitter-patter of rain hitting my window. Here, once it is light, I am part of life as I sit opposite my husband Roy on our balcony, laptop on my knee, feet up and warmed by the sun, while Roy reads his paper. 

At the moment, I am writing the third in a trilogy, which to date, doesn’t have a confirmed title, only a working title of: ‘The Girls Who Went to War’. The first of this trilogy is due to be published a year from now, after my Northern Historical Saga – The Street Orphans, which will be released in May 18. 

Here, in my winter retreat, I find the words flow from me, as now, the sounds around me are the swishing of palm trees, and the rippling of the communal pool – its water too cold to be disturbed by swimmers, whose glee would upset my peace – oh dear, that sounds a bit ‘grumpy old woman’, but no. I love to hear folk having fun, but not while I am writing, then, I need quiet around me.

I am in writer’s bliss. And feel blessed and very lucky as all cares, health worries – arthritis doesn’t hurt half as much in the suns warm rays – and stress, melt away from me, leaving me free to go into the world of my characters. 

***

Thank you, Julie, for having me guest on your blog. Much love to you and to your followers. Mary Wood x

To order a copy of the book on Amazon click here