Welcoming Jean Fullerton with a Ration Book Christmas Kiss

As  the pre-Christmas activities begin, we welcome Jean Fullerton to tell us about her settings, characters and her writing day

Hello Jean, and welcome back to Write Minds. First of all, can you give us an insight into your main character in A Ration Book Christmas Kiss?

My main character is Michael Brogan who we first met in a Ration Book Childhood. He’s 12-years-old and we meet him a few weeks before Christmas at school. The local girls’ school has been bombed and they come to join Michael and his classmates for the last few weeks of term.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

I am the heroine in all of my books even though they are in their twenties and I’m considerably older. However, I do have to confess, although I have all my own teeth the character nearest to me in age at least if not, straight talking is the matriarch of the Brogan family, Queenie.

Tell us about your setting and why you chose it?

It’s not so much that I choose the setting for my books as the setting chooses me. I come from East London originally and all my family’s history is in those overcrowded streets of Stepney, Shadwell and Wapping so it seems natural as the area is in my blood to set all my books, be they Victorian or 20th century fiction in East London

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m working on a secret East London writing project at the moment, but I’ll be starting the last of my Ration Book Series, A Ration Book Victory in January 2021.

Your secret project sounds intriguing, Jean! Tell us about your writing day.

I’m not an early riser so after a couple of cups of tea, breakfast and a read of the paper I usually get to my desk about 9.30. Unless I’m dashing towards a deadline, I spend the first half of the morning doing admin and posting on social media. I kick off the day’s writing about 11ish for a couple of hours until lunch then I’m back at my desk again for a solid four hours in the afternoon.

I take a break to have dinner then toddle up again for an hour at about seven after which I spend the rest of the evening with my feet up in front of the TV with the Hero@Home.  I average about 1500-2000 words a day, sometimes more but I’m a steady writer rather than a fast one as I need thinking time as well.

Of course, that’s not every day as I do have days out with family and friends as well as meeting my agent and editors and writerly events. However, I always take my laptop when I’m traveling and as 120k words won’t write themselves, I often do a few hundred words on the train up and back from London.  I have to keep an eye on my diary as I do try to have at least 4 or 5 working days each week. As I say. 120k words won’t write themselves.

Do you have a favourite writing place?

My office upstairs in the Rectory as it’s my own space with all my research books at hand.

Where do your ideas come from?

Who knows? But thank goodness they do. Truthfully, it can be a picture or an image. However, as I’m writing to a contract rather than as the fancy takes me, I focus on the period or event to trigger my imagination.

What does success look like to you?

Well the money’s nice but success to me is an inbox with lots of lovely letters from readers who love my books.

Describe your perfect day.

See my writing day above

If you could tell your younger self anything what would it be?

Don’t worry about the dyslexia and get writing now!

Good advice, Jean! Other than writing what else do you love to do?

I know it’s a cliché but next to my writing I love being with my husband, three daughters and eight grandchildren.

Thanks for coming to talk to us, Jean, and the very best of luck with the book.

 

A Ration Book Christmas Kiss

When the local girls’ school gets bombed out in December of 1942, Michael Brogan and his friends are forced to share classes with the young ladies of Stepney Green. And when Michael meets Jane in one of those lessons, he knows it’s the best thing that has ever happened to him. He may only be 12, but he’ll love Jane forever.

Unsure of Jane’s feelings, Michael decides to ask her to his church Christmas dance. But Jane’s father has other ideas, and so does the Luftwaffe. As the bombs rain down on London’s East End, Michael starts to wonder if he will ever get the chance to prove his love. Will this be the year he gets a Christmas kiss?

Available on Amazon 

About Jean Fullerton

Jean Fullerton is the author of sixteen novels all set in East London where she was born. She worked as a district nurse in East London for over twenty-five years and is now a full-time author.

She is a qualified District and Queen’s nurse who has spent most of her working life in the East End of London, first as a Sister in charge of a team, and then as a District Nurse tutor.

She has won multiple awards and all her books are set in her native East London.  Her latest novella, A RATION BOOK CHRISTMAS KISS, is the fifth in her East London WW2 Ration Book series featuring the lively Brogan family.

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Welcoming Guest Elaine Everest to Talk of Weddings and Woolworths

Today we welcome back saga author Elaine Everest, whose novel Wedding Bells for Woolworths, was published on 30^th April.

Hello Elaine, and welcome back to the blog.

Hello,
Thank you both so much for inviting me back. I see you have decorated since I was last here!

Yes, we’ve changed the furniture around a bit!

You’ve built up an impressive cast of characters over the course of the Woolworths series. How do you keep track of them all, their stories and their characteristics?

I would like to say that I keep it all in my head, but sadly as I can hardly remember one day from the other right now let alone what I had for lunch yesterday, I will have to confess to keeping records. I have notebooks for each of my books with several pages for each character. These notebooks are usually given to me as gifts and stand out on my desk – there’s no chance of mistaking them for the ones I scribble in and in which I write my shopping lists. When starting a new book (or series) I will simply head the page with the person’s name. Then, as I decide on characteristic and traits, I will add to the pages. I will also cross-reference. Even then it is possible to forget something, so my best reference books are my own novels when checking up on a character.
As for their individual stories I will read back through my timelines of previous books then update the pages in my notebook with current ages etc – and create a new timeline for the current WIP

Freda hadn’t long had her stint in The Butlins Girls. Was it hard fitting her story between the Woolworths books?

It was interesting as The Butlins Girls was written straight after The Woolworths Girls at a time when there wasn’t to be anymore Woolies books. With books taking over a year to be published I was writing a teashop book when The Woolworths Girls was published. A call from my then editor informing me that the book was a bestseller and so write another one really did throw me as I’d taken Freda forward to 1946 and stuck her in the Butlins story. Not only that but she’d mentioned colleagues, babies and her boss. I had to be careful to check the timelines for these characters so as not to make a mistake. Gradually as more Woolworths books were written I was aware we were approaching 1946 so had to keep Freda footloose and fancy free…
For a while we thought A Gift from Woolworths, which finished Christmas 1945 would be the end of the series, but I was wrong. A request for another had me thinking I needed to skip 1946 and carry Freda into 1947 and onwards. It was a joy to give her a major part in Wedding Bells for Woolworths although she has a bumpy journey. I never seem to make things easy for myself!

The name Lemuel, belonging to your Trinidadian character, is an unusual one. How do you select the names of your characters?

I love that name!
I came across it while working on my family tree. The Lemuel in my family was a chimney sweep and my great, great, uncle. I use many names from my Family tree – for my characters –the Caseltons, Nevilles, Whiffens and Missons are all ancestors and from the area where my books are set. Lemuel can be found in Gulliver’s Travels and also the bible (Proverbs). My grandfather and great grandfather were both named Job. When this beautiful man from Trinidad walked into Alan Gilbert’s workshop, I knew I’d met Lemuel.
Dipping into my tree again I’ve come across Esther Hester and Johannah Fitzgerald who are waiting in the wings for a part, while I’ve just used a Tomkins in my last completed MS along with my paternal nan’s name, Cissie. In fact, a little of my nan’s life started the idea for the book.

I know we asked you this question way back when the first Woolworths Girls book was released in 2016, but a lot of characters have come and gone since then. So, who is now your favourite character in the series?

I would have to say Ruby Caselton nee Tomkins, who later became Ruby Jackson. She is the matriarch of the family and loved by all. I have just handed in a book about Ruby going right back to 1905 when she moved to Erith with her son, George and first husband, Eddie. It was wonderful to write Ruby’s story and see how she turned into the person we know so well in the Woolworths books. With the editing process going on at the moment I feel very close to her.

Tell us something about the Medway Maid and the Kentish Queen. A trip down the Thames to Margate sounds wonderful. Have you ever taken this trip?

I did take a trip on a Thames paddle boat as a child. In fact, my parents lost me! Their version of the story was that I ran off but I’m not so sure! The trip was from the pier at Erith down to Southend. My Dad and Grandad worked at Erith Oil and Cake Mills, a major company in Erith with a very good social club. I remember many events and also the dances and the live bands. We’d just docked at Southend and like any young child I ran and ran and ran – they stopped and screamed and screamed and screamed…
The first time I featured a paddle steamer was in Gracie’s War when Gracie Sayers (another family surname – although Gracie was my dog’s name) worked with her dad on his paddle steamer during WW2. The name Kentish Queen came from the PS Medway Queen which was one of the ‘Little Ships’ used during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940. I’d followed the campaign to have the steam driven paddle boat restored, so when I needed a name for the Sayers’ boat, I wanted it to be similar. Throughout my Woolworths books I bring in The Kentish Queen and many a trip has been taken on her. In Wedding Bells for Woolworths I didn’t want to use The Kentish Queen – I won’t say why here – so along came The Medway Maid keeping the local theme alive.

 So, is this it for the Woolworth’s Girls?

I don’t think so. Woolworths didn’t close until 2008 so there are plenty of adventures for the girls. It is down to my publisher to decide, but I’m sure we will meet the girls again before too long.

What can your readers look forward to next?

We visit the Kent coast for Christmas with the Teashop Girls in September (hardback) and October for the big launch of paperback, eBook and Audio. The book is already listed on Amazon for pre orders.

 Thank you for dropping by to talk to us, Elaine, and the very best of luck with Wedding Bells for Woolworths

Thank you for inviting me.

Elaine xx

WEDDING BELLS FOR WOOLWORTHS

Wedding Bells for Woolworth is the latest feel-good novel in former Woolies girl Elaine Everest’s bestselling Woolworths Girls series. It sees the return of her well-loved characters in another heartfelt and gripping story.

July 1947. Britain is still gripped by rationing, even as the excitement of Princess Elizabeth’s engagement sweeps the nation…

In the Woolworths’ canteen, Freda is still dreaming of meeting her own Prince Charming. So far she’s been unlucky in love. When she has an accident on her motorbike, knocking a cyclist off his bicycle, it seems bad luck is still following her around. Anthony is not only a fellow Woolworths employee but was an Olympic hopeful. Will his injured leg heal in time for him to compete? Can he ever forgive Freda?

Sarah’s idyllic family life is under threat with worries about her husband, Alan. Does he still love her?The friends must rally round to face some of the toughest challenges of their lives together. And although they experience loss, hardship and shocks along the way, love is on the horizon for the Woolworths girls.

Available on Amazon

ABOUT ELAINE EVEREST

Elaine Everest is from North West Kent and she grew up listening to stories of the war years in her home town of Erith, which features in her bestselling Woolworths Girls series. A former journalist, and author of nonfiction books for dog owners, Elaine has written over sixty short stories for the women’s magazine market. When she isn’t writing, Elaine runs The Write Place creative writing school in Hextable, Kent. She lives with her husband, Michael and sheepdog Henry. You can find out more about Elaine on:

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Read more about Elaine and Wedding Bells for Woolworths by catching up with her tour:

Guest Elaine Everest talks about Wartime at Woolworths

Today we welcome Elaine Everest back to tell us about the next episode in her saga series about the Woolworth’s girls

Hello Elaine, it’s lovely to have you back on the blog once more.

Hi, Elaine and Francesca, thank you for your kind invitation.

We know you lived in Erith and this shows in your precise descriptions of characters’ trips around the area. Are there many differences between when you lived there and during World War 2? 

Sadly, Erith bears no resemblance to the Erith in my novels. In 1966 ‘the powers that be’ decided to flatten the town and build a concrete jungle. The beautiful Victorian shops and building were gradually flattened and in their place were square ugly boxes. Erith lost its soul in the sixties. The concrete jungle has since been replaced with another monstrosity. I visited recently and could have cried to see what had become of a once beautiful town.

The Woolworths store was still functioning, being part of the last block of buildings to go, when it was hit by tragedy when a fire swept through the building. The store’s cat died in the fire. Rumour has it that skulduggery was afoot, as many didn’t want the store to leave the town… It was later rebuilt as a concrete box and the building remains to this day but is now a carpet shop.

Maisie’s talent as a dressmaker has been highlighted in all the novels. Have you ever had any interest in sewing?

Like most women of my age we were taught to sew in school. My mum also had an interest in dressmaking and I grew up wearing homemade outfits. I made my bridesmaids dresses and continued sewing when married making cotton summer skirts that my stepmother sold at work. I moved on to making and selling soft toys and rag dolls for a few years. My last sewing venture was supplying made to measure raincoats and boots for show dogs, which was very successful, featuring on TV and in magazines. I finally gave that up when I became too busy with my writing and arthritis in my fingers stopped me doing as much as I’d have liked.

There’s a lot of historical detail about the war on a day-to-day basis. Where has your information come from?

I grew up hearing about the war and, living in the town, I had learnt how it fared during WW2. I lived in Alexandra Road, where Ruby lived, for twenty years and knew the people and the way they lived intimately. Like many saga authors I read books, watch films and use as many research facilities as possible. Woolworths has a very good online museum and the London Borough of Bexley’s archives are second to none.

The different characters in the Woolworth’s novels have so many exciting stories going on at the same time. How do you keep track of them all?

I wonder the same at times! Like all good authors I plan my books and know what will happen to my characters. I do like my three Woolworths Girls Sarah, Maisie and Freda to each have a story in the book but of course their boss, Betty along with nan, Ruby and a few other people shout out to me to be included. It’s a matter of blending their stories around the war, local events and also Woolworths – and not forgetting one of them along the way.

Who’s your favourite character in the Woolworth’s books?

My goodness it changes all the time. I always enjoy writing the scenes between Ruby and her nosy neighbour, Vera. They have a love hate relationship although Vera seems unaware of the fact. I’ve known several people like Vera and she is probably one of the few characters based on someone who once walked this earth. I’ll say no more! Then of course Ruby has her own romance with Bob so I do like letting them have some fun. Over all I confess to liking Betty Billington and so her part has grown from book to book. After all, if it weren’t for Betty hiring the three girls there wouldn’t be a story to tell.

When you get some time off writing your own books, what do you enjoy reading? 

I enjoy a well-written saga but can also have my nose in a psychological thriller by C L Taylor, one of the Women’s Murder Club novels by James Patterson or perhaps an old-fashioned crime novel – I’m re-reading all the Dick Francis books at the moment. I’m also a big fan of Milly Johnson and Carole Matthews so you could catch me with their latest romcoms. If the book blurb calls out to me I’ll read almost anything.

Is there anywhere you’ll be appearing/talking while promoting Wartime at Woolworths where your fans can go and see you?

I’m still firming up talk invitations but can announce that I’ll be at:

Sidcup Library: Saturday 12^th May 2.30 pm

Erith Library:  Monday 14^th May at 2.30 pm

Crayford Library: Tuesday 15^th May at 2.30 pm
*Tickets for the above three events are free and available here on Eventbrite.

Hempstead Library: Tuesday 29^th May at 3.30 pm

Eltham Library: Tuesday 5^th June at 7 pm

The War and Peace Revival Show, Paddock Wood, Kent Saturday 28^th July where I’ll be signing books in the author tent and being interviewed during the day.

I’m also book signing and holding a launch event on 31^st May at the Waterstones store in Bromley at 7pm.

Thank you for taking some time out from what we know is a very busy period for you. The very best of luck with the book.

Thank you for such interesting questions xx

 

About Wartime at Woolworths: 

The Woolworths girls have come a long way together . . .

Fun loving Maisie is devoted to her young family and her work at Woolworths. But her happy life with her RAF officer husband and their baby daughter leads her to think of the family she left behind . . . With the war now into its fourth year, what will she find when she sets about searching for them?

Sarah and her husband, Alan, are blissfully happy and long for a sibling for their daughter. But dark days lay ahead for this close family. Freda heads home to Birmingham, to go in search of her family, back to the life she fled – far from the safety of Woolworths and her new friends.

With families’ separated by war, will the Woolworths girls be able to pull together?

Wartime at Woolworths is the fourth moving instalment in the much-loved Woolworths series by bestselling author Elaine Everest.

PRAISE FOR ELAINE EVEREST

‘A warm, tender tale of friendship and love’  Milly Johnson

‘Heartwarming . . . a must-read’  Woman’s Own

 

Elaine Everest, author of Bestselling novels The Woolworths Girls, The Butlins Girls & Christmas at Woolworths was born and brought up in North West Kent, where many of her books are set. She has been a freelance writer for twenty years and has written widely for women’s magazines and national newspapers, with both short stories and features. Her non-fiction books for dog owners have been very popular and led to broadcasting on radio about our four legged friends. Elaine has been heard discussing many topics on radio from canine subjects to living with a husband under her feet when redundancy looms.

When she isn’t writing, Elaine runs The Write Place creative writing school at The Howard Venue in Hextable, Kent and has a long list of published students.

Elaine lives with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry, in Swanley, Kent and is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, The Crime Writers Association, The Society of Women Writers & Journalists and The Society of Authors as well as Slimming World where she can often be found sitting in the naughty corner.

Links:

Amazon Author Page

Author Facebook page

Twitter

Author Blog

 

Hi-de-Hi! Welcome back to Elaine Everest, with her new novel, The Butlins Girls

Elaine Everest’s new novel, The Butlins Girls, is released today. We’re thrilled to welcome her back to the blog to tell us about it.

Thank you both for hosting me on your blog. I see you’ve moved the furniture about since I was last here and there’s more wine in the fridge! Ready to celebrate, Elaine!

It was nice meeting Freda again in The Butlins Girls. Did you enjoy bringing characters forward from The Woolworths Girls, and is it something you will continue to do?

I really like moving my characters from novel to novel. Even a small mention of a character will have a reader stop and think… Freda was the ideal person to appear in The Butlins Girls as, like Molly and her mother, she had links to the local Girl Guides and Brownies and in 1946 did not have a husband or young family.

What or who inspired the character Johnny Johnson?

I found Johnny because of my love of old musicals. I was watching Easter Parade, starring Fred Astaire and Judy Garland, when ‘my Johnny’ appeared as Jonathan Harrow III played by Peter Lawford. A tall handsome man with just a hint of humour – perfect!

Without giving too much away, Harriet and Simon are not very nice people. Do you enjoy writing the bad characters?

I love a baddie! They can do horrid things, and say almost what they like, then we can give them their comeuppance – great fun for a writer. I also like to see how my pleasant characters cope when they are faced with these kind of people.

The covers of your novels are very eye catching, particularly with the red spine. Do you have any input into them?

I’m fortunate in that Pan Macmillan included me when the models were chosen for the cover of The Woolworths Girls along with designs of the uniforms of that time. This set the style of my covers and the design team have so far kept faithfully to that theme. Having just seen the cover design for the next Woolworths book I can say that they have done another great job!

I’m sure your readers will love to know how you come up with the ideas for your novels.

I usually start with my setting. I like to keep my ‘patch’ as South East London. Erith was still in Kent ‘back then’ but, as London grew, it was swallowed up and lost the image of a little town on the banks of the Thames. These days older people have only memories of the town as it used to be and it is these memories I keep true when writing my books. I like to find out what was happening at the time I set the book and then weave my characters through this with their problems and dreams.

Your books are sagas, so are traditionally longer then contemporary novels. How much time do you allow for writing them?

Sometimes not enough when a deadline is looming! My writing time would be 5 – 6 months but before that I’d be thinking what to write and jotting down ideas and links to research material. I’ve been busier this past year as there is more than my one book being published in 2017.

Research is obviously involved with your books. How much do you do and how do you resource it?

When I plan a story I like to do this fairly quickly and pencil in any research I need to do. At the stage where I flesh out my outline into a chapter breakdown I add links to information and start to pile up my collection of non-fiction books and articles that I’ve collected over the years. Most of these books remain on the table until I type ‘the end’. Apart from written material I will use online sources as well as local council archives. You will also find me watching old movies and documentaries to get a flavour of what life was like in the period of time where my book is set.

What’s next?

I’d like to say a six-month cruise but no, I’m already working on another novel that’s due for publication in May 2018 and my deadline is five months away. I’m thrilled there is another Woolworths novel being published in time for Christmas and that I can revisit my Woolies Girls and also introduce a few new characters and romances.

Thank you for your interesting questions.

Thank you, Elaine, and good luck with the book.

 

About Elaine

Elaine Everest was born and brought up in North West Kent, where many of her books are set. She has written widely for women’s magazines, with both short stories and features. When she isn’t writing, Elaine runs The Write Place creative writing school in Dartford, Kent, and runs social media for the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Elaine lives with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry, in Swanley, Kent.

Facebook Author Page

Twitter: @ElaineEverest

 

‘Molly Missons gazed around in awe. So this was Butlin’s. Whitewashed buildings, bordered by rhododendrons, gave a cheerful feeling to a world still recovering from six years of war. The Skegness holiday camp covered a vast area, much larger than Molly expected to see.’

Molly Missons hasn’t had the best of times recently. Having lost her parents, now some dubious long-lost family have darkened her door – attempting to steal her home and livelihood…

After a horrendous ordeal, Molly applies for a job as a Butlin’s Aunty. When she receives news that she has got the job, she immediately leaves her small hometown – in search of a new life in Skegness.

Molly finds true friendship in Freda, Bunty and Plum. But the biggest shock is discovering that star of the silver screen, Johnny Johnson, is working at Butlin’s as head of the entertainment team. Johnny takes an instant liking to Molly and she begins to shed the shackles of her recent traumas. Will Johnny be just the distraction Molly needs – or is he too good to be to be true?

Published by Pan Macmillan on May 4th and available from Amazon