MY LIFE IN BOOKS
Author Pam Weaver talks enthusiastically about inspiring writers… and only ever reads a book once
So many books have made an impact on me. Murder Most Royal by Jean Plaidy gave me my love of histor y. I loved Pour The Dark Wine by Dinah Lampitt. I heard Dinah give a fascinating talk about the curse of Sutton Place once. The Franchise Af fair by Josephine Tey was my first foray into the adult book world. Kitchen Privileges by Mar y Higgins Clark was wonder ful. Her tenacity and determination were inspirational. Widowed with five small children and a full time job, she wrote at 5am. Sadly she died in Januar y 2020, aged 92.
Moonfleet by J. Meade Falkner sparked my love of reading.
My primar y school headmaster used to read it to us during the last lesson on a Friday afternoon and I can still recall the delicious shiver of excitement when he reached for the book.
Without a doubt, Beryl Kingston’s Hearts And Farthings and Kisses and Ha’pennies inspired me in my own writing. She came to the West Sussex Writer’s Club Day for Writers. Her talk was so inspiring that I knew that I had to walk the same path.
I don’t re-read books. Once I’ve read a book, that’s it. It goes to the charity shop.
The Women Who Ran Away By Sheila O’Flanagan
Out May 28, Headline Review, HB, £18.99 Sheila O’Flanagan has given us another per fect summer escape. Two women form an unlikely friendship when they discover shocking truths about the men they have loved. Thrown together by chance, Deira and Grace end up travelling together through the summer sunshine of France and
At the moment, I am reading
C. J. Sansom’s Shardlake stories. Seven in the series and I am riveted to book six. Oh dear, only one more to go… the sense of histor y, the descriptive writing and the excitement of the “chase”; it’s all there and, boy, do I wish I’d been the author!
My husband gave me a picture book of The Pilgrim’s Progress for our 26th wedding anniversary. I lost it for a while. The usual thing… I lent it to someone and forgot who I’d given it to. I got it back eventually!
Goodnight Sweetheart
By Pam Weaver This WWII romance is out in all formats on May 14 (Avon, HarperCollins) priced £7.99 PB.
Spain in search of new beginnings and an escape from their past mistakes. Sharing secrets and confidences, the two develop a close friendship in the most unlikely of circumstances and begin to look to the future. This life-affirming new novel celebrates the strength and power of female friendship. Beautiful, hear tbreaking and full of soul-searching.