Mary Wood talks about her new book “The Brave Daughters”, plus moneyoff voucher

Every month the “Friend” teams up with publisher Pan Macmillan to bring you a greatvalue book offer. This issue, we chat to author Mary Wood.

Q Could you tell us a bit about the plot of “The Brave Daughters”?

A “The Brave Daughters” follows the journey taken by Flora, Ella and Mags, heroines of the first three books in “The Girls Who Went to War” series, and in particular their children as the families are faced with the dawning of World War II and their idyllic life in the south of France, where the British are considered to be enemies of the state, is torn apart. However, it is a stand-alone read, too, as are all of the books.

Q Who was your favourite character to write in this book?

A In this novel, I have been close to many of the characters for a long time and I have been through a lot with them, so I have a dilemma in choosing a favourite.

But I will go for Sibbie, a girl who goes through heartache, who is courageous and is a strong young woman capable of deep love, loyal friendship and who has a sense of fun that keeps others going.

Q What inspired you to write about two sets of friends in the same book, and what do you think it adds to the novel?

A Taking Flora’s, Ella’s and Mags’s stories forward into “The Brave Daughters” naturally brought their families into focus as their children are now of an age to be involved in some way in the fight against Hitler’s regime.

The lives of these friends and their brothers run together at times, alongside at others, and take centre stage when major events happen for them.

The effect this has on the novel is to bring all the theatres of the war into play, giving a rich tapestry of life as it was, led by the young generation of the time, and a platform for readers to feel the heartache and sorrow and even the joy that such times can generate.

Q What have you been doing during the lockdown? Has it been a challenging time?

A Very. My husband and I were initially trapped in Spain, where I was taking my annual winter writing retreat, with no family in the same country and none of the many friends I have in Spain close by.

But we were buoyed by the wonderful contact we had through video calls with our children, our wider family and friends back home, and all the amazing encouragement we received through my Facebook author page.

I wrote two books during this time and started another, but my creativity dried up as the weeks went by and ferry after ferry home was cancelled, until eventually we made a run for it.

A three-day journey through Spain and France to the Channel tunnel, and we’re now home in quarantine for 14 days, but so very happy to be here.

Q What’s your favourite thing and least favourite thing about life as a writer?

A Favourite – there are so many. The creation of a novel, seeing my book on the shelves, the talks I am asked to give, the friends I have, and the favourite I cherish, my connection with “The People’s Friend” that has meant so much to my family, from the days my greatgrandmother wrote for the magazine in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

The least favourite – edits.