The “Friend” recommends

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

Q Did you enjoy your own time as a Woolworths girl? A I really did. It was my first job as back then we couldn’t start work until the age of fifteen and three months in order to have a National Insurance card. We worked until 5.30 p.m. with fifteen minutes for morning and afternoon breaks and an hour for lunch in the marvellous staff canteen.

So much of my Saturday job experiences went into my book. Work was governed by bells that rung for breaks, to return to our counters and then when the store closed. I lived for those bells just as Maisie did in “The Woolworths Girls”. I earned the princely sum of one pound and had three old pence deducted for my National Insurance. We also had to be good at arithmetic as all sales had to be added up before pushing the keys down on the large angry till that tried to bite me!

Q Could you tell us a little about the plot?

A

“Christmas At Woolworths” follows the girls through to the Christmas of 1942. Freda is keen to “do her bit” for the war effort, as is Sarah, while Maisie has family matters on her mind. Betty meets a fascinating stranger. I’ve also introduced a mysterious young woman, and her daughter, from Wales. Ruby is still the backbone of the family but has her own problems to contend with.

QWhen you wrote the first book was a series always in your mind?

ANot at all. In fact when my publisher suggested another book I had a problem. Anyone who read “The Butlins Girls” would have noticed that Freda pops up in the book and chats about her mates at Woolworths.

As this book was set in 1946 and “The Woolworths Girls” finished in 1941, I had to take into consideration anything mentioned by Freda when I wrote “Christmas At Woolworths”.

QWhat’s your favourite thing about Christmas?

AMy birthday! I was born late in the evening on Christmas Eve so this time of the year felt magical when I was a child. Now I look forward to a peaceful few days when the world seems to be a happier place. However, I also feel extra aware that for some Christmas can be a sad time.

For me, the Christmas period means I can take a few days off and spend time with my husband and our Polish Lowland sheepdog, Henry.

QYou run a writing school – is it satisfying helping people?

AIt most certainly is and is always extra special to see their stories in the “Friend”. In fact, Francesca Burgess recently had her nostalgic serial published.

Almost every one of my students has seen their work in print with many working towards publication of novels – what a talented bunch they are!

As I write this, Natalie Kleinman has notified us that there will be cakes to celebrate her latest sale – to the “Friend”!

QAs a member of the RNA, what is key to a good romance?

AI’m such a fan of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. They do so much to help romance authors and to keep readers aware of our books.

For me the key to a good romance is to include friendship and warmth to a relationship. The build up as the couple get to know each other is as important as that first kiss.

I know I have it right when my editor, Victoria, writes “Sigh!” or “Lovely” in the margin of my manuscripts.

Join us again in our December 16 issue when we talk to Rita Bradshaw about her book “Song At Sunrise”.