by Lizzie Page
Hello,
Firstly, and most importantly, huge, huge thanks for reading When I Was Yours. I do hope you enjoyed it. I have loved writing it.
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This is the third novel I have written about women in the First World War, and as in The War Nurses and Daughters of War, it was inspired by the experiences of real-life women and is a celebration of them. For a long time women have been written out of history. This is an effort to restore them to their rightful place.
When I Was Yours differs from my previous two novels in that it has a dual timeline and focuses on the Second World War too. One reason I did this was because I was curious about exploring how it might have felt to go through one war and then have to go through another. I was particularly interested in exploring the lives of those who were approximately my age, late forties and early fifties, and how the Second World War might have been for them. I enjoyed having that longer time frame to play with and to explore more than just a snapshot of a life.
Another thing that pulled me to write about the Second World War was that I wanted to look at evacuation. My dad was evacuated – from London to Hinckley – and I grew up hearing his tales, some of which I’ve borrowed here. Dad died two years ago, but he was always positive, and a loving support to me and my writing.
I was also interested in looking at anti-Semitism in When I Was Yours. As I was writing this, I would hear on the news that anti-Semitism is on the rise. I wanted to explore where it comes from, what it is and most importantly, what it requires to change. I believe, as Sam says, that it’s often a question of scapegoating or blaming those who are different, but I’m also a firm believer that people, like Vivienne and her father, can change. It may require education, experience and open minds, but it can be done.
We should be so proud of those who serve and who served in the wars – and at the same time, we should never forget how truly awful a time the First and Second World Wars were. I sometimes worry that we idealise those days when in fact there is nothing beautiful about losing your loved ones – forty thousand civilians were killed in the Blitz alone – and there is nothing exciting about hunger or lack of medicines. It’s very important that we recognise that people were immensely, astonishingly brave during those wars – but they shouldn’t have to be that brave.
There is also, I think, a perception nowadays that previous generations were more ‘resilient’ or ‘just got on with things’. I think this is a mistake and it’s something I wanted to address in When I Was Yours. Suicide, alcoholism, drug-taking and violence, particularly against women and children, was rife in the olden days – it just wasn’t talked about. I’m very grateful that there is greater compassion and support towards those with mental illnesses than there ever was, yet more understanding and more help needs to be made available.
If you have a moment, and if you enjoyed it, a review would be much appreciated. I’d dearly love to hear what you thought and reviews always help us to get our stories out to more people.
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It’s always fabulous to hear from my readers – please feel free to get in touch directly on my Facebook page, or through Twitter, Goodreads or my website.
Thank you so much for your time,
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Lizzie Page
Author Note
When I Was Yours is fictional but there are characters here who were real and who were a great inspiration to me. If this novel inspires anyone to find out more about the lives of these remarkable people, then that would be brilliant.
Lena Guilbert Ford (1870–1918) was the American songwriter who co-wrote the sensational ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’ with David/Ivor Novello.
Olive Mudie-Cooke (1890–1925) was a war artist who served as an ambulance driver in France and as a VAD in Italy and Switzerland. She had one older sister, Phyllis, who also served.
In an Ambulance: A VAD lighting a cigarette for a patient is one of many exceptional paintings Olive Mudie-Cooke created and it is currently kept by the Imperial War Museum.
The War Nurses
Order it here!
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‘A beautiful, heart-warming story of friendship and love... one of the best books set during the war that I have had the pleasure of reading.’ Renita D’Silva
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‘Completely spellbinding – I absolutely loved it.’ Elizabeth Gill
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As war takes its toll, the love and care of two brave young nurses will become everything to the wounded soldiers they tend. A gritty, emotional read inspired by an amazing true story.
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1914 – Two young nurses pledge to help the war effort: Mairi, a wholesome idealist hoping to leave behind her past and Elsie, a glamorous single mother with a weakness for handsome soldiers. Despite their differences, the pair become firm friends.
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At the emergency medical shelter where they’re based, Elsie and Mairi work around the clock to treat wounded soldiers. It’s heart-breaking work and they are at constant risk from shelling, fire and disease. But there are also happier times… parties, trips and letters. And maybe even the possibility of love with an attractive officer in their care…
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But as the war continues and the stress of duty threatens to pull the two women apart, will Elsie and Mairi’s special nurses’ bond be strong enough to see them through?
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A powerfully moving wartime saga – you won’t want to put it down!
Acknowledgements
There’s always a long list of people I want to thank and I always get very nervous that I’ll miss out someone. But here goes. Many appreciations to:
ALL the fantastic book bloggers – where would we be without you? The internet would be a much less colourful place and us writers would feel far more isolated and bewildered. You really do take our books by the hand and deliver us into the world safely. Special thanks to: Emthebookworm at Shazsbookblog, Stacy at Stacyisreading, Emma at BookingGoodRead, Louise at WaggyTalesDogBlog, Frankie at Chicks, Roguesandscandals and Nicola at Shortbookandscribes. Annemarie at Bookaholic, Amanda at Gingerbookgeek, Kaisha at TheWritingGarnet and everyone who has read and reviewed my work. Your support and encouragement has given me so much confidence.
Stow Maries Airfield – a genuine First World War airfield with a small but perfectly formed women’s museum and a lovely old-fashioned canteen – an atmospheric place to write! Special thanks to volunteers Dave H-G and Bookshop Tel.
Create 98 is a fabulous creative environment set up by Christine Wyatt and it’s where I’ve been running some writing workshops. Thank you to my workshop co-hosts, Richard Kurti and Jen Feroze, and to my students. I always learn so much from you.
Trauma Fiction is a Facebook group that have set me right on so many injuries and illnesses. Infinite gratitude also to spell-check for helping me out repeatedly and patiently with Gonorrhoea. What a word that is!
My local libraries, especially Rayleigh and Southend Libraries, for their support. Libraries were very important to me: as a young girl with an Enid Blyton habit, as a student, as a mother of young children and now as a writer. Sadly, Essex Libraries are under threat from extreme cuts proposed by Essex County Council. I am grateful to those in the Save Our Libraries Essex groups fighting the proposals and I would like to continue to offer my support.
The Romantic Novelists Association is a fantastic organisation and it’s a privilege to be a member. Special love to the wonderful and welcoming Essex chapter, and indeed, the Bootmaker Restaurant in Chelmsford for hosting us.
Savvy Authors is a great Facebook group full of brilliant authors, where I learn all the things I need to know about this incredible industry (and some of the things I don’t!). Other Facebook groups I love and appreciate incl
ude: Saga Girls, Book Lovers and Book Connectors, all wonderful groups of readers and writers, all places of great information and kindness.
My friends, old and new. You’ve been, and are, fabulous. I’m very lucky to know you all. (And a special mention to the brilliant Mariya Peneva, who really has kept these home fires burning.)
The Second World War Club on FB has been invaluable for research and ideas. I also want to shout out to an incredible reference book, Wartime: Britain 1939–1945 by Juliet Gardiner. I have loved Crow’s Eye Productions’ beautifully atmospheric short films on getting dressed as a World War One nurse and a World War One soldier and a YouTube series called Wartime Kitchen and Garden.
Huge thanks of course to Bookouture, including the fabulous copyeditors, proofreaders, designers, marketeers, strategists, assistants, and never forgetting the multi-tasking caped crusaders and publicity gurus themselves: Kim Nash and Noelle Holton.
My fabulous editor – Kathryn ‘safe hands’ Taussig. I was super lucky the day my first manuscript ended up on your desk!
My fabulous agent – Thérèse Coen at Hardman and Swainson – who, despite all the terrible ideas I throw at her, never makes me feel stupid.
Mum and Dad, who I know would have been thrilled by this book.
My sister, Debs, my gorgeous nieces, to my tolerant if increasingly feral children, Reuben, Ernie and Miranda, to Lenny-the-dog, and last – but never least – to Steve.
Published by Bookouture in 2019
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An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
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www.bookouture.com
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Copyright © Lizzie Page, 2019
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Lizzie Page has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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eBook ISBN: 978-1-78681-948-2
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.