As a child a local story from 1924 had always fascinated me, and I was keen to include it in one of my books. A terrible explosion at the W. V. Gilbert munition works, on the banks of the Thames between Erith and Slades Green, on 18th February 1924 took the lives of twelve young women and their foreman. As a child who had played on the riverbank in the 1960s it was unimaginable, but to visit Brook Street cemetery with my mum and stop to look at the memorial to the dead just inside the gates brought home to me the enormity of the tragic event. I had no idea my paternal grandmother had worked in munitions and had left the works just a year or so before to give birth to her first son, my uncle Cyril. It was never mentioned and we grandkids never asked. Now it is too late. Imagine then how thrilled I was to come across recordings, courtesy of the Imperial War Museum, of women who had worked at Gilbert’s and also the Woolwich Arsenal during World War One and afterwards. These women most probably rubbed shoulders with my nan – in fact, if you spotted a character in my book named Cissie, who lived in South Road and befriended Ruby, it may just have been Nan . . .
Speaking of W. V. Gilbert, you may have spotted a very young Maureen Gilbert pop up in this book. Maureen is a much-loved character from the Woolworth series and is no relation to the munition works owner – a pure coincidence.
I’d best say thank you to my husband, Michael, and our dog, Henry, who keep me grounded and sane while I work on my novels. My husband likes to remind me that if it wasn’t for him the name on the cover of my books would not be Everest!
Again, thank you all for your help.
A Letter from Elaine
Dear Reader,
Hello again. It doesn’t feel that long since I sat down to write my last letter to you, and what a time it has been. Who would have guessed what we were facing back in the spring? I pray that you and yours are keeping well as it is all we can ask for at the moment.
Thank you to readers who searched out a copy of Wedding Bells for Woolworths even though the world was in lockdown and we could not venture far from home at the end of April. Our supermarkets did their best to stock the book, but I have to confess that I was worried anyone would endanger themselves by going out of their way to buy a copy. Online we discovered the joy of buying from independent bookshops. I discovered Hive.co.uk, who not only deliver books but pass a percentage to local bookshops. Isn’t that nice? I’m sure like me you have used your e-reader more than usual. Did your reading material change at all? I found myself reading more crime and psychological thrillers as well as lots of new romcom authors. Pure escapism!
Working from home, I had thought life would go on as usual, but of course I was wrong. Being told to stay home can mess with our heads, and with cancelling so many author talks, workshops, book signings and events I’ve been climbing the walls at times. However, thank goodness for social media where we’ve been able to chat about every subject under the sun. Our moods must have been lifted by being able to turn on our laptops and natter with our friends. I’ve enjoyed watching author talks via Zoom, along with weekly chats with fellow saga authors on Messenger. July saw me reach a special anniversary when I celebrated forty years free of breast cancer. How those years have sped by, but how grateful I am that the dedication of my consultant meant I was able to live to write my books, grow old (ish), and get to know you all. I’m truly grateful as many people, my own mother included, never had that chance.
I’ve been posting on my blog and have set up a newsletter section for readers. Have you signed up to both? If not pop over to my website (details below) and complete the box for the newsletter, and also for blog notifications, which you will find on the blog page. I plan to have special competitions available for anyone following my newsletters.
What do we have to look forward to? Well, at the time of writing we’ve got Christmas – I plan to read as many Christmas books as possible to get me into the festive spirit, and as it’s my birthday I may just raise a glass or two to fellow Christmas babies. Is there one in your family?
2021 will see two books from me: the first, of course, is this one; the second is something completely different, but you will have to wait a little while longer to hear more . . .
With love,
Elaine xx
You can visit me here:
Twitter: @ElaineEverest
Facebook: Elaine Everest Author
Instagram: @elaine.everest
Website and blog: www.elaineeverest.com
A Mother Forever
Elaine Everest was born and brought up in north-west Kent, where her books are set, and has written widely for women’s magazines – both short stories and features – as well as fiction and non-fiction books for the past twenty-four years. Successful in writing competitions, she was shortlisted for the Harry Bowling Prize and was BBC Radio Kent’s short-story writer of the year in 2003.
A qualified tutor, she runs The Write Place creative writing school in Hextable, Kent. Elaine lives with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry, in Swanley, Kent.
You can say hello to Elaine on
Twitter: @ElaineEverest
Facebook: Elaine Everest Author
Instagram: @elaine.everest
Website and blog: www.elaineeverest.com
Also by Elaine Everest
The Woolworths Girls
Carols at
