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War changed her country, but it couldn’t change her spirit
Glasgow, 1939
Despite being shy and reserved, Jeannie Dougal finds herself newly engaged to handsome soldier, Arthur Dunn, the day war is announced. Jeannie accepts, even if she is unsure if a girl from the tenements will fit in with Arthur’s comfortable, middle-class background. But as WW2 takes its toll on the world, her wedding must wait…
As she sets off to work at a munitions factory she meets Eileen, Janet and Annie. As her new friends bond together in war work, sharing their stories of romance, Jeannie is grateful to be settled with Arthur, even if he is set in his ways.
Until she meets charming Canadian soldier, Bill, and realises she has found a spark she was always missing. But how can Jeannie tell Arthur? And is she strong enough to fight her own battle, with the country already at war…?
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Q&A
– When and where do you prefer to write?
I tend to write evenings and weekends due to the day job and I write at my kitchen table where there is plenty of natural light and I can see the trees and bird feeders outside the window.
– Do you have a certain ritual?
Putting the kettle on before I start!
– Is there a drink or some food that keeps you company while you write?
Coffee and more coffee. And if I’m lucky, a slice of Lemon Drizzle cake which is my favourite.
– What is your favourite book?
That is an impossible question to answer as my book cases are spilling over with books I love. Pride and Prejudice is a top contender.
– Do you consider writing a different genre in the future?
As Jeannie’s War is my debut saga, I have lots of ideas for more family sagas going forward so at the moment I’m happy to stay with the saga/historical romance genre but I wouldn’t rule out trying something different in the future if I get a great idea although there will always be romance in there somewhere whatever I write.
– Do you sometimes base your characters on people you know?
No, I would never base a character entirely on someone I know but I do love to people-watch while on a train journey or in cafes so some observations from those make it into my characters.
– Do you take a notebook everywhere in order to write down ideas that pop up?
Yes, I have a notebook that I carry with me because you never know when a brilliant idea will strike.
– Which genre do you not like at all?
I’m fairly eclectic in my reading but I don’t read much horror these days probably because I’m more easily scared now than when I was younger! I have, though, read many of Stephen King’s books and love his writing style.
– If you had the chance to co-write a book. Whom would it be with?
It would have to be Catherine Cookson who is the Queen of saga writing and it would be amazing to get her top tips on how to write a really cracking story that pulls at the heartstrings and takes you as a reader on a rollercoaster of emotions. I do like to cry and laugh when I’m absorbed in a story and I have to have a happy ever after so I can sigh contentedly when I shut the book after the last page. I’m hopeful that I’ve achieved that with Jeannie’s War.
– If you should travel to a foreign country to do research, which one would you chose and why?
Ooh, I like this question but it’s difficult to answer because I love to travel anywhere. If I absolutely have to choose, I’ll take a visit to France, not just because I love the language, the people and the chance to eat baguettes and goat’s cheese along with a lovely glass of French wine but also because it’s a country steeped in history so there is plenty to explore and learn which is perfect for a historical romance writer.
Thank you, Carol MacLean and Rachel’s Random Resources
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About the author
Carol MacLean lives in the Glasgow area. She began by writing pocket novels, having 18 published before deciding to write an historical saga. She enjoys weaving social history into fiction and imagining how life must have been for ordinary people living through different times.
When she’s not writing, Carol can be found visiting museums or walking around the city looking for traces of old Glasgow to inspire her next novel.
Carol is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
She has written 18 pocket novels published by DC Thomson and Linford Romance Series (Ulverscroft).
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Author Links
Twitter: @carolcmaclean
Facebook fan: https://www.facebook.com/carolcmaclean
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Book Links
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3q0Ooir
B for Bookreview 