The Deptford Girls
A country at war. Friends in trouble. A fascist traitor. Stepping up can only lead Lily to danger.
Rescuing friends or spotting spies; Private Lily Baker always gets involved.
While London burns she looks out for workmates and girlfriends but also uncovers a web of deception at the Depot where she works.
When the ruthless suspect knows she’s closing in, she must act fast to unmask the traitor and save her friends, herself, and the brave soldiers overseas whose lives are at risk.
The Deptford Girls is the fourth in the Lily Baker wartime series. This heart-wrenching story features courage, friendship, betrayal, compelling characters, and a captivating plot.
Q&A
When and where do you prefer to write?
I mostly write at my kitchen table, but I’m happy writing anywhere – in cafes; on my lap in the living room or in the the garden if the weather permits.
Do you have a certain ritual?
I don’t have a ritual as such but I do have a writing buddy. Once or twice a week we arrange to call each other at a certain time. Then we agree how many words we will write in the next three hours and call each other at the end of that time to report on progress.
Is there a drink or some food that keeps you company while you write?
Mostly tea and I try to resist having biscuits with it – not always successfully!
What is your favourite book?
John Boyne’s The Heart’s Invisible Furies. He’s a fantastic writer, probably best known for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. I’ve just bought his latest book ‘A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom’ and I’m looking forward to reading it.
Do you consider writing a different genre in the future?
I have already written in other genres. I started writing by accident when I was running an assertiveness course for a publishing company. They asked me to write them a training manual on the topic and I got the writing bug! This led to several self-help books, then to fiction. As well as the Lily Baker Series, I’ve written Winner Takes All, a light-hearted female sleuth story and Murder, Mystery and Magic, a witch cozy novel.
Do you sometimes base your characters on people you know?
I don’t, although I’ve sometimes used little stories they tell me about their life in my books. I either ask their permission or change it so much no-one would ever know the origin of the story.
In The Lily Baker series from the second book, I have a Welsh character, Bronwyn. My mother was half Welsh and I have a lot of Welsh relatives. I hope my American readers can get used to her Welsh way of speaking (think Nessa from Gavin & Stacey)
Do you take a notebook everywhere in order to write down ideas that pop up?
I often do have a notebook but if I don’t have one I record odd thoughts on my phone.
Which genre do you not like at all?
I don’t like books with gratuitous violence.
If you had the chance to co-write a book. Whom would it be with?
My writing buddy, Fran. In fact, one of my self-help books ‘The EI Advantage’ was co-written with my friend Susan Maitland.
If you should travel to a foreign country to do research, which one would you chose and why?
France. In the next Lily Baker book she will be a World War Two spy working for the Special Operations Executive. There is a lot written about it and it’s fascinating!
Thank you, Patricia McBride and Rachel’s Random Resources
About the author
Patricia lives in Cambridge, England with her husband Rick. She first wrote non-fiction, mainly self-help books, but became inspired to try her hand at fiction. In addition to writing she volunteers for a local museum and Addenbrookes Hospital.
Author Link
https://www.facebook.com/patriciamcbrideauthor
Book Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deptford-Girls-heart-breaking-friendship-betrayal-ebook/dp/B08DRMNKTM
US – https://www.amazon.com/Deptford-Girls-heart-breaking-friendship-betrayal-ebook/dp/B08DRMNKTM
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