HISTORICAL FICTION AT ITS FINEST: WHEN MIDNIGHT COMES IS OUT TODAY

Saga readers will lose themselves in the moving new novel by Beryl Matthews, WHEN MIDNIGHT COMES, published in hardback and ebook today by Allison & Busby. A grieving young woman finds solace in the unruly horses on a wealthy estate, but has to prove her worth to keep a position usually held by men. The paperback edition is set to follow in September.

1856. Christine Banner is alone after her father’s death. Determined to make her own way in the world, she stumbles onto an estate in the New Forest where she finds work that she loves. However, when the future looks uncertain, Christine’s skill at handling some of the large and difficult war horses shines through and captures the attention of the son of the estate owner. In the face of grief, sadness and disappointment, Christine’s intelligence and strength will be tested until she finds the place she can truly call home.

Since retiring, Beryl Matthews has pursued her ambition to become an author. Writing prolifically, she has published a novel nearly every year since 2002. Her first novel, THE OPEN DOOR was published by Penguin when she was 71.

Praise for Beryl Matthews:

‘A charming, feel-good story that’s as satisfying as hot cocoa and a warm fire on a cold winter’s day.’ — Booklist

‘An entertaining and well-paced read. Beryl Matthews provides an appealing young heroine and heart-warming tale.’ — The Historical Novel Society

‘A delightful story with the assured touch of a born story teller.  I couldn't put it down.’ — Barbara Erskine

‘Catherine Cookson fans will love this.’ — Woman’s Own

WHEN THE MUSIC STOPPED by Beryl Matthews - published tomorrow by Allison & Busby!

Published tomorrow in hardback by Allison & Busby is WHEN THE MUSIC STOPPED by Beryl Matthews.

Set in London, 1912, WHEN THE MUSIC STOPPED follows identical twins Lester and Lillia Holdsworth – both destined for the stage. Lester is a brilliant pianist; Lillia a magnificent opera singer. But their cruel father has other ideas for their future. Lester is sent to a military academy, while Lillia must marry Lord Dalton - a self-righteous, pompous friend of her father's looking for a young wife to give him an heir. Yet their plans to defy their father's wishes are put on hold when war breaks out in 1914. Suddenly Lester is flying planes for the RFC and Lillia trains as a nurse to help those wounded at home, and then abroad. For both twins, the fighting brings hardships and difficult choices. They wait in hope, like the rest of Europe, for the war to end and the music to start again.

Matthews is an incredibly prolific writer, publishing a novel almost every year since 2002. Her first novel THE OPEN DOOR was published by Penguin when Matthews was 71.

About Beryl Matthews

As a young girl, Beryl Matthews’ ambition was to become a professional singer, but lack of funds drove her into an office, where she worked her way up from tea-girl to credit controller. After she retired, she began to pursue her dream of becoming a published author.

THE POWDER OF DEATH BY JULIAN STOCKWIN PUBLISHED TODAY

Julian Stockwin’s latest historical fiction novel THE POWDER OF DEATH is published August 18 2016 by Allison & Busby. THE POWDER OF DEATH is Julian’s newest addition to the MOMENTS IN HISTORY series, historical action-adventure novels which examine and reimagine the turning points of the past.

1261. Oxford, England. An envoy returns from the land of the Tartars to meet with an English scholar and share a deadly secret that touches on the future of Christianity itself. The two men vow that the knowledge of gunpowder must die with them as the consequences are otherwise too fatal to contemplate.

1290. Hurnwych Green, England. After his quiet life is shattered by tragedy, local blacksmith Jared begins a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Aboard a ship to Venice, he meets Sir Nicholas Gayne who invites him to join the Knights Hospitallers as their blacksmith on a holy crusade for King Edward.

The adventure that follows sees Jared encounter men from distant Cathay who harbour the secret of huo yao, and so begins one man’s obsession with the powder of death and a king’s determination to change the very nature of warfare…

Praise for Julian Stockwin and the MOMENTS IN HISTORY series

‘Historical fiction is a tricky beast. As a writer you have to keep your history in proper shape while combining it with a narrative that someone actually wants to read. Score two out of two for Julian Stockwin.’ – Daily Mail.

‘Julian Stockwin, a master of the historic novel, writes with a zeal, recreating ancient times, with fast-paced prose, vivid characters, and matchless authenticity. Powder smoke and the stench of brimstone waft off the pages.’ – Quarterdeck magazine.

About Julian Stockwin

At 14 Stockwin joined a tough sea-training school, followed by the Royal Navy, transferring to the Royal Australian Navy when his family emigrated.  He saw active service in the Far East, the Antarctic, the South Seas and Vietnam, and was on board the Melbourne at the time of its disastrous peace time collision with the Voyager.  Later he worked for NATO on the strategic deployment of merchant shipping.

Find out more about Julian on the Blake Friedmann or Julian’s website.

Read an excerpt of THE POWDER OF DEATH online. 

THE DAY WILL COME by Beryl Matthews Published Today in Paperback

Beryl Matthews’ 16th novel, THE DAY WILL COME, is published in paperback today by Allison & Busby. THE DAY WILL COME is already available in hardback and as an eBook. Allison & Busby have also reissued 6 of Beryl’s novels in paperback and Beryl has previously published 12 novels in hardback with Severn House.

Set in London during the 1940s, the war is raging across Europe and twenty-three-year-old Grace is devastated by the loss of her husband at Dunkirk after only a year of marriage. Her secretarial job at a law firm keeps her mind from dwelling on her sorrow but when her boss enlists in the air force Grace is left without work. Alongside her best friend, the two young women join the War Office in a move that will change their lives forever. As Grace throws herself into the war effort, she must find the courage and strength to start her life afresh and find love again.

Beryl Matthews is an accomplished novelist, writing in the genre that Catherine Cookson made her own, but with stories set in London. As a young girl her ambition was to become a professional singer but lack of funds drove her into an office, where she worked her way up from tea-girl to credit controller. After she retired, she began to pursue her dream of becoming a published author.

Two Beryl Matthews titles reissued in paperback today

Two of Beryl Matthew’s novels, A FLIGHT OF GOLDEN WINGS and THE UNCERTAIN YEARS, are published in the UK today by Allison & Busby. The books are available as paperbacks and ebooks. Beryl has previously published 12 novels in hardback with Severn House.

Beryl Matthews is an accomplished novelist, writing in the genre that Catherine Cookson made her own, but with stories set in London. As a young girl her ambition was to become a professional singer but lack of funds drove her into an office, where she worked her way up from tea-girl to credit controller. After she retired, she began to pursue her dream of becoming a published author.

In A FLIGHT OF GOLDEN WINGS, Ruth Aspinall is an accomplished pilot. When war breaks out and the Air Transport Auxiliary is formed she is anxious to join them. In America, brother and sister, Jack and Lucy Nelson, experienced pilots, make their way to England, also determined to become part of the ATA. Jack and Ruth meet, but with danger all around them, Jack won't commit himself to a serious relationship. By D-Day, Jack has a Spitfire to deliver to France, but his plane never arrives. Ruth is heartbroken but cannot accept that she will never see Jack again.

In THE UNCERTAIN YEARS, tomboyish Becky plans to join the ATS, her neighbours Bob and Jim the navy and army respectively. Only Becky's brother Will is left out of the excitement; because of a slight physical disability, he is forced to stay behind. As the friends are separated, their youthful enthusiasm is tempered by the grim newspaper headlines and their own experiences, and they will feel both joy and pain before the war is over.

Allison & Busby are giving these re-issued novels a fresh cover style. They have already re-issued four of Beryl’s earlier novels and published her new novel THE DAY WILL COME in hardback last year with the paperback coming this summer.