by Elaine Everest
Summary:
Even though there was a war on, the Woolworths girls brought Christmas cheer to their customers
Best friends Sarah, Maisie and Freda are brought together by their jobs at Woolworths. With their loved ones away on the front line, their bonds of friendship strengthen each day. Betty Billington is the manager at Woolworths, and a rock for the girls, having given up on love . . . Until a mysterious stranger turns up one day – could he reignite a spark in Betty?
As the year draws to a close, and Christmas approaches, the girls must rely on each other to navigate the dark days that lie ahead . . .
With so much change, can their friendship survive the war?
Information about the Book
Title: Christmas at Woolworths
Author: Elaine Everest
Genre: Historical Saga
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback
Release Date: 2nd November 2017
Guest Post
For Comet Book Babes on Thursday 2nd November
Ten Favourite Things about Christmas
I was born on Christmas Eve and for me Christmas starts on the 24th of December and what a magical day to be born!
Old films! I love White Christmas and Scrooge (the 1951 version with Alastair Sim) and the festive season is not complete without sitting down on a cold winter’s day and indulging myself in both of these memorable films.
Books! I love to receive gifts of books and when better than at Christmas? It is also the one time of the year when I don’t feel guilty if I read during the daytime. Usually, I get to read before I go to bed unless it is a non-fiction book I’m reading for research for a book I’m writing.
Cooking! I love to cook and there’s no better time than at Christmas. Each year my husband suggests we don’t bother with a turkey and asks me to serve a rib of beef with my special Stilton, port and redcurrant sauce. Each year tucked away in the freezer is… a turkey. Well, it’s tradition isn’t it?
Presents for the dog. We have always owned dogs and currently have just the one although I’m working on having a second. Henry, our chocolate coloured Polish Lowland Sheepdog is spoilt rotten and has his own Christmas stocking packed with gifts. It is a joy to watch him tearing open the bright coloured paper and checking out his toys and sweets. We do have to confiscate the doggy sweets or he’d scoff them all at once.
A good brisk walk. Late afternoon on Christmas Day we head to our local park to stretch our legs and exercise Henry. It’s a joy to see youngsters out with their new bikes and toys and to be able to greet fellow dog walkers.
Having been a freelance writer for the past twenty years I’m relieved not to have to experience the ‘office party’ as I always found it something to endure rather than enjoy. These days I enjoy meeting students from my creative writing classes for our annual meal and also to meet writing colleagues and have a jolly good time.
Memories. Christmas is a time for thinking back to times when we were able to share the festive season with loved one who are no longer with us. Yes, it can be sad but I like to recall the happy times and often wonder what Mum and Dad would think of the achievements of their children.
Greetings and conversations. There’s nothing better than to hear from readers who have been given one of my books as a Christmas present or perhaps treated themselves. I’m happy to chat on Facebook and Twitter with readers who share their memories of Woolworth. So many of us still think fondly of the iconic high street store.
Work! Come Boxing Day I’m itching to open my laptop and get back to work on my latest novel. It may be for just a few hours but it’s never long before the girls are calling me back to Woolies.
Author Information
Elaine Everest, author of Bestselling novel The Woolworths Girls and The Butlins Girls was born and brought up in North West Kent, where many of her books are set. She has been a freelance writer for twenty years and has written widely for women's magazines and national newspapers, with both short stories and features. Her non-fiction books for dog owners have been very popular and led to broadcasting on radio about our four legged friends. Elaine has been heard discussing many topics on radio from canine subjects to living with a husband under her feet when redundancy looms.
When she isn't writing, Elaine runs The Write Place creative writing school at The Howard Venue in Hextable, Kent and has a long list of published students.
Elaine lives with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry, in Swanley, Kent and is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Crime Writers Association, The Society of Women Writers & Journalists and The Society of Authors as well as Slimming World where she can been sitting in the naughty corner.
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