Deadline for entries is Wednesday 22 May 2019 at 5pm. Good luck!
We're delighted today to host a guest blog post from writer Fiona Ford. And not only that, but Fiona's brand new novel The Liberty Girls, set around the Liberty's store in London during the Second World War, can be won in a special competition too!
Fiona spent many years as a journalist writing for women’s weekly and monthly magazines. She has written two novels under the pseudonym, Fiona Harrison, as well as two sagas in her own name in the Spark Girls series. Fiona lives in Berkshire with her husband and two cats.
You can find out more about Fiona at her website: www.fionaford.co.uk, Facebook: www.facebook.com/fionafordauthor, Twitter: @fionajourno
But first, it's over to Fiona who tells us how watching Coronation Street ended up in her landing her dream job!
"What’s your earliest memory? Mine is watching Corrie twice a week with my mum. In 1979 I would have been about three and although I didn’t really understand the storylines, I loved watching Bet Lynch prop up the bar in her leopardskin and was fascinated with Hilda Ogden and her ‘muriel’ - that fabulous painting she had on her back wall complete with three flying ducks. I also had a soft spot for Rita Fairclough, a strong woman with a heart of gold who I always thought, even at that very young age, had to have the patience of a saint, to not only put up with Mavis Riley in The Kabin but also parent troublemaker Sharon, her foster daughter.
Together with Mum we never missed an episode and would sit down avidly to watch the Brian, Ken and Deirdre triangle, Gail and Brian Tilsley’s disastrous marriage, and Gail’s even more disastrous relationship with her mother-in-law Ivy. Then there was the death of Len Fairclough and the way Rita remained stoic, Elsie Tanner’s dignified and poignant exit in a taxi, Hilda taking in Kevin Webster as her lodger, Bet finding love with Alec, Curly on the bins, Jack and Vera’s up and down relationship and all the many showdowns at Baldwin’s Casuals.
To me it was nothing short of brilliant. I loved the sense of community, the storylines that had me hooked but most of all I loved the strong, sassy northern women who had an answer for everything and took pride in themselves and each other, refusing to never be beaten by life.
The day after that memorable episode in 1983 when Deirdre slammed the door in Mike’s face as she got back together with Ken, we were asked at school what we wanted to be when we grew up. I wasted no time telling my teacher the answer - I wanted to write stories I told her where the ladies were in charge
I never changed my mind and after many years as a journalist I now count myself lucky as I’ve landed my dream job - writing gritty, historical sagas with community and sassy women at their core. The Liberty Girls is my latest. It’s set in 1942 and tells the story of Dot, Alice, Mary and Rose who aren’t dissimilar to Bet, Vera, Elsie and Rita. Together they work in the posh, London department store Liberty’s where they sometimes feel like a fish out of water. Yet no matter what their problems, this strong group of women are courageous, kind and together are a force to be reckoned with as they do battle with secrets, lies and heartache - all with a healthy dollop of humour, just as in my favourite soap. Oh, and in case you were wondering, in my books the ladies are ALWAYS in charge!
COMPETITION TIME
To be in with a chance to win a signed copy of THE LIBERTY GIRLS by Fiona Ford, all you have to do is answer the following question: Which city is Liberty’s in?
Then, fill in the competition entry form which you'll find on the right hand side of this blog (you'll need to view the blog in full web mode to see the entry form). Leave your name, email address, confirm the country you live in (sorry, overseas fans, this competition prize can be sent to a UK address only) along with your answer in the 'message box'.
We'll put all correct entries into the draw and pick one winner at random who will be announced here on the Blog.
Deadline for entries is Wednesday 22 May 2019 at 5pm. Good luck!
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