Welcome to the amazing Wendy Appleton who tells us about her memoires about living in England during World War II.
Wendy Appleton grew up in Kent, known as 'The Garden of England.' Now a great-grandmother, she writes about her memories and adventures in extraordinary detail. Her amusing and delightful writing style draws you in as if you were right there with her.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/wendy.appleton.10
I'm now an 80+year-old great-grandmother, and I wrote my first memoir in 2012. It was the story of a five-year-old perspective in wartime, entitled A Little Girl's War.
After my book was published, I was surprised at the
stellar reviews I received from book reviewers and newspaper journalists. My
great-niece took it to her primary school teacher who read my book to her young
students, and I received 30 letters in response. I replied by hand-writing a
letter back to every student.
My sister-in-law, a teacher in France, gave my book to
a fellow teacher who was teaching English history. She loved the book so much
that she made it part of the school curriculum. The students read my book and formed
groups to each pose a question to me. I was asked to send a video reply
answering them all.
My second book was published in 2020 and titled After The
War – A Memoir. It is the sequel to the first. It begins when the war has ended
and takes you through my journey from childhood to womanhood.
Writing both books had its challenges. Being sent away
from home, seeing a crashing plane while running through the streets alone
during an air raid, and other disturbing experiences were painful to remember.
The memories became vivid and scary, re-living them as I wrote them down. In "After
the War," the most difficult parts were recalling the death of my parents.
For obvious reasons.
The research was minimal as the books are a
recollection of my own memories. I researched second world war history to make
sure I got the dates right.
I have always loved reading and have found many books
inspiring. As a child, I read much more than I do now and loved reading books
by Enid Blyton. I would get completely lost in her stories. I have enjoyed
books by Thomas Hardy, Rudyard Kipling and C.S Lewis. One of my favourites is
"The Keeper of the Bees" by Gene Stratton Porter. Now I love to read
gardening books and anything to do with plants as I am still an avid gardener
and have always loved flowers. Growing up in Kent, known as 'The Garden of
England," has made an indelible mark on my life.
The idea to write my book came from reminiscing with
my sister. We were evacuated together and, in later years, still recalled many
memories of that time in our lives. I received encouragement from my daughter
and my husband, which helped me to start writing. While writing my first book,
I was not very computer savvy and lost the entire script three times, and
because I had to start from scratch three times, it took me seven years to
write.
In my opinion, a great author produces a book that readers
enjoy reading. The response that I received from my first book gave me the
courage to write the second book. I think it helped that I was always good at
English in school. Having an aptitude for reading and writing helped me get my
thoughts onto paper and express what I wanted to say. I am also blessed with a
good memory, essential when writing about things that happened seven decades
ago!
Once my second book was released, I was taken aback to
feel conflicted about having shared details on my family's lives. I suddenly
felt exposed and did not expect to feel so vulnerable. Writing the book was the
only aspect I had been aware of and not the effects on others reading what I
had shared. I began to question my decision to publish my story.
I have realized that there is no point in worrying
about that now, and I have learned to let it go. Now I am writing my third book.
What would have been another memoir is being written as a fictional piece,
inspired by my memories. I write when I am inspired to write, with no fixed
routine. I enjoy it more that way.
A LITTLE GIRL'S WAR
Wendy ran home through
the streets of Bexleyheath with the air-raid siren wailing, her little gas mask
box bumping against her hip. Just as she reached her front gate, a Spitfire
spiralled out of the air and crashed into the school field at the end of the
road. You never forget a moment like that. Growing up in Bexleyheath in the
Second World War, bombs, air-raid sirens and fear were all Wendy had ever
known. Here, through the eyes of a small child, we see family life on the Home
Front in 1944 in its entirety - from bombed-out houses to burnt potato
peelings, from maths lessons and classroom antics to air-raid sirens and
crashing planes. After the family slept through an air raid that destroyed the
houses directly opposite, Wendy's parents decided it had become far too
dangerous. Wendy, her sister Thelma and her brother Brian were evacuated to the
Burnley area of Lancashire. Surrounded by a new accent, shining front steps and
outdoor lavatories, this little girl felt a long way from home. However, the
two women who took Wendy and her sister into their home helped her adjust to a
new way of life. She remembers fondly the kindness of these women, as well as
her other experiences as an evacuee: a new school, nits, chickens, gravy, and
her first trip to the seaside. Wendy Appleton describes beautifully the
memories that were imprinted so deeply on her young mind. As she discussed her
recollections with her older brother and sister and started to write them down,
everything came flooding back - so much so that at times she was in tears. She
is delighted to share within these pages the sights, songs and sounds of her
wartime childhood.
https://www.amazon.ca/Little-Girls-War-Wendy-Appleton/dp/1445606399
AFTER THE WAR – A MEMOIRE
No more bombs, no more
noise, and no more mayhem. No more searching the skies for flying bombs or
enemy aircraft. No more food rationing. Instead, family holidays and trips to
the seaside in a country that is now at peace. Follow this typical English
family as their lives unfold and the children become adults in post-war
England. Wendy shares memories of an age past and her journey from childhood to
womanhood.
https://www.amazon.ca/After-War-memoir-Wendy-Appleton/dp/1777315506
