The Skylark's Secret(92)
All Hell Let Loose: The World at War 1939–1945 by Max Hastings has a chapter devoted to the Arctic convoys, which is a good starting point for anyone wishing to read more about their history within the wider context of the war.
I was extremely fortunate to be given access to several first-hand accounts recorded by people who served on the convoys. I am grateful to Vivienne Giacobino-Simon who shared extracts from the diaries of her father, Noel Simon, the author and African wildlife conservationist. During the war, Noel was a fighter pilot with the Fleet Air Arm, flying Wildcats from the aircraft carrier Illustrious, one of the escort vessels accompanying several convoys. He was mentioned in dispatches for his bravery.
Jamie Jauncey very kindly shared with me his grandfather’s book, the Random Naval Recollections of Admiral Sir Angus Cunninghame Graham, who commanded the destroyer Kent on Arctic convoys at one point during his illustrious naval career.
I am also grateful to Sandra Nicholl of Tamarac, Florida, for sharing photos and memories of her parents’ careers in the RAF and WRNS, including mention of the WRNS guard of honour at their Scottish wedding.
My neighbour, Ernie Carrol, told me stories of his father’s army career, which helped inspire some of the scenes in the book. I hope his dog, Braan, doesn’t mind me borrowing his name. I also appropriated the name of my friend Kiki Fraser’s dog, Corrie, with her kind permission. And my friends Peter and Wendy Miller very generously shared information about refugee children attending a west coast school during the war years.
Jamie Elder of West Highland Marine took me out on to Loch Ewe in his boat, the Striker, and gave me an excellent and informative tour of World War II sites around the loch from the water. He was very well placed to do so, having fished the waters all his life, along with his father before him, and – on one occasion – having found an unexploded bomb from the war years on the seabed.
Heartfelt thanks, as always, to my agent, Madeleine Milburn, and to her brilliant team for supporting and promoting my books around the world.
A massive thank you to my editors, Sammia Hamer, Mike Jones, Gill Harvey and Monica Byles, as well as to Emma Rogers for another stunning cover design, and to the rest of the Lake Union team at Amazon Publishing. You are life-changers.
Another big, heartfelt thank you goes out to all the friends and family who encourage me and keep the hugs coming. Especially: Lesley Singers and her family; my mother, Aline Wood; my aunt, Flora Crowe; Karen and Michael Macgregor for west coast inspiration; James and Willow; Alastair and Carey.
And, finally, I am so grateful to all my readers for their support and I would like to thank you personally for reading my books. If you have enjoyed The Skylark’s Secret, I should be very grateful if you would consider writing a review. I love getting feedback, and I know reviews have played a big part in helping other readers to discover my work.
With best wishes,
Fiona