In the mix were children, parents (including a nurse), two teachers, two grandmothers and a couple of children’s authors. Happily, the members of my small team of advance readers have given the story a very strong thumbs up. 😊 Early feedbackĪs any author will tell you, it’s always nerve-wracking launching a new book. I shall be writing separately about this in due course when preparing teaching resources. But it was worth the many many hours - and, I hope, has helped ensure that the twists and turns of the story play out in contexts authentic to that time. It’s amazing how many rabbit holes one can go down. Those children tended to come from poorer backgrounds who couldn’t afford to use the rinks, and I was pleased when reading Hansard reports from 1910-11 to see the young Winston Churchill standing up for them. What I loved about this research was diverting off in different directions and discovering little ‘aha’ moments which I knew needed to be in the story in some way, such as the craze of ‘rinking’ in Edwardian time (rollerskating in dedicated rollerskating rinks for those who could afford it), and bylaws being demanded by some to outlaw children rollerskating on pavements. Extract from my World Book Day week school talk
Stella and Tom spend far more time in this period in Book Two - including venturing out into town - so I wanted to feel, see and breathe the atmosphere through their eyes.
The story is not only about the girls, however - we also have Tom and Jack to root for as unexpected events unfold! Researching Edwardian Londonīelow is a slide I shared at my World Book Day school visits here in the UK last week about my research into Edwardian London. Also resonating with the theme of strong females is the bravery and resourcefulness shown by both Stella and Hannah from the present, and Lucy and others from the past as they risk everything to help Emma. The movement provides a gentle backdrop in a few of the scenes, which I know young advance readers have found intriguing alongside other historical contexts and events.
Today is International Women’s Day, and I’ve chosen to coincide the book’s official launch with this date as half of the story is set in early 1900s London, when the Suffragette movement was extremely active. Of course, things are never straightforward where time tunnels and magical moles are concerned - and so unfolds a thrilling tale of time travel, rekindled friendships and new threats that no one could have foreseen. In this page-turning sequel to The Secret Lake we see Lucy come forward in time in search of a cure for Emma who has fallen dangerously ill. I’m thrilled to announce that Return to the Secret Lake is now out and available to order after many many requests from readers over the years!
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