Candy Jar has joined forces
with Fairwater Library to celebrate ‘World Book Night’ on 23rd April
with a special author signing at Fairwater Library. The event, which features
two of Candy Jar’s top authors, Eileen Younghusband and Barbara Pontin, is
expected to be popular with local residents.
First
to appear will be former WAAF, Eileen Younghusband, who has written her memoirs
of WW2, entitled One Woman’s War.
The book reveals the truth
about the forgotten wartime women, barely out of their teens, who were employed
for this critical job because they were quicker than men. It also has
contributions from Dame Vera Lynn and Emma Soames. Emma Soames, who is Winston
Churchill’s granddaughter and editor-at-large at Saga Magazine, believes that
this story must be heard. She says: “It is excellent to be reminded what a
great debt we owe to this group of brave, dedicated young women who, in a
highly charged and stressful situation, where time was of the essence, did so
much to save our country from destruction.
Now
in her 91st year,
Eileen has appeared on
BBC Radio Wales, BBC Breakfast, and has contributed to a documentary series "WW2: The Last Heroes”. She has also been in talks with a production
company about turning aspects of her life into a drama series.
For 83-year-old Barbara
Pontin it is almost like coming home. She worked in the Fairwater Library for
twenty years and is excited to be returning as a published author. Barbara
began writing her book, Merlys, in her early forties. She says: “With a family
to look after it became increasingly difficult to devote my time to the book,
and although I did have some interest from Hollywood, I put the manuscript away
and forgot about it.”
Early in 2011 Barbara came
across the 40-year-old manuscript and decided to breathe new life into the 18th
century story of murder, anguish and love across the Welsh valleys. She
continues: “I wanted my story to reach as many people as possible, so I
contacted Candy Jar Books in Cardiff. They were very supportive, but did
encourage me to start the book with a shock. I don’t think they expected it to
be so blood-curdling though.”
Barbara is quietly pleased by
the reaction to the pre-release of Merlys. Mischievously she says: “My friends have been very
shocked by this book. They didn’t know that I had it in me. Most thought butter
would not melt in my mouth. It has been fun to prove them wrong!”
Shaun Russell, director at
Candy Jar Books, is very proud of Eileen and Barbara. He says: “At Candy Jar we
like to support new talent. Barbara Pontin’s Merlys is quite a brave book. It
takes romantic fiction into a slightly gruesome world of wreckers and
highwaymen. On the other hand, Eileen Younghusband’s One Woman’s War describes
WW2 in considerable detail. It is an important account of women’s contribution
to the Allied victory in 1945. Eileen's story is an inspiration to us all.”
Eileen
Younghusband will be at Fairwater Library between 11am-1pm, with Barbara Pontin
there between 2pm- 4pm.
One Woman's War is out now. Merlys is available in August.
