After almost eight years of researching, interviewing, drafting and editing, my manuscript is finally beginning to look like … a book.
A little recap in case you missed it:
In November 2007, I agreed to write the story of the War Widows’ Guild in Western Australia. In doing so, I discovered a courageous group of women whose stories have been pitifully absent from our war histories and narratives about post-war Australia.
While many celebrated the end of the Second World War in 1945 – seventy years ago this August – thousands of war widows faced an uncertain future. Women such as Marjorie Learmonth, who lost her husband when his plane crashed into the sea off Rottnest; Gwen Forsyth, who was widowed with two young sons when her husband was killed in New Guinea; and Edna Ramage who waited two years to hear that her husband had died on the Burma Railway.
The answer came in the form of the War Widows’ Guild, established first in Victoria by Jessie Vasey and then in other states including Western Australia. In banding together, these women found friendship and support from others who understood their grief and loss. They also became a powerful lobby group, influencing the government on issues such as pensions, educational benefits and health care. They wrote letters, met with politicians and long before twitter and face book, utilised the media to their advantage. They challenged notions of passivity to become active participants in determining their own future.
These women deserve to be recognised and honoured. Their stories matter and need to be told.
Fortunately the team at Fremantle Press agree, and so my pile of A4 pages is currently being transformed into something resembling a book.
A book with a title and a cover:
A book that will be released into the world on 1 November 2015.
It still seems a little surreal. But I am so thankful and excited that it is, in fact, beautifully real.
Can’t wait to buy a copy and read it Melinda!
Thanks for all your encouragement along the way, Jacquie. Hope you enjoy it!
Sensational title and cover!!! I’m very excited for you Melinda. And it’s great that you’ve researched and written these stories before it was too late for the world to hear them.
Thank you, Helen. I have my wonderful editor, Janet Blagg, to thank for the title, and Carolyn Brown for the beautiful cover. I’m very grateful for both of them.
Congratulations, Melinda. The title and cover are wonderful. Can’t wait to read the book.
Thanks so much, Helen. I couldn’t have done it by myself. I owe a great deal to the wonderful team at Fremantle Press.
The manuscript, the writing, the hard work is yours. The rest of the team are almost insignificant in the face of your eight years of dedication.
the cover is stunning
Reblogged this on Perth Words… exploring possibilities. and commented:
Congrats and well done, Melinda!
Great cover! How exciting.
What a beautiful cover! It must be such a thrill to see, and I can’t wait to be able to buy it! Congrats! xx
Thanks so much, Louise. It is very exciting. I’m absolutely delighted with the cover and, in fact, the whole team at Fremantle Press have been absolutely wonderful.
This sounds absolutely fascinating Louise. I really look forward to reading it.
Hey Mindy, so proud of you! Love the cover. Your little brother.
Thanks for all your support, little bro!