Translate:
Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom
Listening to Linnie
Synopsis
The ability to be a good nurse is not the only gift Paola Green possesses – whether she likes it or not. She’s a natural medium, who sees and hears the dead.
It is the 1960’s and the world is changing. Life is full of opportunities with the national Health Service still in its infancy.
Women are changing. New freedom in all things beckons seductively, for pretty, young women with the world at their feet.
Women who can listen – who are able to take advice. And, that’s the problem. Paola’s voices come from somewhere that others don’t understand – voices no one else can hear. And who in their right mind is going to love a crazy woman that hears and sees things that no sane person would contemplate?
This is a story of growing up and learning to accept, amid the high drama of the hospital and its vulnerable. The story tears at the emotions with moments of extreme tragedy and pathos to outright comedy, as, despite everything, love blossoms amongst the chaos.
Robbie is a medical student spending a year in England on a Sabbatical. He has been housed in the nurses’ home, where it was not allowed for men to even visit under normal circumstances. His room is next to Paola’s.
At first, she makes no attempt to hide her dislike for him and conflict follows. However, despite her resolve not to fall for this ‘brash American,’ there are a few surprises and love blossoms. It will be all right in the end – won’t it?
My first published novel. I can’t describe the feeling when you eventually hold it in your hands and see your name there on the cover. It’s an incredible high.
My editor, Tom, described this novel as ‘Call the Midwife’ meets the ‘Sixth Sense.’
I found it an interesting strap-line.
The character of Linnie has lived alongside me for a long time – she just needed to be given a voice. I know Paola Green very well as our lives developed along the same path. The story was ‘roughed out’ many years ago. It took a lot of encouragement from others to get on with it. Becoming a writer was one of the best decisions of my life and as I remain interested in the supernatural, it seemed natural to combine the two.
I will be eternally grateful to by editor, Tom Blyth for his faith in me and to Bannister Publications for their valued on-going help. To have a professional organisation behind you makes all the difference.
I love my writing almost as much as I love delivering babies and all those mothers – and fathers – who have provided inspiration for the books over the years.
And soon, the second in the trilogy is coming…
‘Beyond the Blue Swing Doors,’ sees Paola Green become a trained nurse, but not before a few adventures have been had along the way. Will love ever come again?
Just one word – Liam.
Notes
While writing the second ‘Linnie’ we travelled to France. Near Limoges, and visited Oradour-sur-Glane. It not only changed my life, but, as we walked in the woods, we found an infant’s grave. With my hand on the ground, there was a sudden connection and in that moment, I had the story and its title.
My husband’s face said it all. ‘That’s it for another six months then.’