New release in Sunday Times bestselling Shipyard Girls series + win 5 copies

Shipyard Girls on the Home Front is the tenth novel from the pen of Roker author Amanda Revell Walton, who writes as Nancy Revell.

Inspired by the hundreds of real life women who went to work in Sunderland’s shipyards while their men were at war, the books have proved hugely successful, selling hundreds of thousands of copies and regularly making it into the Sunday Times Bestsellers List.

And the latest instalment, which features fictional characters facing real issues and bombings, looks set to follow suit.

Set in December 1943, as the war effort gathers steam in Europe, it’s all hands on deck on the home front for the book’s regular characters.

Speaking about the book, which will be released on March 18, Amanda said: “I can’t believe that Shipyard Girls on the Home Front is the tenth book in the series – nor can I quite believe the success of the Shipyard Girls series.

"To consistently hit the Sunday Times best sellers’ chart is amazing and is so much more than I could ever have hoped for. The last book A Christmas Wish for the Shipyard Girls has over 2000 reviews on Amazon, and I’ve just been told that the series is tipping towards books sales of nearly half a million."

She added: “I have to say, though, what really buoys me up more than anything is the wonderful feedback I get from readers. Their love (or sometimes hatred) of the characters really comes across. If I could orchestrate a huge zoom meeting there’s nothing more I’d love than to chat away to readers about Rosie, Helen, Gloria, Polly, Dorothy, Angie and the rest of the shipyard women.

"I am also over the moon that I’ve managed to fulfil a dream of mine in writing not just one but ten books – with another two to come – set in my hometown of Sunderland which has inspired me in so many different ways.”

Amanda usually celebrates her releases with a book signing at Waterstones Sunderland. Due to social distancing, a signing can’t take place, however, the author will be providing the shop with signed copies for when it reopens.

Signed copies will also be available at Fulwell Post Office.

Meanwhile, until book shops can reopen, Amanda’s books are stocked in all the major supermarkets, as well as online bookshops. Amazon also sell the entire series, as well as the Kindle and audio editions.

Related: the real Wearside women who inspired hit Shipyard Girls series.

Amanda says she’s looking forward to being reunited with her readers once more.

She said: “All fingers crossed, when the next book comes out, Shipyard Girls under the Mistletoe at the end of September, I will be sat in Waterstones Sunderland – pen at the ready – feeling very excited about finally been able to meet up with my beloved readers face to face.

"In the meantime, though I hope the next instalment takes readers of the series through the end of this current lockdown and brings them lots of enjoyment and gives them some much-needed escapism! I think that’s something we all need.”

*The Shipyard Girls on the Home Front is published on March 18, 2021 on Arrow Paperback Original, priced £7.99.

Win

We have five signed copies of Shipyard Girls on the Home Front to give away to readers.

To be in with a chance of winning a copy, answer this question: which of these was a famous Sunderland shipyard?

::A: Wexford’s

::B: Doxford’s

::C: Axford’s

Email your answer, along with your name and address, to [email protected]. Closing date: March 29, 2021. Note: due to staff still working from home we cannot accept postal entries at this time. Usual JPI Media competition rules apply.

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