New Sunderland-set Shipyard Girls book hits top 3 in Sunday Times Bestsellers list

Based on the hundreds of real life women who took on the backbreaking work of Sunderland’s shipyards during the war, playing a huge role in the war effort, The Shipyard Girls series is now in its 10th instalment.

Previous novels have also made it into the Sunday Times Bestsellers list, but the latest, The Shipyard Girls on the Home Front, has made the highest ranking yet, sailing into the national top 3.

Author Amanda Revell Walton, who writes as Nancy Revell, says she is delighted with the response to the book in which, like her previous releases, she interweaves real incidents, places and bombings with fictional characters.

Speaking from her Roker home, she said: "I really do have the best readers ever. I have received so many wonderful messages on social media from readers telling me how much they love this latest instalment and the series in general. And so many readers have spent the time and effort posting reviews on Amazon which is hugely appreciated.

"To hit the number 3 spot ahead of people like Jeffrey Archer, Lynda La Plante , Ann Cleeves and Marian Keyes, is amazing. I'm over the moon and so thankful that so many people not only read and enjoy The Shipyard Girls but also write and tell me."

Amanda, whose own family worked in Sunderland’s shipyards, said: “I am particularly proud that a series of fictional books set in Sunderland, the place where I was born and brought up, has achieved such success and notoriety."

The author usually celebrates her releases with a book signing at Waterstones Sunderland. Due to social distancing, a signing couldn’t take place this time, 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.

::The Shipyard Girls on the Home Front released through Arrow Paperback Original is priced £7.99.

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