Sunderland-set Triumph of the Shipyard Girls makes Sunday Times bestsellers list

Just weeks after its release, the eighth novel in The Shipyard Girls series, Triumph of the Shipyard Girls, has made it into the top 10 Sunday Times Bestsellers List.

It’s from the pen of author Amanda Revell Walton, who writes as Nancy Revell from her home in Roker.

Amanda, whose own family once worked in Sunderland’s shipyards, was inspired to write her books after hearing about the real life women who kept the then town’s shipyards afloat during the war, while their husbands, sons and fathers fought on the battlefields.

“When I was told ‘Triumph of the Shipyard Girls’ had made it into the top ten, I was over the moon. It was certainly a lift in these surreal, scary times we are now living in,” said Amanda.

“What has also brought me untold joy is that many readers have messaged and said that this latest instalment has brought them some much-needed escapism.

“That means as much to me as chart success. I feel very lucky to have both.”

She added: ‘”It also seems particularly poignant at this time that the underlying theme of the book is about triumph over adversity.

“The quote at the front of the book is from 2 Corinthians 4 v8-9 and reads: ‘We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”

This is the third time the Shipyard Girls series has hit the Sunday Times bestsellers chart. Shipyard Girls in Love was the first to make it into the top ten, then Christmas with the Shipyard Girls stayed in the top ten for two weeks.

Amanda, who previously worked as a journalist before becoming an author, said: “At the end of each book, I always write a short ‘Dear Reader’ letter. This time I wrote, how, in my experiences, both personally and during my years as a journalist, so much of life seems to be about overcoming adversity. I don’t think this could be more prevalent than now.”

Publishing director of Arrow, Emily Griffin, said: “It has been wonderful to see such a strong reader response to the Shipyard Girls series and we are delighted that Triumph of the Shipyard Girls is a top-ten bestseller in paperback.

“Nancy Revell continues to go from strength to strength and we can’t wait to publish the next instalment of the series in the autumn.”

*Triumph of the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell (Arrow Books, £7.99) is out now. It can be bought from most supermarkets (Morrisons, Tescos, Sainsburys and ASDA) and online from Amazon, Waterstones, WHSmith. Signed copies are also available from Fulwell Post Office on Sea Road. It is also available as an eBook and audiobook.

*Also, Express Bookshop on 01872 562310 or order via expressbookshop.co.uk. The other seven titles in the series are also available. UK Delivery is £2.95 per order, orders over £12.99 are free.

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