London writing duo turn war diaries into novel
Added: (Sat Nov 20 2021)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
The intimate diaries of a war-time teenager have been turned into a gripping new romance by a Greater London writing duo.
Retired researcher Laura Meloni and former broadcast journalist Sarah Onions have teamed up to bring to life the romantic adventures of a village girl and passing soldier set during the outset of World War II.
Sarah, who worked for various regional radio stations around the country, admits the idea for One Year One Night stemmed from a chat with some students.
The 63-year-old grandmother from Surbiton explained: “I got the original idea from the students at Strode’s Sixth Form College in Egham who knew the curious story of the pupils of Strode’s, when it was a school, who had been evacuated there.
“Laura and I made an early visit to Egham library for research – we just walked in and asked to see newspapers from 1940.
“The librarian kindly brought them down and they were fragile and yellow in our hands.
“We made two visits to Brighton for research, and we did a lot of work online.
“We got hold of the birth certificates of the evacuee boy’s mother to try and make sense of what happened.”
One Year One Night is told through the nostalgic eyes of Annie after, some 20 years later, she rediscovers her wartime diaries.
The tender and amusing story of love follows the fortunes of 16-year-old Annie and the soldier she falls for.
It also beautifully captures the growing affection she has for the eight-year-old evacuee boy who has come to stay.
One Year One Night has been described by reviewers as ‘enjoyable and well written’, ‘a deep insight into the mind of a teenage girl’, and as having ‘very nice twists’.
Critic Veronica Brightman stated: “All in all, a rattlin’ good yarn.”
Although both accomplished writers in their own right, Sarah and Laura, who write under the name S L Roman, have found two minds can work better than one.
Sarah’s journalistic background along with Laura’s academic and linguistic skills have helped not only sniff out a real-life historic thriller, but also have the expertise to get into the heads of protagonists.
Laura, who is 73, left her native Rome to enjoy a successful career in further education as an assessor at universities across the UK.
Sarah and Laura now spend their afternoons researching and writing together – usually at Laura’s Kingston Upon Thames home.
Sarah explained: “Laura’s husband is very tidy so there are no distractions to keep us from writing when we are there.
“Being Italian, Laura is a talented cook, so I often get lunch too when I’m there.”
Sarah has previously co-authored her own family’s story, Don’t Bring Lulu: Her Family’s tale of Trial and Triumph, with her late broadcaster father Ron Onions OBE.
For more information visit Amazon and search for S L Roman, where the Kindle and paperback versions of One Year One Night are available.
Notes to the Editor
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