For our July ’25 meeting Michelle gave us lively, dramatic readings from two of her books – A Little Love Song and Just Henry.
She was last with us two years ago talking about various versions of Goodbye Mister Tom, her most well-known work.
A Little Love Song (1991) is set in 1943. Michelle read a moving extract about seventeen year old Rose’s attendance at her first ball and her first dance around the time of the Second World War. Romance is in the air!
Just Henry ( 2008) set in the period just after the Second World War, features the thinly disguised town of Sternsea, a fictional mix of Portsmouth and Southsea and features post war memories of rationing and cinema going. Henry’s father has died a war hero and Henry’s passion is visiting the cinema to escape his annoying stepfather and step sister.
Both the books are out of print but are available through libraries and audio-book versions
Michelle also talked about her lyric writing for musical theatre and mentioned Tinsel, Canapes for Company and Hello Life and said that some of these are available online. She also played us a couple of recordings of her song lyrics.
Lois Coulthart