Yapton author Roberta Grieve returns to her roots with new novel

Roberta, aged 81, said: “Sylvia’s Secret follows on from Daisy’s War which was published last year and tells the story of Daisy’s sister who is in the WAAFs.

“When I had finished Daisy’s War I felt there was more to tell about her and her family, especially her older sister who is doing secret work at an RAF station in Buckinghamshire.

“Most of my previous novels have been set in Sussex but I wanted to go back to my roots and write about the Isle of Sheppey in Kent where I grew up. The island has an incredible history with its naval dockyard and first-ever airfield. My childhood memories fired my imagination when it came to the setting for both books. I still had to do a lot of research, especially for Sylvia’s Secret, and it was fascinating learning about the photo intelligence unit and their valuable – and secret – work. Sylvia is finding that life in the WAAFs is not as glamorous as she had anticipated but her love for her married boss keeps her going, although she knows nothing can come of it. Life becomes more exciting when she is given the opportunity to train in photo interpretation and is posted to the same place as him. I have just started on the third in the series, Out of the Shadows which brings the family together again after the war and tells of how they deal with the difficult transition to peacetime life.”

Roberta’s first novel, Abigail’s Secret came out in 2007: “Since then I haven’t been able to stop writing and Sylvia’s Secret is my 13th book. I always wrote from a very young age – short stories, poems, plays – but my ambition was to write a novel and have it published. I think I can say I have succeeded!”