#MiniBlogBlitz #GuestPost from M W Arnold @Mick859 #HistoricalFiction @rararesources

I’m delighted to welcome M W Arnold with a guest post for my slot on the 5 Day Mini Blog Blitz organised by Rachel’s Random Resources.

Hi Cathy and thank you very much for letting me on to your ‘Between the Lines’ Blog. I’m so happy you’re part of the blog tour for ‘Wild Blue Yonder’, the second book in my ‘Broken Wings’ series.

Where shall I start then? Well, I first started to write around 2013, before then I’d scribble down a few lines, perhaps a few pages here and there; which never went anywhere. Around Christmas that year, I read my first Romance and the next morning, I began to write what turned into my first full-length book which, you’ll be relieved to hear, remains in a drawer somewhere. I then managed to join the Romantic Novelists Association and, with the aid of its New Writers Scheme, had my first book published in 2017. This is a Christmas romantic drama titled, ‘The Season for Love’.

I had a rather iffy year or so after that and was unable to write. Once I felt better, a friend suggested I try to write something in a different genre. After I watched a program on the Air Transport Auxiliary, I knew I’d found something of great interest to me and from that came the first book, ‘A Wing and a Prayer’, which is published by The Wild Rose Press in the USA.

Now, here we are in September 2021 and ‘Wild Blue Yonder’ was published about two months ago, on 26^th July. I don’t know how much you know about the ‘Air Transport Auxiliary’?

During World War Two, all the aircraft used by the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air arm and other branches of the British Armed Forces were delivered by this civilian unit. There were approximately 1250 men and women who ferried around 309,000 aircraft of nearly 150 different types all over the United Kingdom. They did this in all weathers in aircraft which had no radio and no working armament. This vital work freed the frontline pilots from having to fight all day or night, then have to go and collect any replacement aircraft themselves. If they’d had to do this, it’s certain many would have been killed by fatigue. As it was, 173 of these brave people were killed performing their duties.

The ‘Broken Wings’ stories are centred around three women pilots who are based at RAF Hamble, near Southampton, on the south coast of England. This was a base which only had women pilots. They come from all walks of life with one, Doris Winter, actually coming over from the USA because she’d heard about the wonderful work the ATA was doing. Oh, she also has a fish ‘n’ chips habit. Penny ran away from a father who’d become abusive after her mother had died, whilst Mary is a still a bit of a mystery, even two books in. About all we know about her is that she’s something like 35^th in line to the British throne.

Each story centres on these three women and the friends they make both on the base and around the village of Hamble. For some reason – though it’s probably to do with artistic license – trouble and mysteries seem to sniff out these girls. Be it large or small, something is always going on which prevents life becoming boring, though occasionally they do wish they could have a quiet life. Personally, I hope this doesn’t happen for a while.

‘Wild Blue Yonder’ is a more personal book than ‘A Wing and a Prayer’. Yes, there is a mystery at its centre when Doris is accused of the theft of an extraordinary object from an American bomber base, yet the girls and their friends go through life-changing journeys which threaten their very lives.

I do hope your readers will be tempted by ‘Wild Blue Yonder’ and perhaps be tempted to try book 1, ‘A Wing and a Prayer’ to see how they all got together and partake in  their first adventure. A third book is out on the 20^th October too, ‘I’ll be Home for Christmas.’

Thank you so very much again for having me Cathy and I wish you and all your readers, the very best. Keep safe!

You’re very welcome, Mick. Thanks for explaining about the Air Transport Auxiliary, a huge contribution made by very brave men and women.

Air Transport Auxiliary pilot Doris Winter is accused of stealing a valuable item from a famous Hollywood movie star, now a captain in the US Army Air Corps, after a dance at the air base in England where he’s stationed. Gathering her close friends together, she’s determined to clear her name.

Ruth’s POW son suffers a life-changing injury just as her own cottage takes damage in an air raid and Penny’s estranged little sister unexpectedly turns up, having run away from school. Together with the ongoing thefts of items of clothing and surprise personal revelations, these all threaten to hamper their investigation.

In spite of the worsening war situation, they must band together to rise above their troubles and prove love and friendship is worth fighting for.

Purchase Links ~ Amazon | iBooks | Nook 

Mick is a hopeless romantic who was born in England and spent fifteen years roaming around the world in the pay of HM Queen Elizabeth II in the Royal Air Force before putting down roots and realizing how much he missed the travel. He’s replaced it somewhat with his writing, including reviewing books and supporting fellow saga and romance authors in promoting their novels.

He’s the proud keeper of two cats bent on world domination, is mad on the music of the Beach Boys, and enjoys the theatre and humoring his Manchester United-supporting wife. Finally, and most importantly, Mick is a full member of the Romantic Novelists Association. Wild Blue Yonder is the second novel in his Broken Wings series and he is very proud to be a part of the Vintage Rose Garden at The Wild Rose Press.

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