I’m so pleased to announce that I’m bringing back some audio author interviews to my blog. In this first episode, I’m in conversation with A J Pearce, the bestselling author of the Emmy Lake Chronicles.

Press the play button below to listen to our conversation:

I have read and loved all three books in this series: Dear Mrs Bird,* Yours Cheerfully and Mrs Porter Calling. Emmeline (Emmy Lake) is a likeable young woman living in London during WW2, who inadvertently ends up working on the problem page of Woman’s Friend magazine, answering the questions posed by thousands of ordinary women struggling with the tragedies, changes and sacrifices that war brings.

Although these books explore the sadness and many losses experienced by a country at war, they are also deeply life-affirming and heartwarming reads, with a strong focus on female friendship and women’s experiences on the home front.

Today, I’m chatting with AJ about the inspiration behind her Emmy Lake books and learning more about the latest in the series, Mrs Porter Calling.

In this book, Emmy must contend with a new owner of Woman’s Friend magazine: the Honourable Mrs Cressida Porter, who is determined to change everything that Emmy loves most about the magazine. AJ gives a fabulous reading from the book, and it was fascinating to hear more about the inspiration for Mrs Porter’s character.

We also chat about AJ’s creative process, the ways in which she researches her books and some of her favourite comfort reads. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy our chat!

Links mentioned in our conversation:

• The Emmy Lake Chronicles: Dear Mrs Bird, Yours Cheerfully and Mrs Porter Calling.

• Read my reviews of Yours Cheerfully and Mrs Porter Calling.

• The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim.

• Miss Buncle’s Book by D E Stevenson and Mrs Tim of the Regiment by D E Stevenson.

• Cheerfulness Breaks In by Angela Thirkell.

• The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley.

• Wham! documentary on Netflix.

• Keep up with A J Pearce through her: website, instagram, X and newsletter (scroll to bottom of website).

*Please note: affiliate links are used for Blackwells. If you order a book from Blackwells using one of my affiliate links, I may make a small commission from your purchase, at no additional cost to yourself. I like to support Blackwells by linking to their website, as I’m a big fan of their flagship Oxford bookshop, and they offer reasonable overseas shipping. You in turn support my work by shopping through my affiliate link. Thank you!