View from the bridge sparked novel idea
On a visit to Shropshire, acclaimed author Mollie Walton stood on the historic Iron Bridge and took in the scene – and was struck by inspiration.
And that moment has now led to the birth of her debut saga novel The Daughters of Ironbridge which is being published by Zaffre on April 18 and interweaves a fictional story with fact .
Set in 1830s Shropshire, it features Anny Woodvine whose family who has worked at an ironworks for as long as Anny can remember. The brightest child in her road and the first in her family to learn to read, Anny has big dreams, and so when she is asked to run messages for the affluent King family, she grabs the opportunity.
Margaret King is surrounded by privilege and wealth, but behind closed doors nothing is as it seems, and with Anny's arrival Margaret finds an ally and friend, and the pair plan to change their lives, unaware that disaster looms over the ironworks, and they find themselves surrounded by secrets and betrayal.
Mollie Walton is the pen name of critically acclaimed historical novelist Rebecca Mascull and she is already working on a second book in what will be an Ironbridge trilogy.
She has previously worked in education, has a Masters degree in writing, and lives by the sea in the east of England.
She has always been fascinated by regional and local history, and is planning to be in Shropshire around April 17 to 20 when she will be attending a brick making workshop at Ironbridge as part of her researches for her second Ironbridge novel.
Billed as "a heart-warming story worthy of fans of Maggie Hope and Anne Bennett," The Daughters of Ironbridge is available for £6.99 in both ebook and paperback.
