The following book should be out in a few months. And that is The Teenage Romance of Michigan.
This is probably the most wonderful historically true love story that I have ever read. Not because of my literary skills. But because of the content. It all began for me two years ago. A lady living in the US contacted me via the internet. And began her message saying she had read my book “ How Grim Was My Valley “ and thoroughly enjoyed it. It reminded her of her own childhood in the heart of Michigan U.S. It seems that Weedon Bec Northamptonshire UK has a twin then?
She went on to say “ Would you write my late Mom and Dads story “? But how could I ? I didn’t know them. I gave her my address and thought no more about it. Two weeks later there was a bang on my front door. A very large, well protected box was waiting for my signature. A present I thought. I opened that box and it changed my life. Inside was over a thousand love letters dating from 1948-1954. I removed a letter from the envelope and soon realised it was in the wrong place. The letter and envelope didn’t match. But that didn’t matter, because I couldn’t read the faded writing. The letters had been stored under the stairs for seventy years. And never looked at by anyone.
My first thought was to return them to the trusting lady in the US. But something told me to wait. A short while later I heard a rustle. My rescue dog Saffy was looking in the box while wagging her tail. I removed her smiling face from the box and again picked up an envelope. This time I managed to read it. Six pages long. It had such heartache and love and passion and need and want rising from the pages. I needed to read more. But it was a box of chaos. Letters didn’t match envelopes. Dates could be faded. But that day something happened. I needed to tell the story from the teenagers, from Flint Michigan, seventy year’s previously.
During the past two years I have sat down with Saffy, a coffee, numerous pads, dozens of pens and a magnifying glass. And I have transcribed every single word, every single, paragraph and every single letter. I have then matched every envelope with the letter. And I have started to write their story. I have wept and laughed whilst walking their path. The story will be spread over five books, and will hopefully remind you what is important in life. All set in a backdrop of hardship, turmoil and war. Believe me when I tell you this. It is a love like no other.
The second in the five book series is “Don’t Separate Us”. This should be out a few months after the Teenage Romance of Michigan. It is being typed as we speak. The youngsters are falling deeper in love. All they want is each other. Every waking thought is of each other. Her parents won’t let her marry until she is 18. But war in Korea is going on in the background of their busy lives. And avoiding conscription is not an option for the lovestruck Bill. It seems that everyone wants them apart. But can love conquer all?
