Where do I start? At the beginning I suppose.
It is well over two years now since that lady from the US sent me a brief message that has consumed my time and life. It said “Dear Mr Griffiths, I have read your book How Grim Was My Valley, and I loved it”, and “Would you like to write my late Mom and Dads story”? How could I? I didn’t know them. But I was curious. Two weeks later a large box arrived at my door, filled with over 1000 love letters dated from 1948-1954.
I am heading towards the third year of this quest now, and things have moved along. Everyday I have spent hours transcribing these letters, with Saffy sitting loyally by my side. I laughed and cried at the incredible story I was to follow. I walked with the wonderful teenage couple from Flint, Michigan, who were so in love that it hurt. They lived through religious bigotry, racism, poverty and war. But their love never falters. Their young lives are to be shared over six books, and each one leaves you wanting more. Not because I am a great author, but because the young couple capture your hearts.
I have been truly honoured to share Bill and Patsy’s story. And believe that the world needs a feel good story now. Due to some incredible people, and gentle guidance we now have the opportunity to share the journey with many more people. In sixty days I will be flying out to the US to meet the grown up daughter of the couple. The one who asked me to write the story. I will be meeting up with her and her family, her elder sister and her family, and her younger sister and her family. They will be meeting up for the first time in eight years. They will be travelling from Arizona, Alaska, Ohio and Michigan. The first time since their dear Mom’s funeral.
The magic of the letters is working. I am sure it will be an emotional time for all of us, as these letters sat in a box, under the stairs, for over seventy years. The last people to read these letters before me were the teenage lovers themselves.
I hope to release the first book in the series shortly after the reunion. That is called “The Teenage Romance Of Michigan “. And incredibly the US news channel NBC want to cover the occasion. It seems that the world really does need a story full of hope and love.
