Glynis Smy - Author of Historical Romance/Suspense: BBC National Short Story Award 2010

The BBC National Short Story Award 2010 is now open for entries.

Now in its fifth year, the BBC National Short Story Award is once again open for submissions from published writers over the age of 18.
With £15,000 for the winning story, and £3000 for the runner-up, not to mention the broadcast of all five short-listed stories on Radio 4, the award is one of the most prestigious for short fiction and an established part of the literary calendar. READ MORE HERE

Maggie's Child

When farmer’s wife Maggie Sawbury gives birth to her fifth child, the only one that has lived and the result of an extra-marital affair, she is heartbroken and desperate. Maggie knows her joyless life with a bully of a husband is not one a child should endure, and she leaves the baby at the roadside to be found by passers-by.

Her money-driven husband announces he has found her another job in the village of Redgrave, aside from the many tasks she has on Windtop farm. He is totally unaware the position comes with a secret. One that frightens and yet brings joy to Maggie. She is to become wet-nurse to her abandoned child.

Love, and the possibility of incest, threaten to open old wounds, and Maggie has several decisions to make. However, will they be the right ones? If she tells all she knows, it will bring about the destruction of three families. Equally, her silence could be just as destructive. She shares her secret with another, the result changes her life, and a death brings with it more secrets. Will Maggie stay or will she walk away and find the love she craves?

Review

K.M. Weiland, Author of Historical and Speculative Fiction "Helping Writers Become Authors"

This review is from: Maggie's Child (Kindle Edition)

Glynis Smy has created a historical world that puts me in mind of the classic works of George Eliot and Elizabeth Gaskell. Her hard-working, put-upon heroine carries herself with a quiet grace through the tragedies of her hard-fought life. Not a cheerful story in many respects (there are moments in which it is quite dark), but the author plumbs the depths of human darkness and comes up in the end with a bucket full of light and hope.

Ripper, My Love >The Blurb

Growing up in late nineteenth century East London, Kitty Harper’s life is filled with danger and death – from her mother, her beloved neighbour and the working women of the streets. With her ever-watchful father and living surrogate family though, Kitty feels protected from harm. In fact, she feels so safe that while Whitechapel cowers under the cloud of a fearsome murderer, she strikes out on her own, moving into new premises to accommodate her sewing business.

But danger is closer than she thinks. In truth, it has burrowed itself right into her heart in the form of a handsome yet troubled bachelor, threatening everything she holds dear. Will Kitty fall prey to lust – and death – herself, or can she find the strength inside to fight for her business, sanity and her future? And who is the man terrifying the streets of East London?

Amazon Reader UK

It is difficult to pigeonhole this marvellous debut by Glynis Smy into the standard historical/romance genre but in my opinion, the book is such a tour de force of dramatic and evocative storytelling that it doesn't matter at all.
The writing gives a very strong sense of the era in which it is set, Jack the Ripper's Victorian London; you can almost smell and see the fog. The author also presents us with a very strong courageous and sympathetic heroine in Kitty with two enigmatic suitors, Arthur and James. To say anymore would spoil the plot which pulls no punches and is full of interesting twists.
Not for the faint hearted, it will keep you on the edge of your seat; I could not put it down and read in one session. It has it all tragedy, murder, romance.. what's not to like?
An outstanding debut I look forward to Ms Smy's next work.

Glynis Smy - Author of Historical Romance/Suspense

Reviews for Ripper, My Love

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BBC National Short Story Award 2010

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