BROKEN WINGS SERIES by MW Arnold with a guest post and giveaway

Broken Wings Series

by M W Arnold

GENRE: Historical, Saga, Mystery, Thriller, Romance

BLURB:

The Air Transport Auxiliary Murder Club!

Four ladies of the Air Transport Auxiliary bond initially by solving the mystery of who was responsible for the death of one’s sister, finding along the way a mutual love for solving mysteries, which have an unerring knack of landing in their laps. Battling both internal forces and those of the country’s mutual enemies, these are sweeping stories of love, mysteries and hope, set against the backdrop of war when ties of friendship are exceptionally strong.

Excerpt  

Many sights in her life had saddened her, but never had Doris seen the face he now turned upon her. Doris could only think of one expression to describe what she could see: complete and utter despair.

He glanced around before answering probably, she surmised, to make sure no one who didn’t need to know overheard what he was about to say. Taking her by the elbow, Fredericks led her until they were a little away from the crowd. Once satisfied, he told her, “You’ve seen the state it’s in?” Doris nodded. “It’s worse. Not only can’t they get the other undercarriage leg down, but they have a bomb hung up.”

“Bloody hell!” Doris swore. “They can’t get the wheel down or get rid of the bomb?” She felt very silly asking the questions, but they came out of their own accord.

Fredericks shook his head, his lips pursed in grim determination. “Believe me, they’ve tried everything.”

“Well, why don’t they bail out?” Doris demanded, fighting down the instinct to panic.

If anything, her companion’s face lost more color. “The members of the crew still alive are too badly wounded to survive bailing out,” he told her bluntly.

Doris took a few precious seconds to process what she’d been told, seconds during which the B17 droned its painful way ever closer to its destiny.

Q&A with the author:

1. Give us a little bit about your background and when you first started publishing.

I spent the first sixteen years of my adult life in the Royal Air Force. I had a great time, going all over the western world, specifically living in Germany (whilst it was still split) and also, Canada for a year. I then left and since then have worked in various jobs in IT, I have recently started work in the National Health Service. I first started writing seriously around 2016, and in 2018 was fortunate enough to join the Romantic Novelists association. I had my first book, a romance, published in 2017, which I have since taken the rights back and intend to republish at some point. After this, I took a wee break and then began writing in the new genre and brought out the first in my Broken Wings series, ‘A Wing and a Prayer’, in November 2020.

2. Have you visited the places you’ve written about or just read about them?

Actually, I have. My books are based at a place called RAF Hamble, which is situated on the south coast of England, near Southampton. I visited last year and found a number of places which I’d found in my research, including a public house which is featured. I was very happy to find that I’d got much of the real village pretty much correct. Much of the action scenes in book 2, ‘Wild Blue Yonder’, takes places at a disused airfield only about thirty minutes down the road called RAF Polebrook. Interestingly, this is the field from which Clark Gable flew in combat and who features briefly in the book.

3. What interesting settings have you used (homes, battlefields, events in history, etc)?

Though Hamble is much changed since the war, parts of it are still virtually unchanged. In fact, whist I was looking around, I came across a local who had actually read ‘A Wing and a Prayer’. That was quite a thrill. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about the airfields. Both RAF Hamble and, for book two, RAF Polebrook, are long closed. About all that’s left of Hamble are the gates, whilst there’s parts of the perimeter track and a memorial left of Polebrook to mark what was once there.

4. Why did you choose the particular period you write in? What is it about that era that speaks to you?

My background in the RAF has a lot to do for the subject matter in which I write. I’m aware it’s not a perfect match, the Air Transport Auxiliary not being a current operation and also civilian, however, the processes used are close enough that it makes the books believable. I’ve also had a long-standing interest in history, particularly the 1940’s, so it made sense to write about that era.

5. What inspires you to create a certain character (give example)? Have you ever changed the character arc because it didn’t work with the storyline?

My most popular character, Doris Winter, is also my sole American. She came about after I’d read about the American equivalent of the Air Transport Auxiliary, the WASPs – Women Airforce Service Pilots – and specifically, the poor way in which they were treated in comparison. I wanted her to be special; and from what my readers say, I think I’ve succeeded.

As for your other question, there’s a major character arc change that happens in book four, ‘In the Mood’. With sagas, there’s a large cast, and I’d got a little frustrated with one not having enough to do. That’s all I’ll say on that, sorry.

6. Do you have a certain quirk in your writing process? Do the stars have to be aligned or do you have to have your favorite tea? Where do you do your best writing?

I’m a strange one, authors who are friend always say. For a start, I’m a panster, in that I write by the seat of my pants and don’t plan. Well, that’s not quite well. I know how a book will start and how/where it will end. I simply don’t plan what goes on between those moments. I tend to write on the sofa, in front of the television too, as I can’t write when it’s quiet; I like to have a favorite movie on. When it comes to editing what comes back from my publishers, I like doing that to the greatest hits of AC/DC.

7. From all your books, who is your favorite hero and why?

It has to be Doris. She’s burst out of my imagination and seems larger than life, I’m never quite sure what she’ll do next. Since arriving on the other side of the Pond, she’s developed a fixation for British fish ‘n’ chips, Guinness and has proved to be a fearless flyer.

8. Outside of your own genre, what’s your favorite genre?

I’m a romantic a heart. If I’m not reading a saga, I’ll have a romance in my hands. Mind you, my favorite author of all time is the late, great, Terry Pratchett. I can fall into one of his Discworld novels at any time.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Finally, Mick is a full member of the Romantic Novelists Association. A Wing and a Prayer will be his second published novel, and he is very proud to be welcomed into The Rose Garden.

Social media links –

https://www.facebook.com/MWArnoldAuthor

Twitter – https://twitter.com/mick859

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mickarn859/9

YouTube links –

Blooper – tinyurl.com/y222fr9f

Prologue – tinyurl.com/y3z4slff

Extract – tinyurl.com/y63kne6x

Buying links –

Amazon US tinyurl.com/y446pzgv

Amazon UK tinyurl.com/y2xhx4d4

Amazon Aus tinyurl.com/y5bqqtta

iBooks – tinyurl.com/y63fmdol

Nook – tinyurl.com/y53fmoap

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