Ann Victoria Roberts

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35: Circles Within Circles

September 30, 2014 by Ann Roberts Leave a Comment

As our little party left Ypres on the way back to Zeebrugge, I took out my notebook and started scribbling furiously, half-afraid that – like a dream – the revelation would fade before I had chance to get it down. Two wars, two sets of lovers – the stories linked by family, fate, photographs and…

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Filed Under: Authors, Family History, Genealogy, Liam's Story, Louisa Elliott, Memoir Tagged With: Ann Victoria Roberts, Biography, first world war, historical novels, Liam's Story, Louisa Elliott, writing, WW1, Yorkshire

32: One Man’s Death

September 17, 2014 by Ann Roberts Leave a Comment

Ever since the day I found his WW1 diary, Will had been part of my life. In recent years he had become the driving force behind the novel that was about to be published. Now it was his turn to be the focus. ‘Caught in the bombardment: nothing left to bury.’ My mother’s succinct statement…

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Filed Under: Family History, First World War, Genealogy, Liam's Story, Louisa Elliott, Memoir, Publishing, WW1 Tagged With: Biography, Chatto Windus, first world war, historical novels, Louisa Elliott, writing, WW1

31: WW1 Research

September 16, 2014 by Ann Roberts Leave a Comment

By some miracle, the new part of Louisa Elliott was completed by Easter. By the end of May revisions and corrections were complete, and the novel was lining up to be published a year hence. At last it seemed everything was coming together, enabling me to bring to the fore what had been simmering in…

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Filed Under: Family History, First World War, Genealogy, Louisa Elliott, Memoir, Publishing, WW1 Tagged With: Ann Victoria Roberts, Biography, Chatto Windus, first world war, historical novels, Liam's Story, Louisa Elliott, writing, WW1

30: The Ghosts of Railway Cottage

September 11, 2014 by Ann Roberts Leave a Comment

Moving house with just one helper – my indefatigable daughter, Louise – was achieved. Dealing with recalcitrant horses, shifting hay bales and mucking-out had their benefits – all these years later I’m still grateful for her stamina and strength. In the weeks before Christmas we’d worked like bullion traders on a bonus, going to bed…

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Filed Under: Family History, Genealogy, Louisa Elliott, Memoir, York Tagged With: Ann Victoria Roberts, Biography, historical novels, Louisa Elliott, York, Yorkshire

29: Eyes Wide and Breathless

September 8, 2014 by Ann Roberts Leave a Comment

Coincidence abounded in the summer of ‘87. First, Rosie Thomas, who turned out to be married to literary agent Caradoc King; second, publisher Carmen Callil, who just happened to ring Caradoc to ask if he had anything for her to read. Third, Carmen – almost a legendary figure in publishing – was Australian, and intrigued…

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Filed Under: Family History, Genealogy, Louisa Elliott, Memoir, Publishing Tagged With: Ann Victoria Roberts, Caradoc King, Carmen Callil, historical novels, Louisa Elliott, writing

28: Another Link in the Chain

September 3, 2014 by Ann Roberts Leave a Comment

I met Chatto’s MD in early October for lunch. The Groucho Club, situated in the more salubrious half of London’s Soho, was famous as the haunt of literary giants and famous journalists. Somewhat daunted by that, I felt a new outfit was in order, and searched Harrogate for something suitable. I chose a rather sober…

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Filed Under: Family History, Genealogy, Louisa Elliott, Memoir, Publishing Tagged With: Ann Victoria Roberts, Carmen Callil, Chatto Windus, historical novels, Louisa Elliott, writing, Yorkshire

27: Chatto & Windus

September 1, 2014 by Ann Roberts Leave a Comment

Since Carmen was away on business, I was to meet my editor first. Arriving at Chatto’s offices in London’s Bloomsbury was another pinch-me-I’m-dreaming moment. The beautiful Georgian terraces, surrounding a green park, once housed the titled and wealthy, but had been the home of book publishing for decades. Chatto & Windus – now part of…

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Filed Under: Authors, Family History, Genealogy, Louisa Elliott, Memoir, Publishing Tagged With: Alison Samuel, Ann Victoria Roberts, Biography, Carmen Callil, Chatto Windus, historical novels, Louisa Elliott, writing

chatto-cherubs

26: Leaping the Hurdles

August 27, 2014 by Ann Roberts Leave a Comment

As my new-found literary agent had pointed out, it could take time to find a publisher. With a clear memory of past rejection slips, I hardly dared believe it would be soon, or that the financial reward would be significant. Judging by what I’d read, it seemed a first book would be lucky to fetch…

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Filed Under: Family History, Genealogy, Louisa Elliott, Memoir, Publishing, York Tagged With: Ann Victoria Roberts, Biography, Carmen Callil, Chatto Windus, historical novels, Louisa Elliott, writing, York

Caradoc King

25: Caradoc King & AP Watt

August 26, 2014 by Ann Roberts Leave a Comment

A positive response from the first agent I’d applied to – I could hardly believe it! That it should arrive by telex, just as MT Reliance was entering Bilbao, made it a crazy moment. The Spanish pilot gazed at us in astonishment – hugging, kissing, laughing – were these really the stiff-lipped British? Ashore the…

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Filed Under: Authors, Family History, Genealogy, Louisa Elliott, Memoir, Publishing, York Tagged With: Ann Victoria Roberts, Caradoc King, Chatto Windus, historical novels, Louisa Elliott, writing, York

summer vacation

24: Summer Vacation

August 20, 2014 by Ann Roberts 2 Comments

After five years of seeking time to write, suddenly time was heavy on my hands. My husband Peter had gone back to sea after three months’ leave, my precious novel, Louisa Elliott, was sitting on an agent’s desk in London, waiting to be read and decided upon. Wondering what would happen next, longing for news…

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Filed Under: Authors, Family History, Genealogy, Louisa Elliott, Memoir, Publishing, WW1 Tagged With: Ann Victoria Roberts, Captain Peter Roberts, Caradoc King, writing, WW1, York

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Available Books and eBooks


Louisa Elliott

Louisa Elliott Book Cover

Please click on the book cover to take you to my Amazon page.

Please use the contact page to request a signed edition of the new paperback


Liam Story

Liam Story 2012

Please click on the book cover to take you to my Amazon page.

Please use the contact page to request a signed edition of the new paperback


The Master’s Tale

Master's Tale Book cover

Please use the contact page to request a signed edition of the original paperback


Moon Rising

Moon Rising

Now available as an ebook through all online bookstores. Please click on the cover to take you to the Moon Rising Amazon page.


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