Swift, who lives in Warton, near Carnforth, used to work
backstage as a scenographer in many North-West theatres, including Liverpool
Playhouse and The Duke’s theatre, Lancaster, and later took an MA in Creative Writing
at Lancaster University. She went on to take an MA in Creative Writing at
Lancaster University and since then has juggled writing with teaching.
Her current, immensely popular Second World War trilogy has included The Silk Code and The Shadow Network, and now readers can enjoy the last enthralling book in the series, Operation Tulip, which is set in German-occupied northern Holland in the final months of 1944 when the Nazis persecuted the civilians and let thousands die from starvation. ‘Historical fiction was a natural choice for me as a writer because I always enjoyed the research aspect of design – poking about in archives and museums, not to mention the attraction of boned bodices and the excuse to visit old and interesting buildings!’ she says. And it is her imaginative flair, painstaking research, and keen eye for drama and authenticity, that make her novels so viscerally real and exciting. In fact, Swift’s books are often an exploration of ideas she is passionate about.
Her Second World War thrillers, including the three books in her Secret Agents trilogy, feature stories of courage and sacrifice and the torn loyalties that arose during this period of uncertainty and conflict. An earlier series about the lives of the extraordinary women in Pepys’ Diary gave readers an alternative view of life in Restoration London, and an award-winning Italian Renaissance series delved into the life of poisoner Giulia Tofana, all set against the alluring backdrop of Naples, Rome and Venice.
Swift’s talk – which runs from 2pm to 3pm at Carnforth Bookshop in Market Street, Carnforth LA5 9JX – will reveal the work of the women of the wartime Dutch Resistance and the in-depth research she undertook for Operation Tulip. There is free entry and all are welcome to attend.
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