Deborah Swift

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About Deborah Swift

THANK YOU for visiting my author page! As you read this I'll probably be writing from my tall stone house which was once a school and built in 1902. This is a house that is "new" in English terms, as many of our local villages date back to the 1630's or even earlier.

I write historical fiction, a genre I love. I loved the Victorian classics such as Jane Eyre, Little Women, Lorna Doone and Wuthering Heights. As I child I loved to read and when I had read my own library books, I used to borrow my mother's library copies of Anya Seton and Daphne du Maurier. I have loved reading historical novels ever since; though I'm a bookaholic and I read widely - contemporary and classic fiction as well as historicals.

In the past I used to work as a set and costume designer for theatre and TV, so I enjoy the research aspect of creating historical fiction, something I loved doing as a scenographer. Each book takes about six months of research before I am ready to begin writing. More details of my research and writing process can be found on my website. I like to write about extraordinary characters set against the background of real historical events.

I live in North Lancashire on the edge of the Lake District, a beautiful area made famous by the Romantic Poets such as Wordsworth and Coleridge. I love exploring the mountainous landscapes and interesting coastline near my home.

'Her characters are so real that they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf. Highly recommended. ' The Historical Novels Review.

The Lady's Slipper (shortlisted for the Impress Prize)
The Gilded Lily
A Divided Inheritance
Past Encounters
The Occupation

The Pepys Trilogy:
Pleasing Mr Pepys
A Plague on Mr Pepys
Entertaining Mr Pepys

The Highway Trilogy for Adults/Young Adults:
Shadow on the Highway
Spirit of the Highway
Lady of the Highway

Anthologies:
The Darkest Hour - Tales of WW2 Resistance
We All Fall Down - Stories of Courage and Resilience in the Great plague

Find me on my website www.deborahswift.com
or on Twitter @swiftstory
or facebook - authordeborahswift

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Author Updates

Books By Deborah Swift

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The Lifeline: A wartime saga set in Nazi-occupied Norway Jan 5, 2021

by Deborah Swift

( 18 )

$3.99

A heart-pounding historical saga that you won’t be able to put down! For fans of Freda Lightfoot, Pam Jenoff, Sebastian Faulks and Kate Atkinson.

From the heart of Norway to Shetland in Scotland, one couple fight to overthrow the Nazis…

1942, Nazi-occupied Norway

Schoolteacher Astrid Dahl has always kept out of trouble. But when she is told to teach the fascist Nazi curriculum, she refuses and starts a teacher’s rebellion, persuading eight thousand teachers to go on strike.

The Germans arrest her, and terrified of what punishment her trial might bring, she is forced to go into hiding.

Astrid's boyfriend, Jørgen Nystrøm, has joined the Norwegian Resistance. When his cover is blown he escapes to Shetland where he is taken on as crew for the Shetland Bus; a dangerous clandestine operation of small fishing boats that supply arms and intelligence to war-torn Norway.

In Shetland, hearing Astrid is in trouble, Jørgen sets off through enemy waters to meet her.

But the Nazis have a spy on Shetland and have been tipped off about the Shetland Bus.

With the enemy in pursuit from both directions, will Astrid and Jørgen be able to find each other?

Or will they be separated forever by the brutal Nazi regime?

THE LIFELINE is a moving war & military saga following the separate stories of a young man and woman through the years of the Second World War as they fight for freedom in Norway and the Shetland Islands in Scotland.

Other Formats: Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

The Occupation: Loyalties are pushed to the limits in this powerful wartime saga Dec 24, 2019

by Deborah Swift

( 711 )

$2.99

A page-turning historical saga that will pull at your heartstrings! For fans of Freda Lightfoot, Pam Jenoff, Sebastian Faulks and Kate Atkinson.

One woman’s secret war against the Nazis. One man’s war against himself…

1940, Jersey

When Nazi forces occupy Jersey in the English Channel Islands, Céline Huber, who is married to a German, must decide where her loyalty lies.

Love for her island, and fear for her Jewish friend Rachel, soon propel her into a dangerous double life.

Meanwhile, Céline’s husband Fred is conscripted into the Wehrmacht in occupied France.

Horrified by Nazi acts of atrocity and torture, he soon becomes a double agent for the French Resistance.

But when things go wrong, and his Nazi masters discover his true allegiance, he finds he has the whole of the German Army on his tail.

How far will Céline go for her best friend? Will Fred make his way home to her?

Or will their lives be changed forever by the brutality of war?

THE OCCUPATION is a moving war & military saga following the separate stories of a young man and woman through the years of the Second World War as they fight to survive.

Other Formats: Audible Audiobook , Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

A Divided Inheritance : Epic historical fiction Apr 19, 2018

by Deborah Swift

( 168 )

$2.99

'a classy, compelling adventure story and a true journey of discovery.' -- Lancashire Evening Post

A family divided by fortune, a country divided by faith
London 1609
Elspet Leviston has always managed her father's lace business and expects to continue in his footsteps. So when her hot-headed cousin Zachary Deane appears from nowhere, his arrival in her life is like an earthquake.

Zachary is not who he seems, and has no love at all for Leviston's Lace. When her father dies unexpectedly, Elspet is horrified to find her inheritance is tied to her cousin's. But by now, her father has sent Zachary on a Grand Tour,and he is in Spain. Determined to regain her rightful inheritance, she goes to Seville in search of him.

Zachary is in training at the sword school of the charismatic Senor Alvarez, and here, in the searing heat and dust of Spain, Elspet's real journey begins. A journey that throws her into one of the most turbulent moments of Spain's history, and leads her to question everything she has ever known about her country, her faith and herself.

Epic historical fiction set in 17th Century London and Golden Age Spain.

'I was thoroughly gripped until the end of this exhilarating book. And I would highly recommend this swashbuckling tale of lace, swordsmen, Spanish dancing, spice and romance if you enjoy a historical novel with a difference' -Sixtyplussurfers magazine

Reading group questions and historical notes in the back of the book.

Other Formats: Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

The Gilded Lily: A sweeping historical saga of sisters, courage and love Apr 17, 2017

by Deborah Swift

( 204 )

$2.99

There is no greater compliment than 'Give me more!' A delight. -- Susanna Gregory
Winter, 1661.
In her short life Sadie Appleby has never left rural Westmorland. But one night she is rudely awoken by her older and bolder sister, Ella. She has robbed her employer and is on the run.

Together the girls flee their home and head for London, hoping to lose themselves in the teeming city. But the dead man's relatives are in pursuit, and soon a game of cat and mouse ensues amongst the freezing warren that is London in winter.

Ella is soon seduced by the glitter and glamour of city life and sets her sights on the flamboyant man-about-town, Jay Whitgift, owner of a beauty parlour for the wives of the London gentry.

But nothing in the capital is what it seems, least of all Jay Whitgift. Soon a rift has formed between Ella and Sadie, and the sisters are threatened by a menace more sinister than even the law.

Set in a brilliantly realised Restoration London, The Gilded Lily is a novel about beauty and desire, about the stories we tell ourselves, and about how sisterhood can be both a burden and a saving grace.

"It's hard to say why you find a novel unputdownable, but I've just spent about 4 hours curled up with the second half, and there was no way I was not going to finish it today!"

"The story line, like a meandering river, was full of unexpected twists and turns which enchanted me and made it very hard to put down."

"Brilliant. a cracking good read couldn't put it down, exciting from beginning to end the author really brought the characters to life."

"I enjoyed this one particularly as it has a different and engaging storyline. It was another book I couldn't put down...read in a day and enjoyed the characters and storyline immensely."

Other Formats: Hardcover , Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

Shadow on the Highway (Highway Trilogy Book 1) Apr 17, 2017

by Deborah Swift

( 74 )

$0.99

‘Casts a spell over us with her fabulous prose, thrilling narrative and period detail’ – Carol McGrath

May 1651. England has been in the midst of a bitter civil war for nearly ten years.

The country has been torn in two, and the King is getting ready to make his last stand against Cromwell’s New Model Army. Abigail Chaplin, a young deaf girl, has lost her father to the parliamentarian cause. But with her family now in reduced circumstances, she is forced to work as a servant at a royalist household - the estate of Lady Katherine Fanshawe.

Abi is soon caught up in a web of sinister secrets which surround the Fanshawe estate, the most mysterious being the disappearance of Lady Katherine late at night. When Lady Katherine falls for Abi’s brother, a Roundhead, Abi’s loyalties are tested to the limit. Can she keep both her mistress and her brother out of danger?

A tale of adventure and budding romance set in the turbulent English Civil War, this is a novel to delight teens and adults alike. Includes historical notes from the author.

Shadow On The Highway is based on the life and legend of Lady Katherine Fanshawe, the highwaywoman, sometimes known as ‘The Wicked Lady’. It is the first book in The Highway Trilogy for young adults (and adults!)

Praise for Deborah Swift:

‘There is no greater compliment than “Give me more!”’ - Susanna Gregory

‘realistic dialogue, an author’s obvious love for history, and characters that leap off the pages’ - Romance Reviews Today

‘genuinely engrossing… with characters you can get interested in’ - The Mum Website

Deborah Swift lives in North Lancashire on the edge of the Lake District. She teaches classes and courses in writing, and is the author of nine other historical novels.

Other Formats: Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

The Lady's Slipper: A sweeping historical novel of orchids and obsession Aug 20, 2016

by Deborah Swift

( 368 )

$2.99

'Compelling and intriguing, this is a well-told story full of wonderful prose and surprising events' --RT BookReviews

Shortlisted for the Impress Prize

England 1660
When artist Alice Ibbetson discovers a rare orchid, the lady's-slipper, growing in a nearby wood, she is captivated by its beauty. It is the last surviving specimen and she wants to preserve it for future generations.

There is only one problem - it's growing on the land of Richard Wheeler, a newly-converted Quaker, who will not allow her to touch it.

Fearing for the flower's fragility, she steals the orchid, little dreaming that this seemingly simple act will set off an unstoppable chain of events - a web of intrigue that will lead to murder and exile - and finally enable her to find love where she least expects it.

Set in an England riven by civil war and divided loyalties the novel explores the nature of faith, and who should control the land we all inhabit.
"Her characters are so real that they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf. Highly recommended." --The Historical Novels Review

"It is a genuinely engrossing story, with characters you can get interested in." --The Mum website

Other Formats: Hardcover , Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

Past Encounters: Lives are changed forever in this wartime historical saga... May 10, 2018

by Deborah Swift

( 241 )

$3.99

BookViral Readers Award Finalist for WW2 fiction! For fans of Pam Jenoff, Anthony Doerr, Sebastian Faulks and Kate Atkinson.

Some memories fade, some refuse to let you go…

1945, Carnforth, England

Young sweethearts Rhoda and Peter were torn apart by the outbreak of the Second World War. Though engaged to be married, their plans were interrupted when Peter enlisted, only to be captured by the German army and interred in a prisoner-of-war camp.

Left at home and with only sporadic news from Peter, Rhoda has spent years apart from her fiancé, with no guarantees that he will return home.

When a film crew arrives to capture the iconic scenes for David Lean’s Brief Encounter, Rhoda finds herself caught up in a love affair of her own…

Ten years later, Rhoda and Peter are married, but their relationship is hanging by a thread.

What secrets have they hidden from each other over the years? How did Peter manage to survive the brutal war years? And did Rhoda ever get over the man who captured her heart…?

As they both reflect on their past encounters they have to decide if they can ever rebuild a relationship which was shattered by the war…

PAST ENCOUNTERS is a thrilling war & military saga encompassing the atmospheric filming of Brief Encounter and the extraordinary Great March of prisoners of war through snow-bound Germany. It is a historical survivor story of friendship, hope, and how in the end, it is the small things that enable love to survive.

'a beautifully written and thought-provoking story, an imaginative and emotive way to celebrate a fascinating slice of history' Lancashire Evening Post

‘a genuine joy to read with an intoxicating, old-fashioned feel about it...Highly compelling historical fiction and a genuine page-turner, Past Encounters is recommended without reservation.' Book Viral

'a compelling story about love and heartache and forgiveness and war' Library Educated Blog

'for lovers of history and drama this is a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon' Bookgeeks

'It really makes you think about the relationships you have in real life and the choices you make. This story really hit home for me and gave me a lot to think about... Highly recommend' Layered Pages Blog

'I don't think I have read any war-time stories quite like this one... full of tension with well-drawn characters and a great sense of time and place' Books Please

'an enticing story of the endurance of the human spirit, the hunger for love and appreciation, and how secrets can fester and tear people away from each other... I highly recommend this to any lover of WWII history' Historical Tapestry Blog

'a brilliant exploration of the psychological effects of war and their lasting impact' Flashlight Commentary Blog

'Her writing style invited the reader into another world that I was totally immersed in . . .

Other Formats: Audible Audiobook , Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

We All Fall Down Mar 1, 2020

by David Blixt , Jean Gill , Kristin Gleeson , J.K. Knauss , Laura Morelli , Katherine Pym , Deborah Swift , Melodie Winawer , Lisa J. Yarde

( 16 )

$4.99

Plague has no favorites.

In this anthology, USA Today, international bestselling, and award-winning authors imagine a world where anyone—rich, poor, young, old—might be well in the morning and dead by sundown.

Readers will follow in the footsteps of those who fought to rebuild shattered lives as the plague left desolation in its wake.

* An Irish woman tends her dying father while the Normans threaten her life and property—

* A Hispano-Muslim doctor fights the authorities to stem the spread of the deadly pestilence at great personal cost—

* A Tuscan street hawker and a fresco painter watch citizens perish all around them even as they paint a better future—

* A Spanish noblewoman lives at the mercy of a jealous queen after plague kills the king—

* The Black Death leaves an uncertain legacy to Dante's son—

* In Venice, the artist Titian agonizes over a death in obscurity—

* A Scottish thief loses everything to plague and repents in the hope of preventing more losses—

* Two teenagers from 2020 time-travel to plague-stricken London and are forever changed—

* And when death rules in Ottoman-occupied Greece, a Turk decides his own fate.

Nine tales bound together by humanity's fortitude in the face of despair: a powerful collection of stories for our own time.

In dark and deadly times, love and courage shine bright.

Other Formats: Paperback

Spirit of the Highway (Highway Trilogy Book 2) Sep 24, 2015

by Deborah Swift

( 32 )

$2.99

‘Anyone regardless of age would love this story…Great story and great storytelling’ - Book Nerd Blog

England 1651.

England has been engaged in a bitter Civil War for nearly ten years. Ralph Chaplin, a farmer’s son, has fallen for beautiful copper-haired Kate. There is only one problem – he is a Roundhead soldier and she is a Royalist lady.

Tired of bloodshed, Ralph volunteers to fight, sensing that the Battle at Worcester will be a chance to finish the fighting for good. He longs for peace, so he can forge a secure future and find a different, more equal way of life for himself and Kate with his rebel friends, the Diggers.

But war is not what he imagined, and soon he has made a deadly enemy; one who will pursue Ralph and those he loves, and wreak vengeance. What’s more, Ralph finds he has just as many enemies at home, as on the battlefield.

Can Ralph protect his family – and Kate?

Spirit of the Highway is the stand-alone second part of the Highway Trilogy for young adults (and adults) based on the real life and legend of Lady Katherine Fanshawe, Highwaywoman.

Praise for Deborah Swift:

'There is no greater compliment than "Give me more!"' - Susanna Gregory

'Realistic dialogue, an author's obvious love for history, and characters that leap off the pages' - Romance Reviews Today

'genuinely engrossing... with characters you can get interested in' - The Mum Website

'At the heart of Swift's story is the love between Kate and Ralph. Theirs is a touching story of people divided by class but united by shared beliefs. It's a beautifully-written, exciting, and human story and I look forward to the final installment' - Andrea Zuvich, best-selling author of His Last Mistress

Deborah Swift lives in North Lancashire on the edge of the Lake District. She teaches classes and courses in writing, and is the author of nine other historical novels.

Other Formats: Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

Pleasing Mr Pepys: A vibrant tale of history brought to life Sep 28, 2017

by Deborah Swift

( 63 )

$3.99

Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, Anne O''Brien and Elizabeth Chadwick, Deborah Swift brings a unique period in history to vivid, fascinating life in her acclaimed Pepys trilogy.

''Laced with emotional intensity and drama, Pleasing Mr Pepys...(has) an intricate plot that features red herrings, unexpected twists, and surprises that will take readers on a very delightful ride'' Readers'' Favorite

''Deb Willet, Elizabeth Pepys''s maid and the object of Samuel Pepys''s attentions, is finally given centre-stage after 350 years, and her tale was worth waiting for. This is exceptional story-telling'' L. C. Tyler

From acclaimed historical novelist Deborah Swift, Pleasing Mr Pepys is the story of diarist Samuel Pepys'' London, vibrantly told through the eyes of his maid.

Deb Willet is desperate to escape her domineering aunt and takes a position as companion to Elisabeth Pepys, Samuel''s wife. Deb believes it will give her the respectability and freedom she craves - but it proves far more complicated than she could ever have imagined.

London is still in ruins from the Great Fire. Although Charles II has been restored to the throne, there is the prospect of war with the Dutch - the world''s great sea power of the era. In the midst of this tumult strides Samuel Pepys, diarist and man of note.

Pepys'' influence in Restoration London means that the Dutch are keen to get their hands on his secrets - even if that means murder, espionage and blackmail to get them. Deb is soon caught up in a web of deception and double-dealing. And with Mr Pepys'' attentions turned towards her, there''s a lot more than treason at stake...

Selling other people''s secrets is a dangerous game...

Don''t miss the Deborah Swift''s other enthralling tales of Samuel Pepys - A Plague of Mr Pepys and Entertaining Mr Pepys - out now!

Other Formats: Paperback

Lady of the Highway (Highway Trilogy Book 3) Jun 5, 2016

by Deborah Swift

( 27 )

$3.99

‘Captivating – a real page-turner’ - Andrea Zuvich, historian

England 1651.

The English Civil War is over, but the wounds of the conflict are still raw. Young Lady Katherine Fanshawe is determined to save her inheritance from the grasping hands of the authorities, and build a brighter future for herself. Although Kate knows it is dangerous, she invites her rebel friends to live and work at Markyate Manor. But her plans are blown apart when, after months of hard work, her controlling stepfather returns unexpectedly, and evicts them all.

Kate’s friends are bitter and turn against her, accusing her of being cursed, a bringer of misfortune. Desperate to regain their sympathy and trust, she turns to highway robbery to pay them back. But Kate is not the only highway thief on the road, and her rival is intent on bloodshed and murder. Soon the local constable is hot on her trail for crimes she did not commit.

Just when Kate thinks things can’t get worse, another secret from within begins to reveal itself – a secret that threatens her very life. In this struggle against her loveless family, militant authorities and an unforgiving winter, will Lady Katherine’s birthright turn out to be a blessing… or a curse?

Lady of the Highway is the final book of Deborah Swift’s Highway Trilogy for young adults and adults. Shadow on the Highway and Spirit of the Highway are out now. Each can be read as a stand-alone novel.

Praise for Deborah Swift:

‘There is no greater compliment than "give me more"’ - Susanna Gregory

‘Characters so real they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf’ - The Historical Novels Review

‘The past comes alive through impeccable research, layers of intriguing plotline, an understanding of the complexities of seventeenth century politics and the sheer power of descriptive prose’ - Lancashire Evening Post

Other Formats: Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

Last Train Home: A Christmas Wartime Short Story Nov 16, 2017

by Deborah Swift

( 31 )

$0.99

Level crossing-keeper Maisie Harris can only look forward to a lonely Christmas, stuck in her signal box, as the trains take other people home to their families and friends. But this Christmas she is in for a surprise...

Ideal for your coffee break or commute, this is a heart-warming romantic short story (15 minutes, 20 pages) set in 1945 at the end of World War Two.

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1942, Nazi-occupied Norway

1940, Jersey

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1945, Carnforth, England

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