Tuesday, 30 August 2016

Guest Post: Pauline Barclay author of The Wendy House


Hello Wendy, thank you so much for your invitation to appear on your fabulous Blog to talk about my latest baby, The Wendy House.

You asked what inspired me to write my latest book. Like all my other books the root of an idea for a story often comes from talking to other people. The concept for The Wendy House came after meeting with a lady some years ago. Whilst my other books are emotional with tear jerking moments, The Wendy House is a dark story and provokes a plethora of emotions.

A few years ago I met a lady who told me about what had happened to her during her childhood and how those events changed her life forever.  She asked me to consider writing a story about what she had had to suffer and endure, but wanted my story and all the characters to be fiction. She had her reasons for this and I respected them. It was heart breaking to listen as she recounted those years and what she told me will live with me forever.  The Wendy House was not the easiest of stories to write, and I did wonder at times if I should not only not finish it, but not publish it, but I was encouraged to do both. Sometimes, maybe, we have to step out of our comfort zone and write about something that shocks and upsets in the hope it can, in some small way, change things.

Blurb for The Wendy House

When Nicola changes overnight from a bright, happy young child into a sullen, rebellious girl, ceasing to show interest in anything or anyone around her, her parents struggle to understand why. As she develops into a difficult, troubled, hostile teenager they put it down to hormones, believing it will pass. Yet Nicola goes from bad to worse and no matter how much her mother tries to reach out to her, it seems she is hell bent on self-destruction. When she leaves home at seventeen, rushing into the arms of a man ten years her senior and quickly becoming pregnant, her despairing mother almost gives up on her. A decade later, the events that stole Nicola’s childhood and changed the course of her life threaten finally to destroy her. She knows if she is to cling on to her sanity she must tell her mother the dreadful secret she has carried all these years, but her fear that she will be met with disbelief, hostility and branded an evil liar drives her to the edge.

A heart-rending story of betrayal, secrets and gripping fear.

Publication Date: Saturday 3rd September
Genre: Women’s Fiction / Family-Noir


The Wendy House is available in Kindle on all Amazon sites including

And will be available in paperback very soon.


A little about Pauline





I am from Yorkshire, but have lived in several different locations including, Suffolk, Surrey and Holland. Today, I live on one of the beautiful volcanic islands of the Canary Isles with my husband and our two gorgeous rescue doggies.

Years ago I gained a BA (Hons) degree from the Open University, today I spend my time writing fiction. I have six books published, plus a 20 minute short festive story.

My passion is to write about events that happen in life and change everything for those involved as well as those caught up in the maelstrom. I want my characters to sit at your side, steal your attention and sweep you up in their story. Stories that will bring tears to your eyes, have you laughing out loud and sometimes, what they share with you, will stay in your hearts for a very long time.


Twitter: @paulinembarclay
Instagram: @paulinebarclay


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