I’m super excited today to welcome another member of the New Romantics Press to my blog. Following on from Lizzie Lamb’s lovely post, I’ve invited June Kearns to share her five photos with me, and she has responded magnificently. I’m a huge fan of June’s books – she even managed to convert me into reading about a cowboy, and did it so well that I’ve never forgotten the delicious Colt McCall! Here’s the lovely June to explain why she chose these five photographs.
Thank you so much Sharon, for the chance to take part in this blog. I’ve loved seeing other people’s special photos.
1. First picture is of my Grandad – the one with the laurel leaves round his neck. I think he’d won a bicycle race.
One of my earliest memories is of sitting on my grandfather’s knee under a thick blue cloud of pipe tobacco smoke, (home-grown, aromatic and probably illegal now, God bless my infant lungs!) listening to some mystical words on the Home Service. Forties, Cromarty, Tyne and Dogger, easterly veering south easterly. Becoming cyclonic.
The Shipping Forecast. Faraway places with strange sounding names.
(It came on before Listen with Mother!)
2. Picture of my Grandma and Grandad (Mary and Joseph!) with the eldest four of their six children – my mum, bottom left.
Grandad, who wore a flat cap inside the house and out, was the only male in my life. It was my grandma, my mum and her sisters who circled round me, with whiffs of scent and whispered secrets. Sitting under the table, hidden by the fringes of a chenille cloth, I’d listen to the rise and fall of their voices, the buzz of gossip. Knitting needles would click, teaspoons clink. There was a lot of laughter, some sniffing and tutting.
3.Picture of my grandma, Mary Ann, in service.
Grandma, (who wore a glassy-eyed fox fur with dangling paws around her neck on posh occasions) had been ‘in service’ to a titled family in the county. She told tales of being an in-between maid and of fearing the housekeeper – a dragon in black with keys clinking at her waist so that you heard her coming, and of servants being allowed to go to dances with a footman driving the carriage.
These stories were all repeated again, again and again, and I’d yawn and grow bored. If only I could listen to her now.
4. Here are our three youngest, loving every minute of sun, sea, and sand.
On my first ever visit to Ireland – 25 or so years ago – we’d been loaned an idyllic house overlooking the sea in Camp, County Kerry. My Irish husband’s family and friends were all so keen for me not to be disappointed. Look, they said – it’s bound to rain, just be prepared. So we clanked off the ferry, weighed down with umbrellas, plastic macs, thick woollies and wellies for all five children in huge, bulging suitcases. And for two whole weeks, we had nothing but blissful sun, blue sea and an endless choice of hot, totally deserted, white-sand beaches!
5. Mum and her sisters on the razzle.
Finally, a picture of my mum and her sisters – Doll, Kath and Nell – all well into their nineties when this was taken, and how I like to remember them. Double brandies was their tipple of choice that weekend, and they didn’t stop laughing the entire time they were together.
Oh, June, what fabulous pictures, and what lovely memories! I totally relate to wishing I’d listened more to grandparents. The stories they could tell, if only I’d bothered to pay attention or ask questions. Sadly, I only realised when it was way too late. Loved your post, June, thank you so much for taking part.
An only child, June Kearns was always a daydreamer who spent a lot of time staring into space and making things up.
She was brought up by women – grandma, mother, aunts – and it was their influence that made June want to write.
She started seriously after leaving teaching, and winning a national magazine competition for the first chapter of an historical novel.
A founder member of the indie publishing group, The New Romantics Press, she’s now published two novels – An Englishwoman’s Guide to the Cowboy and The 20’s Girl – and currently, in a warm corner next to the airing cupboard, she’s working on a third, set in 1960s London and San Francisco.
June is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and lives in Leicestershire, in the middle of England.
You can buy An Englishwoman’s Guide to the Cowboy here.
You can buy The 20s Girl here.
To find out more about June, follow her on Twitter as @june_kearns, or find her on Facebook. You can also visit her website.
Yet more books added to my to be read list … sigh! I love it, and I love old photographs.
Thank you. Did you get my reply to your message? X
No, sorry although something strange happened with wordpress, when I tried to like something on my mobile phone it said I didn’t exist … imagine that haha! I will message you directly, sorry, Sam
Ah, thanks for the lovely comment Samantha!
Reblogged this on June Kearns.
I love this feature, Sharon! And the stories behind the photos are amazing, June! Have a lovely Sunday, Isa xx
Thank you, Isabella! Happy Sunday to you, too. x
Glad you enjoyed it, Isabella. This feature certainly seems to be popular xx
Thanks again, June. You’re always very supportive of this blog so it’s great to see you in the spotlight at last. Lovely photos. Xx
Further to Samantha’s comment, I love looking at old photos. Sadly, we haven’t got too many in our family as my mother and grandma were great ‘chucker-outers’. So any we have date from the fifties. Great photos June and a testament to the strong women in your family. Your aunts etc looked like they were having a great time. I think most women of ‘our’ generation grew up surrounded by strong, inspirational women. They might not have ‘worked outside the home’, as they now say but they made their mark. Lovely blog and I am so proud to call you (and Sharon) my friend. Looking forward to reading the dirty draft of your next novel.
Thanks for that, Lizzie. I think you’re right about all the strong women around us as we grew up. They set a great example!
Reblogged this on New Romantics Press and commented:
Two down, two to go. So lovely to see June on Sharon’s blog today. Do go over and read the whole interview if you have time.
Thanks for sharing, Lizzie x
Once again, a moving insight into an author’s world. The vintage photographs are brilliant and evoke a bygone era with glamour. The pictures of the children are so vibrant and make me happy.
These words captured me:
‘Sitting under the table, hidden by the fringes of a chenille cloth, I’d listen to the rise and fall of their voices, the buzz of gossip. Knitting needles would click, teaspoons clink.’
It is obvious June was born to be a writer – always observing.
Ah, Jessie – thank you. What a lovely comment. I don’t know about being born to be a writer. I was an only child though, with lots of time to stare into space and make things up!!
Loved your five photos, June. You’ve often said what an influence your family were on your becoming a writer. And, like Sharon, who wouldn’t fall in love with Colt McCall, though I did enjoy The 20s Girl because it’s an era I relate to. Still think you should write a sequel with Scoot as the main character.
Great idea for a blog, Sharon.
Thank you Mags!
Thank you, Mags! It IS a great blog
– I’ve enjoyed every post . So different and revealing. (Smashing idea, Sharon.)
I loved the photos, what a great idea for a blog. I remember listening to my grandparents telling me about their lives.Could never get enough of their stories.
I’ve read both June’s books too and you are right, once you’ve read about Colt McCall he is pretty hard to forget :). Looking forward to the next novel.
Thank you, Sarah! (Thanks for all IT and techie support, too. You’re a whizz!)
Thank you, Sarah. I’m looking forward to June’s next novel, too.
Late to the party, Sharon apologies I was away ‘researching’ in Ireland but did manage to read this wonderful blog. Such fabulous pictures and memories, June – the girls in their 90’s giggling really made me smile. I too used to listen in to my nan and aunts, if spotted nan would say ‘little pigs have big ears’ to shut everyone up. Such happy times, we were blessed. Looking forward to reading more of your wonderful work soon. X
Thank you, Ade, for popping in with that lovely comment! (I know we’ve both had some wonderful women in our lives. Love hearing those stories.) x
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