Fiction with warmth, substance and memorable characters, this is a beautifully written saga by a stylish, intuitive writer. Rachel Billington is a highly promotable author with excellent media contacts. 'The novel is a reflection of the characters' lives - vivid, dramatic and sometimes chaotic, with emotional volume turned up to full blast ... a narrative of striking exuberance and generosity' The Times. 'Played out against a backdrop of world events, including the Feminist movement and the Troubles in Northern Ireland, this is an entertaining study of the dynamics of friendship' Good Housekeeping. 'The female characters are so superbly drawn, so real, that you are reminded of the skill of the female novelists of the 19th century ... [the novel's] brilliance lies in a combination of the author's subtle observations - how jealous men can be of their wives' friends, for example - and the absence of sentimentality' Daily Telegraph. 'Ranks with the best achievements of fine authors such as Joanna Trollope, who have staked claims in similar territory ...The novel, which is a pleasure to read from start to finish, has a breadth of vision that left me full of admiration' The Tablet.

Rachel Billington has published seventeen novels and eight books for children, as well as several non-fiction works. She is also a regular journalist, feature writer and reviewer. She is co-editor of Inside Time, the national newspaper for prisoners and a Vice-President of English PEN. She has four children and four grandsons and lives in London and Dorset.