Former Gazette writer finishes second novel

As a child, Marilyn Chapman listened to her grandparents’ tales of losing their Guernsey home to the enemy in 1940. Unbeknown to her, these memories were written down in an old exercise book which she came across years later when moving house. Occupying Love is the result.

Marilyn said: “The stories of love and loss were very moving and they’ve always stayed in my mind.”

Further research revealed an underground news service which brought good news to the islanders who were cut off from the rest of the world and the idea for the novel was born.

Marilyn spent several years at The Gazette in the 1970s, covering hard news stories as well writing women’s features under her maiden name Brown. 
She later freelanced for national newspapers and magazines including the Daily Mail and Woman.

Her debut novel, Baggy Pants and Bootees, about a young journalist’s search for her GI father, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romance new talent award and published in 2014.

She now lives with her husband in Poultonand is working on the sequel.