Sarah Mallory

Romantic Historical Novelist

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Sarah Mallory
 
SARAH MALLORY was born in the West Country and now lives in Yorkshire, on the edge of the Pennines with her husband and family.
Born in Bristol, Sarah Mallory grew up in a happy family atmosphere and attended a local grammar school. She left school at sixteen to work in a cigarette factory but soon moved on, gaining office experience in companies as varied as Stockbrokers, Marine Engineers, Insurance Brokers, Biscuit Manufacturers and even a quarrying company. Melinda married at nineteen, but continued to work until the birth of her first child. It was at that time that she decided to try her hand at her first love, which was writing, and shortly after the birth of her daughter her first book, Fortune’s Lady, was published using the pen name Melinda Hammond. This was quickly followed by two more historical novels, Summer Charade and Autumn Bride, but with the birth of her twin sons the demands of family life meant that writing had to take a back seat for a few years. A compulsive scribbler, Melinda never stopped writing and continued to work on research for her novels, experimenting with contemporary scenarios as well as writing pantomimes for her children’s school. In 1989 the family moved to Yorkshire, to an isolated Pennine farmhouse not far from Bronte country. The dramatic scenery is a constant source of inspiration, and with the family grown up Sarah has now returned to writing. She has published more than a dozen books under the pen name of Melinda Hammond, winning the Reviewers Choice Award in 2005 from singletitles.com for Dance for a Diamond and Editors' Choice in November 2006 for Gentlemen in Question.



I
Why do I write historical novels?
 
I fell in love with history when I was very young:  at school we had a very enthusiastic history teacher who used to "flesh out" the dry historical facts with interesting gossip.  I loved reading historical adventures, Alexander Dumas, Jeffrey Farnol and  swashbucklers like Rafael Sabbatini.  Also, as a child I grew up in a street full of boys (as well as having three brothers) so if there was a visit to the cinema it was to watch cowboys or adventures films like Captain Blood or the Crimson Pirate.  Later I discovered Jean Plaidy and Georgette Heyer,  while at school we studied Jane Austen and the Brontes.  This all combined to give me a passion for history which has lasted a lifetime.
 

Where to I get my inspiration?

 

I live one thousand feet up on the edge of the Pennine Hills, with magnificent views.  Whenever I can I like to walk out on to the moors, where I can plan and plot my latest novel without interruption. 

 

It is also Bronte country, so I always hope that a little of their inspiration rubs off on me!  I love visiting old buildings and historical sites - below is a picture taken when I visited an old tar tunnel at Ironbridge.

arah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist
Sarah Mallory Romantic Historical Novelist