Tag Archives: Allison and Busby

Launching The Paris Peacemakers

Leave a reply

I went on holiday the morning after the book launch so haven’t had time until now to post some pictures. What a lovely evening we had at Blackwell’s in Edinburgh launching The Paris Peacemakers into the world. I remember James Thin’s as a kind of paradise from childhood visits , so it was the perfect location! Thank you so much to Matthew of Blackwell’s for hosting.

Jenny Brown chaired the event superbly, and it was great to dig a little more deeply into The Paris Peacemakers, to explore the three characters of Corran, Stella and Rob and some of the main themes, including the desperate need for peace and the impact of war, the fate of the 1914 Scottish rugby team, and opportunities for women. Thank you so much to everyone who came along and joined in.

The Paris Peacemakers is set in France and in Scotland in 1919. It follows the stories of three Scots as they attempt to pick up the pieces of their lives after the trauma of war while politicians attempt to rebuild the world they have shattered.

I’m really pleased with the reception so far, with some lovely reviews on NetGalley, Goodreads, Amazon and Waterstones. If you haven’t read The Paris Peacemakers yet please do get hold of a copy (hardback, e-book or audio), and if you have it really helps if you can leave a review.

Meanwhile, time to get back to work on the sequel!

The Paris Peacemakers

Leave a reply

It’s been an exciting week. I was delighted this week to be able to share that my next novel, The Paris Peacemakers, will be published by Allison and Busby in April 2024, with the sequel following early in 2025.

The Bookseller announcement said:

Lesley Crooks, publishing manager, acquired world English rights from Jenny Brown at Jenny Brown Associates. The Paris Peacemakers will be published in April 2024 with the second book following in early 2025. 

“Its backdrop of the Treaty of Versailles, as international politicians attempt to rebuild the world they have shattered, will resonate strongly with our world today,” said Brown. “It also explores the little-remembered fate of the Scottish rugby team, swept up in war fever and mown down in battle.”

Johnston’s novel follows two sisters — Stella and Corran Rutherford — and Corran’s fiancé in the aftermath of the First World War. It was inspired by the Scottish rugby team which was “decimated” during the war and the letters written by Johnston’s great-aunt who worked as a typist at the Paris Peace Conference. 

Crooks said: “It was such a pleasure to step into the vivid world Flora created and be introduced to her characters, who you can tell Flora knows inside and out. The Paris Peacemakers was remarkably assured and weaves together three compelling storylines tackling grief and the fragile hope of the post-war period.”

Johnston added: “There are many books about the horrors of war, but I wanted to explore what comes afterwards. How do we pick up the pieces: emotionally, ideologically, politically? It was a particular pleasure to draw on the letters of my great-aunt who, along with many other young women, swapped grubby wartime London for the glamour and intrigue of life a life as a typist at the Paris Peace Conference.”

I look forward to sharing this story with you!