A highly anticipated historical novel by Newport author Luisa A. Jones is set for release next month. What We Left Behind, which will be available on May 30, tells a gripping story set during World War II in Wales.
The novel follows the journey of five evacuee children and their teacher from London’s impoverished East End, who are relocated to the fictional town of Pontybrenin in semi-rural South Wales. Set against the turmoil of the Second World War, the book explores the children’s struggles to integrate into their new community while dealing with the challenges of displacement and cultural differences.
“I’ve always been fascinated by Welsh history, particularly the untold stories of ordinary people living through extraordinary times,” Jones said. “The idea for the novel came to me after reading about a family that faced racism when they were evacuated to Ebbw Vale during the war but were later embraced by the local community. Through social media, I managed to track down a descendant of this family and conducted an interview, which became a key part of my research.”
The poignant real-life story of the family, which Jones discovered through her research, played a significant role in shaping the fictional Clarke family, central to What We Left Behind.
A graduate of Royal Holloway, University of London, and the University of South Wales, Newport, Jones has always had a passion for historical writing. She was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) Elizabeth Goudge Trophy in 2024 and is a member of the Society of Authors, the Historical Writers’ Association, and the RNA.
Jones’ debut novel, The Gilded Cage, part of The Fitznortons series, became a number one Amazon bestseller in Victorian Historical Romance shortly after its release. When she’s not writing, Jones enjoys traveling around Europe with her husband in their 50-year-old Volkswagen camper van, Gwynnie.
What We Left Behind is now available for pre-order and is set to be released on May 30.
