Goodreads asked Mark Wardlaw:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Mark Wardlaw It was not long after my parents died in Leith, Edinburgh that the house was cleared. In a cupboard I discovered an ornate wooden box which had belonged to my father’s mother Catherine Bell Hay (known as Kate). The box contained many letters, photographs and other items which she had kept during her time in New Zealand: 1912-1917 when she was assistant matron at The Girls’ High School Napier.

Most of these letters were from Peter Hutchinson Wardlaw – my grandfather. My father Elliot Wardlaw never met his father and never said much about him, so I knew almost nothing about Peter. Both Kate and Peter died long before I was born. Here was a chance in these letters to find out about my grandparents. As I started to read the letters I began to share the passion that they had for life and the love they had for one another. I was about to unearth a fascinating story set at a time of immense opportunity. However just like other people living their lives and making plans, Peter and Kate would never have thought there would be a world war.

Peter and Kate’s story is a microcosm of how war kills not only people, but love that is said to triumph over all adversity. Their story was so powerful and far removed from modern society that I decided to transpose the letters into a compelling book. Having researched and written this book my family now have a clearer picture of the past and what culminated at the Battle of Messines. It also explains why my father knew so little about Peter and the shame that he felt.

Kate loved to travel and experience the beauty of North Island; from the caves at Waitoma to the volcanic wonders of Rotorua, travelling by rail on the miracle of the Auckland-Wellington express or on horseback in Koro Koro Wellington.

Without Kate's box of letters there would be no story.

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