M E L O D Y   F O R E M A N   MCIJ

             "History often drives and inspires a narrative of our own lives.."

                                                                                 

Author,   Public Speaker, Literary Events Host, Book Reviewer, Journalist
Available for editorial commissions 
 For Stories That Matter
"History is an inspiration for a narrative of our own lives.."

Qualified NCTJ award-winning journalist, editor and graduate with news, production and features experience in newspapers, magazines, television documentaries, research and theatre.  I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists and a correspondent and book reviewer for the leading monthly glossy history magazine 'Britain at War', and national publications.
 (See News Archive section). 
The Independent (Regional) Newspaper Award Feature Writer of the Year; BT Southern Arts Journalist Award; Kent Journalist of the Year Campaign Award. EDF Highly Commended Columnist of the Year. EDF Winner - Editor - London Free Weekly Newspaper of the Year.
 I now work as an author and public speaker.

My latest non-fiction book is -
From the Battlefield to the Big Screen: Dirk Bogarde, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, and Audi Murphy in the Second World War - Stories of the true grit behind the glamour of British and Hollywood stars who served in the 1939-1945 conflict is available now from all good bookshops and online.

Latest Reviews- "Melody Foreman's new book - From the Battlefield to the Big Screen: Audie Murphy, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh and Dirk Bogarde in the Second World War, is a fascinating read. Melody has undertaken a huge amount of research. I had no idea these huge Stars had such a colourful War service. Well done!"  - Jan Leeming, celebrity broadcaster, journalist and author.

"If there ever was a reminder needed about the human cost of warfare, Melody Foreman has it. In her touching article Falling Star, she examines the loss of Belgian pilot Albert can den Hove d'Ertsenrijck, who fell from his Hurricane on September 15, 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain.  If that were not tragic enough, his two daughters seemingly received no explanation as to Albert's fate and assumed themselves abandoned.  Melody finds out why he will always be remembered - including now by his girls.." - John Ash, Editor - Britain at War magazine.

  Why Not Book Me for a Talk/Lecture/Literary Event..

Coming Soon: Dad's Army Goes to War - Watch this Space!

Books:  The Wreck Hunter: Battle of Britain Archaeology - Lives Lost and Found.
(Pen & Sword) was published on December 6, 2019.

The best-selling - A Spitfire Girl: Mary Wilkins Ellis with a foreword by HRH Prince Michael of Kent was published in 2016 by Pen & Sword.

My e-book - Bomber Girls is available as an e-book - Endeavour Press - 2014.

Canterbury: A History and a Celebration - published by Francis Frith - 2007
Kent Revisited - published by Francis Frith - 2005

As a Freelance Journalist I have also edited and produced a number of heritage  magazines including the editorial content for the national RAF Museum Annual Review.

All editorial commissions considered:  Magazine and newspaper production, writing,  editing, research, page design, artwork, photography.

Lectures Available
*From Battlefield to Big Screen: The British and Hollywood stars who served in the Second World War.
*Dad's Army Goes to War - COMING SOON.
*The Wreck Hunter: Battle of Britain and the Blitz.
*A Spitfire Girl: Mary Wilkins Ellis
*Women Pilots of the Second World War
*The Air Transport Auxiliary


To Contact Me: see the form at the bottom of the page.
Or message me via Facebook - Melody Foreman Books, Talks, Films, A Spitfire Girl.

Visit my ARCHIVE for examples of published news, feature articles and book reviews.

Recommendations

" Melody's biography of Spitfire Girl Mary Wilkins Ellis was unputdownable.  I found Mary's story such an inspiration and it was wonderful when Melody took part in a recorded Zoom event to talk about her work with Mary and how she went about writing this amazing book. " - Liz Booker (Aviatrix Book Club of the USA).

" Thank you so much for the fascinating talk about your book 'The Wreck Hunter: Battle of Britain and the Blitz'. It was really touching to hear how so many important stories were uncovered and how they helped both surviving aircrew find their beloved fallen aircraft, and reveal the fates of those sadly killed during the aerial conflict of 1940 and after. " -
Bentley Priory Museum Operations Manager, Christina Avramakis.

" An important set of stories told with compelling and fascinating detail.. " - Bentley Priory Museum member 2021.

" Melody's talk was inspirational and I will recommend it to friends. Thank you, " - Iwonna Podstepska.

" Melody is an excellent and creative writer who regularly contributes news, features and book reviews to Britain at War magazine, I highly rate her superb work. " - Nigel Price, Editor.

" One of our best-selling authors at Frontline/Pen & Sword! Melody's immaculately researched and exclusive biography of 'Spitfire Girl' Mary Wilkins Ellis is a storming contribution to the canon of literature in the genre of military history. Her evocative and unique new book of 2020 is 'The Wreck Hunter: Battle of Britain and the Blitz' - a social history which makes compelling reading and beautifully honours the memory of 'The Few' in this the 80th anniversary of the aerial conflictof 1940. " - Publisher (Frontline/Pen & Sword Books).

Editorial coverage for the 2017 publication of 'The Spitfire Girl' appeared in The Times, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, The Daily Mirror, The Sun. Thanks heaps to author and historian Clare Mulley for her review of 'A Spitfire Girl' in History Today, June 6, 2017 - 'No Husband Needed: I Fly a Spitfire'.

" Thank you so much Melody for your fascinating talk which was greatly enjoyed by visitors to Bentley Priory Museum. We look forward to welcoming you back  for another presentation which is already looking like a sell out! " - Events Organiser, Bentley Priory Museum - former HQ of RAF Fighter Command 1940.

" We hugely appreciated your entertaining and vivid talk about 'Spitfire Girl' Mary Ellis and the amazing Air Transport Auxiliary...and all presented so fluently without using any notes! Come back soon, Melody. " - Andy Simpson,- Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, Capel-le-Ferne, Kent.

" An entertaining and inspiring talk which was enjoyed by all. A wonderful series of anecdotes about wartime Britain and its women pilots. " - Janice Burley (RAFA).

" Melody's knowledge about Women Pilots of the Second World War is vast. The audience at Coxheath Hall, near Maidstone appreciated Melody's fluency and sparkling presentation of compelling stories about humanity at its best and its worst during wartime. " - TP.

" An interesting and lively talk with splendid images to accompany each part of the story. Melody's talk was enjoyed by a full house - a keen audience who had turned out on a chilly January night! " - Sheila Neal, Charing History Society.

" Your talk about the Women Pilots of the Second World War was highly appreciated. Thank you for providing us with such an insightful talk. " - Professor David Killingray, Sevenoaks Historical Society.

" We loved hearing all about the Spitfire Girls of the Second World War. Thank you Melody, and we hope to see you again soon! " - John Wild (RAFA).

" Well done Waterstones in Canterbury for hosting this talk by Melody Foreman about her biography of wartime Spitfire Pilot - Mary Wilkins Ellis. It was a splendid event and I learned a lot. The book is a fabulous read too, leaving me with the feeling I was there at the airfield with the men and women of the ATA. " - L. Harper (Audience member and history buff.)

News Latest

From the Battlefield to the Big Screen

Available Now.

Britain at War Issue September 2023

        Lecture Diary and 'In Conversation with' public events

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

WATERSTONES BOOKSHOP - TENTERDEN, KENT

I am in conversation with historian ROBERT SACKVILLE-WEST about his important

new book The Searchers: The Quest for the Lost of the First World War.


SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 

WATERSTONES BOOKSHOP - TENTERDEN, KENT

I am in conversation with leading historian and author SARAH GRISTWOOD about her

gound-breaking new history title - Tudors in Love: The Courtly Code of the Last Medieval Dynasty.


SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

Hothfield History Society - The Wreck Hunter: Battle of Britan Heroes Lost and Found.


       OCTOBER 11, 2022

     Northiam & District Literary & History Society - A Spitfire Girl.


NOVEMBER 8, 2022

Hythe Civic Society - From the Battlefield to the Big Screen.


FEBRUARY 3, 2023

Rolvenden History Society

The Wreck Hunter: Battle of Britain Lives Lost and Found


FEBRUARY 21, 2023

WATERSTONES BOOKSHOP

A conversation with best-selling author ALEX PRESTON about his brilliant novel, Winchelsea


MARCH 29, 2023

WATERSTONES BOOKSHOP

Free French Spitfire Hero: Rene Mouchotte

A conversation with national treasure and self-confessed romantic

TV journalist and broadcaster JAN LEEMING. 


MARCH 31, 2023

The 1940s' Society

From the Battlefield to the Big Screen.


APRIL 21, 2023

WATERSTONES BOOKSHOP

From the Battlefield to the Big Screen.

Author Talk Event with - MELODY FOREMAN (!)


JUNE 21, 2023

WATERSTONES BOOKSHOP

A conversation with the awesome REVEREND FERGUS BUTLER-GALLIE

about his profundly brilliant new memoir Touching Cloth:

Confessions and Communions of a Young Priest.


JULY 29, 11am - 2pm

THE RYE BOOKSHOP

I will be signing From the Battlefield to the Big Screen.


SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

WATERSTONES BOOKSHOP TENTERDEN

The amazing ADAM NICOLSON (of Sissinghurst fame) and his new history book,

How to Be: Lessons from the Early Greeks.


  SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 TENTERDEN

Leading historian PROFESSOR RICHARD MORRIS and his new biography -

Barnes Walls: An Engineer's Life.


OCTOBER  9, 2023

A Spitfire Girl -

Kennington WI, Ashford.


    OCTOBER 13, 2023

Robertsbridge History Society

A Spitfire Girl: Mary Wilkins Ellis.


  DECEMBER 7, 2023 - 3pm - BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Benenden Memorial Hall, Kent

Melody Foreman will be in conversation with PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR

ADAM NICOLSON about his brilliant new book

How to Be: Life Lessons from the Early Greeks.


DECEMBER 12, 2023

Northiam and District Literary and History Society

Northiam Village Hall, East Sussex

From the Battlefield to the Big Screen.



FIND ME on Facebook, X, and Instagram


To Book Me for a Talk/Event see the form at the bottom of this page - Many Thanks

BOOKS & MAGAZINES
      Melody Foreman's books are available from all good bookshops and online - A Spitfire Girl; The Wreck Hunter; From the Battlefield to the Big Screen.
The Wreck Hunter Book Front Cover
A Spitfire Girl Book Front Cover
Bomber Girls Book Front Cover
Kent Revisited book front cover
Canterbury History & Celebration book front cover
So You Think You Know Canterbury book front cover
MAGAZINES
 Click on a cover to view sample pages
KBoBM Magazine front cover
Everest Inn Magazine front cover
HAC Magazine front cover

CONTACT ME

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