Patricia Wilson lived in the village of Amiras in Crete where the book is set. She was inspired to write when she unearthed a machine gun in her garden – one used in the September 1943 massacre, and much of the novel is based on real stories told to her by the oldest women of Amiras – women who've never spoken of their experiences before.
Julie Maisey is a British actress. She has appeared at Hampstead Theatre, the Royal National Theatre and on TV in The Bill, EastEnders and various sitcoms including Birds of a Feather and Holding the Baby. Voiceover highlights include the BAFTA-nominated and British Animation Award-winning Dad's Dead (Best Short), People's Britain (Best Comedy) and a number of cartoons for the AIR scheme with Channel 4.