Time for a Change

'Time for a Change' covers the period between 1969-1979, and is predominantly, but not exclusively, set in Belfast, Derry and Castlerock, Northern Ireland. The book follows the lives of a group of nurses and their friends and offers an insight into how ordinary life continued against the backdrop of an extraordinary times.Whilst this novel is fictional the author relied on a wide range of resources, including newspaper reports, the work of social historians as well as anecdotal evidence of those who lived through the times. Evidence of major events occurring during those years are plentiful, but it is the smaller encounters which bring this book to life. A pile of hand knitted black balaclavas in the corner of the room, the presence of weapons of war in a private home, and the not-at-school children participating in mayhem 'for the craic'.

The author trained and worked as a nurse, midwife and health visitor during 'The Troubles' and, 'Time for a Change' uses her experiences as a background to the novel. She believes that it was the privileged position offered to her as a nurse, which gave her the inspiration, and often the material, for her books. Although Mary progressed from 'bedside' nursing to 'bench' nursing over the latter years of her career she has always been proud to consider herself first and foremost a nurse.