I hover nervously alongside the tills inside The Pantry Restaurant, only half hearing the words of Chris Rushby, introducing me to the audience. The applause begins, a ripple at first, but then as I am seen approaching the dias, it becomes perceivably louder. Swallowing back a sudden visceral feeling of ‘imposter syndrome’, I step up and take my place at the lectern. It has begun.

It was the 4th of February 2016 and Jarrold was about to launch my first published book, Escaping Hitler. It had taken four years of my life, researching and writing the story as part of an MA course in Creative Non-Fiction at UEA. Finally, aged 60, I had made it. There was a book with my name on the spine, something I had dreamed of since aged 10 and this evening, the hero of the biography Joe Stirling would share the stage and the limelight with me, inside my very favourite Department store.

Since moving up to Norwich in 2004, I had spent many hours inside the hallowed halls of this historic space, coveting the leather handbags, trying on fabulous dresses, meeting girlfriends in Benjie’s for coffee and cake, trying out the beauty testers, attending book launches and fashion shows, choosing treats in the deli and, of course, browsing the book department. Never did I imagine that one morning, twelve years later, I would stand, rooted to the spot, as my name came over the tannoy:

“We’d like to invite you to join local writer Phyllida Scrivens, here in store on the evening of 4th February, when she will be launching her biography Escaping Hitler.’

I became aware of concerned shoppers looking at me intently, fearing that this woman might be having a ‘nasty turn’. Recovering swiftly, I reassured them that I had just experienced one of those life moments. This was real. It was actually happening. I returned to the city every day for a week, timing my visit specifically to hear the announcement. It meant so much.

During the latter part of 2015, Jarrold book buyer Chris Rushby, an absolute legend amongst his shelves of crime novels, thrillers, romances, local history, auto-biography and children’s books, (and who incidentally has met so many of the greats in his career), invited me to meet with him and marketing manager Carol Slaughter in ‘Chapters’, the then brand new cosy café set inside the book department. Slightly intimidated by the photographs on the wall depicting the great and the good of the literary world, I sipped a cappuccino while we three planned my book launch. I left the store that day riding on a great big fluffy white cloud.

Ever since I submitted the final draft to Pen and Sword in the spring of 2015, I prayed, to whoever might be listening, that Joe Stirling would live long enough to join me at the launch. It was imperative that this incredible man, now in his early nineties, should sit beside me as we autographed copies. Since December 2011 we had worked together, once a fortnight or so, seated comfortably in his sumptuous living room in the Unthank Road house, bought in 1955 (the year of my birth!), and where his family had grown, surrounded by laughter and love.

Joe’s memory proved spot on and expansive, me recording every word of our four-hour interview sessions, returning home to type up the exact same words, my job to blend them together into a readable narrative once I was ready. I listened as he transported me to his idyllic rural childhood as a Jewish boy in a Rhineland village, learning how his family’s life had changed for the worse once Herr Hitler took over Germany. Then there were his moving and emotional memories of Kristallnacht, when his beloved father Alfred was dragged into the darkness by Nazi thugs and stories from his journey to Koblenz with his mother Ida. Then he told me how, during the summer of 1939, at fourteen years old, he set out one morning to make his own way to England and freedom. At that stage I firmly believed my book would stop there; I’d maybe take him through the war, but probably no further. But then Joe wanted to share stories from his next six decades. I indulged him. He told me of his friendship with the Jarrold family and how he’d created his ultimately successful travel company in 1958, without any capital. At this point I realised I had no choice; this book was destined to become a full life biography. There was much more work to do.

But on that cold and frosty launch night in February 2016, I knew that every second of crafting those 90,000 words, had been well worth it. Two hundred and twenty people turned out that evening, paying real money to listen to me and Joe sharing the highlights of our literary journey together. To be fair, ninety per cent were there for Joe; you don’t give sixty years of your life to a city without gathering a few followers, but I was excited to spot a good number of familiar faces from my address book.

I gave them 45 minutes of mixed emotions, a presentation that thanked the appropriate people as I shared my joy at finally being able to call myself a ‘published writer’. However, the evening really began when Joe was called to the stage, walking unaided up the small flight of steps, taking his seat beside me, the room erupting with a tsunami of warm applause. For a further twenty minutes he answered a smörgåsbord of questions about his life and, being a true gentleman, generously acknowledged me for my initial interest and for following through to the end, producing an heirloom for the generations of his growing family to treasure.

Together we signed over 50 copies of the book that evening. Days later this was followed by a marathon signing session inside Chapters. We watched as a library trolley stuffed with copies rolled its way towards us. This was to be a two coffee job, that’s for sure. Amused customers watched as our pens flew across the title page, some enquiring who we were, what exactly we were doing? This was thrilling, especially when on the strength of a brief conversation, one gentleman took a copy to the till and actually bought it. What more could a brand new writer ask for?

You might think this was indeed enough. But no, on Saturday 13th February 2016, the Eastern Daily Press published its weekly list of Jarrold’s bestsellers. To my shock and delight, at Number One in the National list was Escaping Hitler, alongside a photograph of the front cover. For just one week my name was above those of giants such as Mary Berry, Dr Michael Moseley, Sir Terry Wogan, Keiron Pim and Joe Wicks. Who would ever have thought it? Would I ever wake from this dream?

Well of course I did. Two years later, after months of hard graft researching and writing my second book, The Lady Lord Mayors of Norwich, Jarrold stepped up again, offering me a second launch evening. After a false start due to deep deep snow, (remember the Beast from the East?) this event was held, again in The Pantry, on 21st March 2018. I found myself surrounded by an illustrious ‘chain gang’; no fewer than eight of the former Lady Lord Mayors who feature in the book, arrived in their best frocks, with treasured Past Lord Mayors medals on display. I was especially touched that Joe Stirling was also a guest of honour, sitting in the front row, attentively listening to stories about civic life. This was totally fitting, as many of the tales were gleaned from him, for Joe was honoured with the role of Sheriff of Norwich in 1975, working in partnership with Lord Mayor Joyce Morgan, the irrepressible subject of Chapter Five. Not only that, but the then Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor David Fullman, along with Sheriff David Walker, accepted my invitation, both there in an official capacity, wearing the glittering chains of office. As Chris again welcomed me to the stage, I knew another memorable evening was just beginning.

Local writers of all genres have much to thank Jarrold for. Over many decades management has made it a policy, whenever possible, to support those seeking help to launching and promote their written work, often overwhelmed by this overly competitive market place. Careers have been kick started or advanced within those walls, each fledgling author given the same welcome and respect as is offered to household names. On their behalf may I express our sincere gratitude?

Thank you Jarrold – here’s to my next shopping/lunch trip and maybe even a third book launch!