‘You’re never too old to do anything you want to’ – Beverley author Val Wood turns 90 and is already working on her next book

For the past 30 years, words have flowed onto the page for celebrated Beverley author Val Wood – and they show no signs of stopping any time soon.

As Val, the first winner of the Catherine Cookson Prize for Fiction in 1994, prepares to launch her latest novel, she is also looking forward to her 90th birthday next month and already has book number 30 under way. The mum of two daughters is proof positive that you are never too old to achieve an ambition if you put your mind to it.

“How old IS old?” says Val, who has become known by millions of readers across the globe with her historical romances featuring strong female characters, mostly set against the backdrop of 19th century Hull and the East Riding. “Age is just a number and I’m of the opinion that you should just do something, if you are able, it’s never too late to start something new.”

Her newest work, however, actually isn’t. Val has revisited a book she penned back in the 1990s, not long after the success of her debut work The Hungry Tide.

“The typed manuscript sat in my spare room, gathering dust for 30 years,” Val says of Foster’s Mill. “It wasn’t accepted by my publisher because it was contemporary, and I’d started this movement of writing about the 19th century,” said Val, who used to sit on the stairs as a child and chat to her imaginary friend.

“My editor said they liked that best, so I put it away in my Granny’s chest. I forgot about it but last year, when I was having a year off, I stumbled upon the manuscript again and thought, ‘why not give it another look?’

“I revisited the story, polished it up using the skills I’ve developed over the last three decades and this time, the publishers loved it.” The task was not without its challenges, however, as Val had written the work on an Amstrad word processor and sought to convert it from the old disk she had it stored on.

One failed attempt involved using dictation software. “It was American and it kept getting things wrong,” said Val, laughing.

“The book is set near Mappleton, in the fictional village of Tillington, and there’s this old man called Wainwright, but it kept being put down as Wayne Right. In the end, I sat down, started at the beginning and rewrote it.

“The story was still clear in my head and I didn’t change huge amounts. I did bring it up to a different standard though, being a more experienced writer.”

Val will release 1980s-set Foster’s Mill on the afternoon of Thursday, November 21, at a book-signing at Waterstones, Jameson Street, Hull. Fans can reserve their copy by calling the book store on 01482 580234.

“I’m so excited to finally share this novel with my readers – it’s had a long sleep in Granny’s old chest – and I’m deeply grateful for their support over the years,” said Val, who counts Little Women among her most favourite works by other people. Val’s new novel is greatly anticipated among her loyal following, as it is a companion to the much-loved and richly drawn world of The Hungry Tide, which remains popular after three decades and has been reissued several times.

“It just goes to show that sometimes, stories aren’t meant to stay hidden,” said Val. “I take a lot of things from my Granny for my books; she was 96 when she died and I still have a lot of stuff of hers.

“I’m always living in two different eras – the book I’m working on now is set in 1888. I think about my characters every morning when I wake up and every night when I go to bed.

“My career began at retirement age, and it couldn’t have been more fulfilling,” Val said. “Writing has been a lifeline for me – an outlet that has kept my mind active and allowed me to continue learning and growing.

“Fiction allows us to explore new ideas and worlds, and it has both helped me through challenging times and kept me feeling young at heart.” To celebrate Val Wood’s birthday and her incredible career, readers and fellow authors alike are invited to join in the conversation, sharing their own stories of starting something new at any age, using the hashtag #ValWoodAt90.

This post was originally published on here