Jan Baynham
@janbaywrites.bsky.social
Welsh writer of historical fiction with Joffe Books/Choc Lit. Fascinated by family secrets and skeletons lurking in cupboards. RNA and SoA member.
Pinned
My blog post this week is titled ‘The Fact and the Fiction’ where I talk about how I approach writing novels set in the past and how I undertake my research. janbaynham.blogspot.com
Readers, what do you like most about historical fiction?
Writers, how do balance fact and fiction in your stories?
Readers, what do you like most about historical fiction?
Writers, how do balance fact and fiction in your stories?
🇮🇹 Intriguing family secrets that nearly split family
‘Loved this story. Kept my interest right from the Italian prisoners sent from Sicily and their reception by locals, then the love interests and intrigue of Welsh daughter travelling to Sicily to uncover her father’s past.’ 🇮🇹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you!
‘Loved this story. Kept my interest right from the Italian prisoners sent from Sicily and their reception by locals, then the love interests and intrigue of Welsh daughter travelling to Sicily to uncover her father’s past.’ 🇮🇹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you!
November 20, 2025 at 12:31 PM
🇮🇹 Intriguing family secrets that nearly split family
‘Loved this story. Kept my interest right from the Italian prisoners sent from Sicily and their reception by locals, then the love interests and intrigue of Welsh daughter travelling to Sicily to uncover her father’s past.’ 🇮🇹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you!
‘Loved this story. Kept my interest right from the Italian prisoners sent from Sicily and their reception by locals, then the love interests and intrigue of Welsh daughter travelling to Sicily to uncover her father’s past.’ 🇮🇹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you!
My blog post this week is titled ‘The Fact and the Fiction’ where I talk about how I approach writing novels set in the past and how I undertake my research. janbaynham.blogspot.com
Readers, what do you like most about historical fiction?
Writers, how do balance fact and fiction in your stories?
Readers, what do you like most about historical fiction?
Writers, how do balance fact and fiction in your stories?
November 17, 2025 at 6:16 PM
My blog post this week is titled ‘The Fact and the Fiction’ where I talk about how I approach writing novels set in the past and how I undertake my research. janbaynham.blogspot.com
Readers, what do you like most about historical fiction?
Writers, how do balance fact and fiction in your stories?
Readers, what do you like most about historical fiction?
Writers, how do balance fact and fiction in your stories?
🇮🇹🏴🇮🇹🏴🇮🇹 The Secret Sister has just been reduced to 99p. Why not leave the wind and rain behind and travel to beautiful Sicily from your armchair? 🇮🇹🏴🇮🇹🏴🇮🇹
‘TRAVEL FROM WARTIME WALES TO SIXTIES SICILY IN THIS BREATHTAKING CROSS-GENERATIONAL SAGA ABOUT A DAUGHTER ROCKED BY HER FAMILY'S SECRET PAST.’
‘TRAVEL FROM WARTIME WALES TO SIXTIES SICILY IN THIS BREATHTAKING CROSS-GENERATIONAL SAGA ABOUT A DAUGHTER ROCKED BY HER FAMILY'S SECRET PAST.’
November 14, 2025 at 5:54 PM
🇮🇹🏴🇮🇹🏴🇮🇹 The Secret Sister has just been reduced to 99p. Why not leave the wind and rain behind and travel to beautiful Sicily from your armchair? 🇮🇹🏴🇮🇹🏴🇮🇹
‘TRAVEL FROM WARTIME WALES TO SIXTIES SICILY IN THIS BREATHTAKING CROSS-GENERATIONAL SAGA ABOUT A DAUGHTER ROCKED BY HER FAMILY'S SECRET PAST.’
‘TRAVEL FROM WARTIME WALES TO SIXTIES SICILY IN THIS BREATHTAKING CROSS-GENERATIONAL SAGA ABOUT A DAUGHTER ROCKED BY HER FAMILY'S SECRET PAST.’
🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷 With the cold weather and the clocks going back this weekend, why not take a virtual trip to the hot sun, turquoise sea and delicious food of a stunning Greek island in The Silent Sister? 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
Thanks to this lovely reader who did just that. 👏👏👏
JOFFE BOOKS Choc Lit Publishing
Thanks to this lovely reader who did just that. 👏👏👏
JOFFE BOOKS Choc Lit Publishing
October 24, 2025 at 7:37 PM
🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷 With the cold weather and the clocks going back this weekend, why not take a virtual trip to the hot sun, turquoise sea and delicious food of a stunning Greek island in The Silent Sister? 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
Thanks to this lovely reader who did just that. 👏👏👏
JOFFE BOOKS Choc Lit Publishing
Thanks to this lovely reader who did just that. 👏👏👏
JOFFE BOOKS Choc Lit Publishing
🇬🇷🇬🇷🪴 No writing this week but research and lots of ‘what if?’ questions for book seven. What could link a sixties potter and a female SoE in wartime #Crete? 🪴🇬🇷🇬🇷
#grandmotherslegacy #granddaughter
#grandmotherslegacy #granddaughter
October 16, 2025 at 8:23 AM
🇬🇷🇬🇷🪴 No writing this week but research and lots of ‘what if?’ questions for book seven. What could link a sixties potter and a female SoE in wartime #Crete? 🪴🇬🇷🇬🇷
#grandmotherslegacy #granddaughter
#grandmotherslegacy #granddaughter
🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 What more can you ask of a reader who ends a review like this?
‘… I really enjoyed this book and would give it more than 5 stars if I could.’
Thank you! 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
‘… I really enjoyed this book and would give it more than 5 stars if I could.’
Thank you! 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
October 4, 2025 at 11:51 AM
🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 What more can you ask of a reader who ends a review like this?
‘… I really enjoyed this book and would give it more than 5 stars if I could.’
Thank you! 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
‘… I really enjoyed this book and would give it more than 5 stars if I could.’
Thank you! 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 Have you read lovely Angela Petch’s guest post on my blog about her fabulous new novel, The Lost Garden, published by Bookouture? Find out why Angela wrote this novel on janbaynham.blogspot.com 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
#Italia #familysecrets #loss #love
#Italia #familysecrets #loss #love
September 26, 2025 at 7:12 PM
🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 Have you read lovely Angela Petch’s guest post on my blog about her fabulous new novel, The Lost Garden, published by Bookouture? Find out why Angela wrote this novel on janbaynham.blogspot.com 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
#Italia #familysecrets #loss #love
#Italia #familysecrets #loss #love
🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷 Sometimes a few words is all that’s needed for a review. A big thank you to this Amazon reviewer for review number 586. 🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Verified Purchase
Great storyline
‘Really enjoyed this book, couldn’t put it down.’
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Verified Purchase
Great storyline
‘Really enjoyed this book, couldn’t put it down.’
September 22, 2025 at 11:32 AM
🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷 Sometimes a few words is all that’s needed for a review. A big thank you to this Amazon reviewer for review number 586. 🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Verified Purchase
Great storyline
‘Really enjoyed this book, couldn’t put it down.’
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Verified Purchase
Great storyline
‘Really enjoyed this book, couldn’t put it down.’
🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 This week, I’m delighted to welcome lovely Angela Petch to my blog to talk about her fabulous new novel, The Lost Garden. It’s set in Italy and tells of ‘the incredible risks people took in wartime, family secrets, loss and love’. Find out why Angela wrote this novel. janbaynham.blogspot.com 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
September 22, 2025 at 8:14 AM
🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 This week, I’m delighted to welcome lovely Angela Petch to my blog to talk about her fabulous new novel, The Lost Garden. It’s set in Italy and tells of ‘the incredible risks people took in wartime, family secrets, loss and love’. Find out why Angela wrote this novel. janbaynham.blogspot.com 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
Have you read what this week’s guest on my blog has to say about the inspiration for her novels yet? It makes very interesting reading. Thank you, @georgiawrites
janbaynham.blogspot.com
#Magpie #witches #historical
janbaynham.blogspot.com
#Magpie #witches #historical
September 18, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Have you read what this week’s guest on my blog has to say about the inspiration for her novels yet? It makes very interesting reading. Thank you, @georgiawrites
janbaynham.blogspot.com
#Magpie #witches #historical
janbaynham.blogspot.com
#Magpie #witches #historical
🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷🏴 First milestone for The Silent Sister that was published six weeks ago today. It now has 500 ratings and reviews. Thrilled! A big thank you to all who have read it, especially those who have taken time to write a review of the novel. 👏👏👏 I really appreciate it. 🏴🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷
#Kefalonia #trauma #secrets
#Kefalonia #trauma #secrets
September 16, 2025 at 11:01 AM
🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷🏴 First milestone for The Silent Sister that was published six weeks ago today. It now has 500 ratings and reviews. Thrilled! A big thank you to all who have read it, especially those who have taken time to write a review of the novel. 👏👏👏 I really appreciate it. 🏴🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷
#Kefalonia #trauma #secrets
#Kefalonia #trauma #secrets
🧙♀️📚🧙♀️📚 Authors are always being asked where they get ideas for their novels. Find out where the talented Georgia Hill got hers for her fabulous new novel, #Magpie on janbaynham.blogspot.com
#witchcraft #secrets #HistoricalFiction 📚🧙♀️📚🧙♀️
@georgiawrites.bsky.social
#witchcraft #secrets #HistoricalFiction 📚🧙♀️📚🧙♀️
@georgiawrites.bsky.social
September 15, 2025 at 7:57 AM
🧙♀️📚🧙♀️📚 Authors are always being asked where they get ideas for their novels. Find out where the talented Georgia Hill got hers for her fabulous new novel, #Magpie on janbaynham.blogspot.com
#witchcraft #secrets #HistoricalFiction 📚🧙♀️📚🧙♀️
@georgiawrites.bsky.social
#witchcraft #secrets #HistoricalFiction 📚🧙♀️📚🧙♀️
@georgiawrites.bsky.social
📚🏴 Many readers prefer to support independent bookshops. I’m delighted to let you know that both ‘The Secret Sister’ and ‘The Silent Sister’ are available to order from Cover To Cover, a gem of a bookshop in beautiful Mumbles, Swansea. 🏴📚
cover-to-cover-mumbles.myshopify.com/collections/...
cover-to-cover-mumbles.myshopify.com/collections/...
September 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM
📚🏴 Many readers prefer to support independent bookshops. I’m delighted to let you know that both ‘The Secret Sister’ and ‘The Silent Sister’ are available to order from Cover To Cover, a gem of a bookshop in beautiful Mumbles, Swansea. 🏴📚
cover-to-cover-mumbles.myshopify.com/collections/...
cover-to-cover-mumbles.myshopify.com/collections/...
🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷🏴 The reviews for ‘The Silent Sister’ are still coming in. A big thank you to this Goodreads reviewer who posted recently. 🏴🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷
September 8, 2025 at 8:10 PM
🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷🏴 The reviews for ‘The Silent Sister’ are still coming in. A big thank you to this Goodreads reviewer who posted recently. 🏴🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷
📚📚📚 What better way to celebrate the publication of your novel than eat delicious pistachio and strawberry cake with fellow writers in the Cariad Chapter today. 📚📚📚
September 2, 2025 at 9:04 PM
📚📚📚 What better way to celebrate the publication of your novel than eat delicious pistachio and strawberry cake with fellow writers in the Cariad Chapter today. 📚📚📚
🇮🇹🇬🇷🇮🇹🇬🇷 The Silent Sister is on its travels again. This time, it’s holidaying in beautiful Lake Garda. Huge thanks to Julie for sending me the photo. 👏👏👏 🇬🇷🇮🇹🇬🇷🇮🇹
August 31, 2025 at 2:00 PM
🇮🇹🇬🇷🇮🇹🇬🇷 The Silent Sister is on its travels again. This time, it’s holidaying in beautiful Lake Garda. Huge thanks to Julie for sending me the photo. 👏👏👏 🇬🇷🇮🇹🇬🇷🇮🇹
📚📚 When you’re deep in edits for book six, this wonderfully generous review made my day! Thank you SO much to the lovely Goodreads/Amazon reviewer. 📚📚
August 30, 2025 at 10:14 AM
📚📚 When you’re deep in edits for book six, this wonderfully generous review made my day! Thank you SO much to the lovely Goodreads/Amazon reviewer. 📚📚
📚 This is a milestone moment for me. 😵 One of my novels, The Greek Island Secret, has reached over 2000 ratings/reviews! Huge thanks to all of you lovely readers. 👏👏👏📚
August 29, 2025 at 10:34 AM
📚 This is a milestone moment for me. 😵 One of my novels, The Greek Island Secret, has reached over 2000 ratings/reviews! Huge thanks to all of you lovely readers. 👏👏👏📚
🇬🇷 🇬🇷🇬🇷 The Silent Sister now has 208 ratings/reviews. Another 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from one lovely reader who posted today. Thank you! 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
‘Excellent book. Could not put it down. Really took me to Kefalonia. Happy and sad moments that all come together to make a wonderful read. Look forward to trying another.’
‘Excellent book. Could not put it down. Really took me to Kefalonia. Happy and sad moments that all come together to make a wonderful read. Look forward to trying another.’
August 25, 2025 at 1:50 PM
🇬🇷 🇬🇷🇬🇷 The Silent Sister now has 208 ratings/reviews. Another 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from one lovely reader who posted today. Thank you! 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
‘Excellent book. Could not put it down. Really took me to Kefalonia. Happy and sad moments that all come together to make a wonderful read. Look forward to trying another.’
‘Excellent book. Could not put it down. Really took me to Kefalonia. Happy and sad moments that all come together to make a wonderful read. Look forward to trying another.’
What a time we had at the RNA's Summer Fling on Saturday! You may read about it in my blog post janbaynham.blogspot.com
Huge thanks to the fabulous organisers and presenters. I learned SO much, met so many new writers and loved catching up with old friends.
#TuesNews #RespectRomFic
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
Huge thanks to the fabulous organisers and presenters. I learned SO much, met so many new writers and loved catching up with old friends.
#TuesNews #RespectRomFic
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
August 19, 2025 at 4:36 PM
What a time we had at the RNA's Summer Fling on Saturday! You may read about it in my blog post janbaynham.blogspot.com
Huge thanks to the fabulous organisers and presenters. I learned SO much, met so many new writers and loved catching up with old friends.
#TuesNews #RespectRomFic
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
Huge thanks to the fabulous organisers and presenters. I learned SO much, met so many new writers and loved catching up with old friends.
#TuesNews #RespectRomFic
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
Blown away by this fantastic review from another historical fiction author. Thank you so much, Luisa. 👏👏👏
I’ve just finished reading The Silent Sister by the talented Jan Baynham for a second time. Such a wonderful, heartfelt and gripping story that transported me to the island of Kefalonia - here’s my 5 ⭐️ review. www.goodreads.com/book/show/23... @janbaywrites.bsky.social #bookstoread #histfic
August 13, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Blown away by this fantastic review from another historical fiction author. Thank you so much, Luisa. 👏👏👏
🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷 What has the week after the publication of my fifth novel, The Silent Sister, been like? Find out on janbaynham.blogspot.com. 🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷
#kefalonia #earthquake #secrets #trauma #love #reconciliation
#kefalonia #earthquake #secrets #trauma #love #reconciliation
August 12, 2025 at 11:33 AM
🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷 What has the week after the publication of my fifth novel, The Silent Sister, been like? Find out on janbaynham.blogspot.com. 🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷🏴🇬🇷
#kefalonia #earthquake #secrets #trauma #love #reconciliation
#kefalonia #earthquake #secrets #trauma #love #reconciliation
Reposted by Jan Baynham
Pop over to my blog today and join Jan Baynham and me as we chat about her fab new book, The Silent Sister. Hope to see you there. Ax
Jan Baynham – The Silent Sister
I’m thrilled to welcome Jan Baynham back to my blog today to talk about her fabulous new novel, The Silent Sister, which takes us to the sun-soaked Ionian island of Kefalonia during one of its darkest times—the 1953 earthquake that devastated the island and changed countless lives forever. After retiring from a career in teaching and advisory education, Jan joined a small writing group in a local library where she wrote her first piece of fiction.
bit.ly
August 12, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Pop over to my blog today and join Jan Baynham and me as we chat about her fab new book, The Silent Sister. Hope to see you there. Ax