In the first of her three-part memoir, Josie Bruce captures the essence of life in London’s East End – its community, social history and those strong characters that shaped the author, and ultimately almost broke her.
Embracing the philosophy that ‘together we make eternal memories’, author Josie Bruce grips readers with the first instalment of her three-part memoir, A Cockney Rosebud.
Immersing readers in the good, bad and ugly elements of London’s East End, the author shares her mother’s early life living in this unique part of the capital (primarily 1920 – 1948), until a war left her homeless and unable to return to her roots.
With Rosie’s life in London playing a pivotal role in moulding her future self, it is the author’s recounting of those mother and daughter relationships that have played out throughout her family’s history, and the genetic psychology passed down through the generations, that resonates. Leaving readers reflecting on their own maternal relationships, this section of the book also leaves an abiding sense of ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’.
Showcasing her ability to soak up both the physical and emotional elements of the world around her, Josie Bruce’s first published work captivates, and just like the hugely successful TV series, Call the Midwife, leaves readers with a sense of that real community spirit and bond, that is sadly missed today.
Synopsis:
A Cockney Rosebud, A bittersweet journey in the midst of the life and community of an East End of London family (circa 1920 – 1960)
Rosie might have changed the world. She had talent, unfailing family and community bonds, and strong matriarchal role models. She had a chance. But bonds break as families are distanced and communities scattered and her time to bloom fades into the war-torn earth. Share Rosie’s grief as her close family, home, possessions and history are wiped out and her dreams and ambitions are torn from her soul. And rejoice that she makes it through.
The author says:
“A Cockney Rosebud is the first book in a trilogy of memoirs journeying through my family and social history for over 100 years. I particularly explore the mother/daughter relationships and, in our case, the abject failures that result in dysfunction. I do not do fiction. I have to experience and record. With a love for both words and history, I don’t understand the move towards airbrushing our past(s). The past has happened, and I believe it gives us a chance to learn and move on.”
A Cockney Rosebud is available to purchase in paperback and Kindle format ($19.02) & ($2.99) at
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW8BLBR7
About the author, Josie Bruce
Writing under a pseudonym, Josie Bruce is a new author who will immerse you in her living worlds of sights, feelings and smells—physical and psychological. Born a baby-boomer in the summer of 1951, Josie was a lonely child who didn’t have the opportunity to make friends. The youngest of five children, and with her parents working long hours to house and feed the family, she found solace in books and day-dreamed about becoming a ballerina, or perhaps a ballroom dancer. She had one talent, and that was writing, but it would take over sixty years to gain the confidence to share her writing with others. The moment is here. Josie writes about real people, believing that everyone’s life is a story that could be told. Together we make eternal memories.
Josie’s BIOGRAPHY
Josie Bruce was born on the 24th of June 1951 in a council house on a post-war ‘pre-fabricated’ housing estate in rural Essex. The estate had been hastily erected a few years earlier to accommodate the thousands of displaced Londoners who had been made homeless during World War II. She was, however, born as Margaret Robertson, daughter of a Scottish father and East End of London mother, and she chose to use a pen name for her writing, inspired by her love of dogs. This love was discovered late in life, after Josie’s retirement from a senior administrative career, and a tentative approach to the adoption of dogs – two rescue Lurchers in 2009. Her pen name honours a brother and sister Dachshund (Joey and Rosy) and a larger-than-life Bull Lurcher, named Bruce.
Josie’s mother, Rose, had been a shorthand/typist before her marriage, and her family managed a pub. Rose’s mother, aunt and brother-in-law were killed when the pub took a direct hit during a bombing of East London Docks, and all personal belongings and mementoes were lost. Josie’s father, William (Bill), was in the Scots Guards, stationed in London and Surrey, until he was demobbed in 1947.
Josie has 4 siblings, all older than her; three brothers and one sister. There is a two-year gap between each sibling, with her sister being the eldest. Being the youngest was not easy for Josie. Her father worked long, physically demanding shifts and her mother went to work to bring in more money as soon as Josie started school. Her siblings had many interests, but none of them included her.
Josie was always a little lost. At school she excelled, but did not make friends. She immersed herself in books and would set challenges. One challenge was to read 100 pages of War and Peace by Tolstoy each day, during the first two weeks of a summer school break. There were 1400 pages in the edition. Some chapters were challenging with seemingly endless pages of dates; however, Josie saw the film (on her own) in the local cinema shortly afterwards, and after seeing it, she read the book again. This time she understood much more.
Josie’s essays at school were often commended and she enjoyed writing but had a problem with timed writing – exams were a nightmare as she could write for hours. She lacked the confidence to believe that an audience wider than her English Teacher would want to read her work, but then she won a competition for a fully-funded leadership course in London. The award was based on a themed short essay. When she attended the celebratory ceremony, she was thrown by the admiration of her essay and the fact that she was asked if she was a writer. This sowed a seed of ‘well, perhaps I could write.”
But what to write? Josie is always on the periphery – listening and observing. Her skill is in reality, not fiction. Josie believes that every life is a story waiting to be told, but how that story is presented is the key. Josie’s mother lived to 100 years of age and kept her memories alive by sharing them with Josie over the years. It is a fitting tribute that Josie’s first book is about that life, and more. It also has historical and educational merit and value and will appeal to a wide-ranging audience.
Josie has been married twice and has two adult boys. Her first marriage ended when her husband had a serious traffic accident and she lives with her second husband, John and always a number of canine companions.
Josie has experienced life-changing illnesses since 2018, including breast cancer, Polymyalgia Rheumatica and chronic neuropathy and knows that each day counts. She intends to write as much as she can, for her own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of her readers.
TOGETHER WE MAKE ETERNAL MEMORIES
Checkout Josie’s Website at http://josiebruceworld.com/
Media Contact:
Email: rainfall5566@aol.com
