George Schofield	About My Writing The author saw and lived through a period of time when the whole world changed. His book, "The Schrapnel Pickers" gives the reader a glimpse of a period in history that is constantly being revised and distorted by modern writers. Mr. Schofield thinks of himself as a reporter not an historian. He reports only what he saw and heard and makes no attempt to interpret.	Authors' Register:
About My Background After national service in the Royal Navy, and studies in London, the author became an industrial chemist. He spent most of his working life in South America, where he was active in the rubber industry - and as a freelance writer. He now lives, with American wife, Norma, in rural New England and after 11 September 2001 he must have thought his life had come full circle. The New York of 2001 felt a lot like the London of 1940, with the same civility, helpfulness and comradeship. "It did not last, of course," he says. "As in London after the bombing, as soon as the danger seemed over ... everyone went back to normal!".

My Books

The Shrapnel Pickers
Genre: Non-fiction - History Buy the Book		"The Shrapnel Pickers” tells two stories. The main theme is the true first person account of a boy's life in war torn England. From the London Blitz, through evacuations to the well-bombed midlands, and back in time for rockets and flying bombs, the reader is led through encounters with the black market, rationing, nights and days in air raid shelters, pubs, music halls and playground fights. The writer takes us through the action-filled, sometimes tragic, sometimes comic, events of his childhood. With each chapter there is a chronological list of the major world events happening in the big war. *** "... my immediate impression is that your book is very well produced. I'm sure it will be of great interest to our researchers, particularly those who remember the period..." David Pracy, Local Studies Librarian, Vestry House Museum, London E17 "...I enjoyed it very much, especially since it covers when I was a child too...and it will go into the Society's collection where it will be much appreciated by our members,..." Pat Jenkins, Secretary, Rushden & District History Society "...your splendid book arrived on the 7th... Your descriptions of wartime scenes are excellent. I shall be pleased to put a report in the 'Risdene Echo.' ...I like the way you have included the wartime diary, and the cover picture sets the scene..." Eric Fowell, Local Historian (Northamptonshire). "On the 17th June 1944 I must have been standing next to you and your mother when the doodlebug landed on London Fields. I was standing in Mare Street outside the ARP Headquarters ... when it came over. I was a Civil Defence Messenger at the time and kept a diary of most events, all my notes correspond exactly with yours so neither of us could have made it up... It has been an absolute joy reading your book. Apart from the excellent descriptive style I admire your methods in dealing with such detail after such a long time..." William Hall, Local and Church Historian, Author London An excerpt from this book was submitted to the BBC's 'People's War' site, by the Rushden History Society. www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A5289474. ---------------- George Schofield's recently finished first novel is now ready for publication. It is a story of love, crime, and politics in the South American Republic of Venezuela. The characters are fictitious. The events are real.
Genre: Non-fiction - History Buy the Book		Read an Extract