A NONAGENARIAN author who draws on his wartime experiences with Bomber Command to write romantic historical sagas is celebrating the release of his new novel.

North Yorkshire author Bill Spence, who writes the stories under the name Jessica Blair, is still as passionate as ever about his craft as he approaches his 94th birthday.

His latest novel, ‘The Life She Left Behind’ is set in the late nineteenth century and follows the story of a widowed mother who fulfils her late husband’s wish for the family to explore living in Colorado.

Mr Spence is also celebrating the release of ‘Just One More Day’ in paperback following the success of the hardback version released last year.

This novel is set amidst the backdrop of the Second World War and has benefitted from Mr Spence’s personal experience of the conflict during his time served with the RAF.

Mr Spence, who was born in Middlesbrough and now lives in Ampleforth, was a bomb aimer on 36 operational flights in the Lancaster Bombers during the war.

Since turning his hand to writing in 1960, he has published 36 books on Westerns and history, before creating the pen name Jessica Spence in 1993 and concentrating on romantic historical sagas.

As Jessica Blair, Mr Spence has more than 20 novels to his name and says he will continue writing for as long as he can.

“It is a pleasure for me,” he said. “I enjoy it, and fortunately my family are still interested and that is what keeps me going.”

It typically takes Mr Spence nine-months to complete a new book and he said he already has an idea in mind for the next one.

He classifies his stories as ‘historical sagas’ rather than romantic novels as he explains ‘there is romance in practically every category of novel’.

He adds: “You do have to research, particularly if you are writing historical novels or ones with a historical background; you have got to be sure that you are right, even if it is a novel.

“I have drawn on my background when I was with the RAF, I do have that knowledge to draw on and I have done three or four books with the RAF as the background.”

  • Both books will be published by Piatkus on April 6 – ahead of Mr Spence’s 94th birthday celebrations on April 20.