North Pembrokeshire author Tracy Batty, will this week see her new novel on the book shelves of various shops throughout the UK. Called 'Above and Below the Clouds,' and based on World War Two, this will be Tracy's second book, following on from her successful novel ' Steel to Muck’ in 2013.

Based in the country village of Sutton-on-Derwent, 'Above and Below the Clouds' offers an informative and intriguing read for those wishing to know about the experience of land girls and pilots in World War Two. It follows town girl Jenny during the six long years of war as she feels the need to help her country when war threatens. We see her move to the small country village of Sutton-on-Derwent where she works as a land girl on a dairy farm close to an RAF airbase. There, she encounters the crews of the brave bomber command pilots of Elvington. Their stories become entwined in this small community. Through love and loss, marriage and birth, we follow Jenny and the bomber command pilots through to the war's conclusion.

' I've read a hell of a lot of books similar to mine and the knowledge of what happened during the war sinks in. The new book is based in a museum and I visited the place and discovered what happened with the Halifax Bombers and the runway and it all flows from there,' explained Tracy who was diagnosed with brittle asthma bronchiectasis in 2006.

' With this illness, there's a lot of things I can't do as I get breathless, but one thing I can do, is write and when I write, it's almost like I can be a healthy person in my book. I was always very active before I went ill, and writing keeps my mind active,' added Tracy who is keen to visit local schools and libraries to teach children what it was like during the war.

Tracy, born and bred in Wakefield but who now lives in Rhoshill with her family, has recently finished writing her third book, Lightning War and her fourth novel is on the way.

' I've just come home after a holiday in France, and said to my husband I needed a pad and pencil. When it comes, it comes thick and fast and I have to write the characters down, as well as their birthdays, even though I might never mention their birthdays in the book. It's just a way for me to build characters,' concluded Tracy.

Tracy will be signing copies of her new book at WHSmith in Cardigan on Thursday, December 4th between 10am and 4pm, as well as at Rendevouz, the Coffee House at Canolfan Teifi on Saturday, December 20th between 10am and 5pm. The book is priced at £5.99 and published by Austin Macauley Publishers, London.