The Phoenix Tree

The Phoenix Tree is a story of survival.

The Second World War proved to be a catalyst for women who took to the fields, factories, shops and offices during the war years. They created a brand new workforce for Britain, propped up the country's economy, adapted to ever-changing circumstances and developed their own skills, gained experience and won confidence which a post-war Britain was going to need.

Connie Heritage, a chief cashier for one of the UK's largest grocery chainstores, enjoyed her work and as talk of the end of the war being in sight gained momentum she allowed herself the luxury of looking to the future, a future which included Kit, her childhood sweetheart, her own home and a family. Sadly, Connie's dreams, like those of many others, were thwarted.

Fast forward 18 months and Connie has settled into a simple life where she continues to work, live with her mother in a small house in a small market town and watches the world pass by.

Until, that is, a chance encounter leads her to a brand new life, a life that she could never have dreamed before, a life that would take her to Africa where she would help her friend Nora run an orphanage and school for the Tswanan children of Bechuanaland.Connie's new life was not an easy one and made even more difficult by the project's manager, Richard Print. Try a she might Connie couldn't find a single redeeming quality in the man. He didn't like children, refused to do any manual work and generally got in the way. A square peg in a round hole thought Connie, until she uncovered a dark secret, something that was so shocking she could barely contemplate the consequences. But this was just the start, Richard Print wasn't like anyone she had ever encountered before and she was going to see justice done.