Nothing causes such panic as when a speaker fails to come to a meeting. what can be done to fill the gap? Barbara Sowood has had long experience of leading church and other meetings and she is quite accustomed to writing a sketch or story (sometimes at very short notice!) for a meeting or for a social event. She is a Reader in the Church of Wales, a Mothers' Union speaker, associate member of the Iona Community and an erstwhile Sunday School teacher (see her first book, 'Why did I get let in for this?') She is a compulsive writer and enjoys producing plays for all ages. She says that each event is sometimes nerve-wracking but always grent fun - a new adventure...

This is the story of a courageous woman who lived at the time when the industrial revolution was developing in Lancashire. After the early death of her husband she took on the task of managing his ironworks in addition to bringing up a large young family. During this time a charismatic preacher arrived whose influence swept through Ashton-under-Lyne which he said was to be 'the New Jeerusalem' the place where the 'Shiloh', a messianic figure, was to be born. Hannah had to cope with his impact on her family and this she did with tough Lancashire grit and humour. Her indomitable character and strong conviction of right and wrong makes this story a riveting read.

Nothing tests the faith quite like Sunday School! What with hula-hula skirts, thespian puppies and getting stoned, Barbara Sowood sometimes wondered why indeed she 'let herself in for all this'. Now, at the age of 85, she looks back on life in a Lancashire parish and realises it was unexpected, immensely enjoyable and that God had guided her every step of the way. Barbara now lives in Wales with her husband and several members of her large family. She is a Reader in the Church of Wales, a member of the Mothers' Union and an Iona Community Associate. She is waiting for her next adventure.