A local author, Roger Sanders, has recently published his third novel, drawing inspiration from the Isle of Wight’s history, farming heritage and changing rural communities.
Rogers latest book, ‘Jim Waygood Is Coming Home’, is set in the fictional village of Bedway St John’s and follows Professor Jim Waygood as he returns to the Isle of Wight after spending decades away.
Faced with memories of family, friendship and loss, Jim discovers that coming home is more complicated than he expected as he encounters a countryside transformed by social change.
The novel combines contemporary fiction with reflections on Island life, taking inspiration from the Islands farming traditions, village communities and the changes that have shaped rural areas over recent decades.
Sanders said:
“I wanted to write a story that captured the character of the Isle of Wight and the people who have called it home across generations.
“Many of the themes in the book, including belonging, community, and the changes affecting rural areas, are things that many Islanders will recognise.”
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The book explores themes including family history, local identity, housing, friendship and second chances, while celebrating the landscapes and communities that make the Isle of Wight distinctive.
As previously reported by Island Echo, Rogers debut novel, Ted’s Cafe, was published in November 2019, after he handed his Brexit-themed novel manuscript to a book publisher in Newport library with a dream of publication. Taking almost 2 years to publish, the labour of love saw the beginning of Rogers literary career.
Jim Waygood Is Coming Home is available in paperback and Kindle editions from Triple A Records in Newport, Shalfleet Village Stores and through Amazon.
