Lynda Taylor
I was born and raised in Auckland and now live semi-rurally in Hawke’s Bay. Possessing a lifelong passion for books and literature, I completed a BA in English from Massey University in 2016 and a Master of Creative Writing in 2021, both as a part-time distance learner.
I have a keen interest in history, particularly the untold stories of women during wartime. My post-grad research focused on the contributions of Kiwi women on the home front during World War II, and I became especially interested in the little-known work of land girls. Drawing on my own experience of transitioning from city life in Auckland to rural living in Hawke’s Bay has enabled me to bring a distinctive perspective to my storytelling.
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to produce a text which highlights the sacrifices, resourcefulness, and resilience of Aotearoa's land girls during WWII, in a way that's accessible to a different generation.
Genre:
- History
- Short Stories
- Young Adult
Skills:
- Editing
- Novelist
- Proofreading
- Research
- Short Story Writing
Branch:
Central Districts
Location:
Central Hawke's Bay
Publications:
The Cinderella Service
Written by Lynda Taylor
Published by Mary Egan Publishing
Publication date: 2 April 2025
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
RRP $25, PB, 192pp
ISBN: 978-1-0670519-1-4
In the midst of World War Two, New Zealand faces a labour shortage as its men leave to serve overseas. To fill the gap, young women are called upon to work the land, becoming the nation’s ‘land girls’.
Emerald (Emma) is one of those who answer the call, leaving her widowed mother and the comfort of home, to work on a rural farm. Thrown into the harsh and physically demanding world of farming, Emma grapples with doubt, isolation, and the weight of responsibility. But under the guidance of the farmer and his wife, Emma learns resilience and discovers a strength she never knew she had.
With new friends and the trials of wartime life shaping her, Emma’s world is further complicated by her soldier sweetheart, Clifford, whose letters are her link to love and hope. When he returns on furlough, Emma must face the toll war has taken on him—and the challenge of seeing the world, and herself, in a new light.
In this Young Adult Fiction novel, The Cinderella Service, Lynda Taylor brings to life a young woman’s journey of growth, love, and the courage to endure, set against the poignant backdrop of wartime New Zealand.