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Julia MacRae may not be a household name but, 40 years ago, when she was working for the book publishers Penguin, aÌýwriter friend passed on a manuscript for her to read. It was by aÌýyoung Belfast born writer called Joan Lingard who was feeling a bit fed up after her novel had been given the run around by other publishers. TheÌýnovel she was looking at was called "The Twelfth Day of July", the beginning of the Kevin and Sadie love story.Ìý

Before Julia read it other publishers had rejected it. It wasÌý1970 and something written about theÌýTroublesÌýwas, according to Julia",Ìý"not only controversial"...it wouldn'tÌýsell".

She says sheÌýjust saw a great story. Forty years later the book she published and the 4 subsequent ones have never been out of print. She knew her stuff.

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