THE MAKING OF SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS (1974)
‘Sophie Neville, who played Titty in the film… has revealed the behind-the-scenes secrets’ – The Telegraph
‘a heart-warming account of making the movie’ – The Daily Mail
‘extraordinary and very much loved’ –The Times
‘a fascinating insight into filming on location in the Lake District’- Classic Boat
Available direct from the publisher, on Amazon.co.uk + Amazon.com and other Amazon sites, from Waterstones, the Aldeburgh Bookshop and all good bookshops, suitable for all ages. Signed copies help raise funds for the Nancy Blackett Trust, who stock them in their online shop.
In 1973, Sophie Neville was cast as Titty alongside Virginia McKenna, Ronald Fraser and Suzanna Hamilton in the 1974 film ‘Swallows & Amazons.’ Made before the advent of digital technology, the child stars lived out Arthur Ransome’s epic adventure on location in the lakes and mountains of Cumbria. Extracts from Sophie’s childhood diary are interspersed with her memories of the cast and crew, offering a child’s eye view of the making of the film from development to premiere – and the aftermath. It is illustrated with photos and maps to help you find the film locations when you are in the Lake District.
THE SECRETS OF FILMING SWALLOWS & AMAZONS (1974)
Sometimes extraordinary things do happen to ordinary people. Little girls can find themselves becoming film stars. Long ago, and quite unexpectedly, I found myself appearing in the EMI feature film of Arthur Ransome’s book Swallows and Amazons, made for a universal international audience. I played Able-seaman Titty, wearing thin cotton dresses and elasticated navy blue gym knickers, which the camera crew soon referred to as passion killers. The book was written in 1929 and although the film adaptation was made in the early 1970s it had an ageless quality and has been repeated on television year after year, and is currently on Amazon Prime.
‘Forty years after she enchanted film-goers as Titty in Swallows and Amazons, Sophie Neville has found a new audience with an ebook telling behind-the-scenes secrets…’ – The Daily Mail
“I could not put it down! …I think the maps are brilliant, right in character….IT’S LOVELY!!!” – Roger Wardale, biographer of Arthur Ransome
“A “treasure trunk” of insights into the making of the film.” – Arthur Ransome Trust
“I enjoyed the book so much, I read it twice!” – Peter Wright, Chairman of The Arthur Ransome Society
“You write so well and have so much covered. I really really laugh reading this! The missionary bit is superb. Moving. Quietly so.” – Suzanna Hamilton, (Susan in SWALLOWS & AMAZONS (1974))
colour illustrated e-book with links to behind-the-scenes cine footage from Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com Amazon.de Amazon.com.au Amazon.ca Amazon.com.br iTunes Nook/Barnes&Noble and Smashwords
FUNNILY ENOUGH
International Rubery Book Award winner.
When Sophie collapses on the set of a television drama, she is forced to take stock of her life. Suspecting Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, the BBC doctor prescribes an unusual treatment: “Keep a diary.” So, armed with watercolours and with the support of her family in rural Gloucestershire, she sets out to record a spiritual journey that proves poignant, humorous and up-lifting.
Funnily Enough was serialised in the national magazine iBelieve as a double-page feature for 11 months. It reached #1 in Humour on Kindle UK sales. #2 in free Kindle UK sales – all categories.
“This charming, funny, beautifully illustrated book would make anyone feel better.”- Jilly Cooper, Author
“It was agreed among all the judges that you write with great style and insight and are a worthy winner.” –The International Rubery Book Award 2013
“you find humour in your darkest hour.”-Clare Francis, Author
It’s about finding yourself – stuck in bed.
ebook £2.23 available from Amazon ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords ~ iTunes Books ~ Nook/Barnes&Noble
Illustrated paperback £7.99 available from Amazon.co.uk ~ Amazon.com ~ Amazon.ca ~ Amazon.de ~Amazon.fr~Amazon.co.jp ~ Amazon.in ~The BookDepository ~ Lulu.com ~ Lehmanns.de
Illustrated hardcover £16.71 available from: Lulu.com
RIDE THE WINGS OF MORNING
A conventional English girl arrives in South Africa to help a friend run horseback safaris on a game reserve in 1992.
Sophie had heard of ‘biltong’ but knew nothing of Afrikaans culture. She was aware of poachers, but not of the danger of sausage trees. She understood there were rhino on the reserve, but not that she would end up working as the safari guide. In the dark. On a stallion. Lost. With completely innocent tourists on other horses.
Armed only with a paintbrush, she set off on various adventures into the wilderness, to illustrate the beauty, diversity and warmth of the great continent. This uplifting true story, the sequel to her book ‘Funnily Enough’, is told through correspondence with her family in England.
“Enormously amusing.”- Nick Archer, British Ambassador
ebook available from: Kobo ~ Smashwords ~ iTunes Books
paperback available from: Amazon.co.uk ~ Amazon.com ~ Amazon.de ~ Amazon.fr ~Amazon.it ~ Amazon.es ~ Amazon.co.jp ~ Amazon Brazil ~Amazon.ca ~ Amazon.in The Book Depository ~ Lulu.com ~ Nook/Barnes&Noble ~ Lehmanns.de
hardcover from: Lulu.com
FUNNILY ENOUGH: A GET WELL SOON BOOK
Suspecting Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Sophie’s doctor at the BBC prescribed an extraordinary treatment: write a diary. Although her family, friends, dogs and otters tended to get in the way, she found an old set of watercolours and set out to record her journey back to health.
This abridged version, with humorous anecdotes and colour illustrations is designed to cheer up those currently in the doldrums of ill health.
Colour illustrated hardcover
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
In this collection of short stories and reflections, Sophie Neville questions why the angel of the Lord brought news of the Messiah’s birth to people engaged in caring for very stupid animals. She discovered it was outside Bethlehem that shepherds employed by the High Priest had been rearing sheep for sacrifice in Jerusalem. They would choose a perfect lamb, wrap it in swaddling bands to keep it clean and lay it in a natural dip in the rock they called ‘Manger’.
‘a worthwhile and readable anthology’ – Peter H. Wright
Available in paperback and on Kindle
WRITE WELL: A Handbook for Christian Writers
Sophie was one of fifty writers contributing to this useful anthology
Available in paperback direct from the publisher Instant Apostle £9.99
Kindle copies are available from Amazon UK here
OTHER PUBLISHED WORK:
Foreword to An A-Z: Cumbria and the Lake District on Film’ pub by Hayloft Publishing nominated for The Lakeland Book of the Year Award 2017
Foreword to ‘Swallowdale’ by Arthur Ransome (Czech translation) pub by Albatros Media, Czech Republic, 2016
Foreword to ‘Swallows, Amazons and Coots’ by Julian Lovelock pub by The Lutterworth Press, 2016
‘The Secrets of Filming Coot Club & The Big Six’ DVD extras for Revelation Film, 2014
A Foreword to ‘Boats Yet Sailing’ by Trevor Boult pub by Lily Publications, 2021
Coming soon!
‘The Making of Coot Club and The Big Six’ for Amazon Publications Ltd
Sophie Neville is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk
Novels in Progress
and the sequel
The book trailer for ‘The Secrets of Filming Swallows and Amazons’-
Sophie Neville 
Very, very impressive. What a thrill to realise that Sophie is a producer, actress, artist, writer, traveller, ‘litter picker’, photographer, Saint of Christ, woman of God and so many other roles she is multi tasking. What a blessed lady! I can’t wait to read the book on her secret adventure as a child actress!! God bless you and may He continue to increase the anointing in your life in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
Sometimes the multi-tasking gets a little too much! This Lockdown summer has stopped me rushing about too much, although I hope to be off to the Lake District soon. Let me know if you have any questions on ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons’. I’d love you to review it. I was able to make the ebook on ‘The secrets of filming Swallows and Amazons’ inexpensive. It lacks the movie stills but has links to behind-the-scenes cine footage my parents took on location, which is quite fun.
I am pleased to say that I have all of these books with the exception of the Czech version of ‘Swallowdale’ and the abridged ‘Funnily Enough’, and I would thoroughly recommend them to anyone who loves skillfully written and humorous (at times extremely funny) texts. I look forward to ‘Covid Reflections’ hitting the streets.
its such a shame no more of the other books got made into films or tv my family love the style of the older films and watch swallows and amazons, coot club, and big six so often. my personal favourite book was winter holiday it was such fun with nancy sending hilarious messages when she is quarantined with measles, come to think of it that one would be a very good read for those quarantined at the moment.