The Story Behind The Vintage Coat: My Debut Time Travel Novel Set in Wartime Cumbria

Every author remembers the moment their first book began to take shape. For me, that moment arrived in a quiet antique shop in Alston, tucked away in the hills of Cumbria, where I discovered an old military coat that seemed to carry a history of its own. That discovery became the inspiration for my debut novel, The Vintage Coat, first published in 2015 and reissued in an extended edition in 2020.

This novel marked the beginning of my journey as a published author—and it remains one of my most cherished books.

A Story Inspired by a Real Find

The coat itself was real. Heavy, worn, and full of character, it immediately sparked a question in my mind: Who had worn it? What had they seen?

From that moment, the idea grew into a story about memory, history, and the strange ways the past can reach into the present. In The Vintage Coat, a young man named Joe, struggling to find direction in his life, discovers the coat and soon realises it holds an extraordinary secret.

Whenever he puts it on, Joe is transported back to 1943, to the very same Cumbrian town during the war years. When he removes the coat, he returns to modern-day life. At first, the discovery feels like an escape—but as Joe forms friendships and perhaps something deeper with people living through wartime Britain, his double life becomes far more complicated than he ever imagined.

Historical Fiction Meets Time Travel

I’ve always loved historical fiction, especially stories set during the Second World War. The wartime period is filled with courage, hardship, and humanity at its most raw. By blending historical detail with time travel fiction, I wanted to explore what it might truly feel like to live in two different eras at once.

Writing about 1940s Cumbria allowed me to capture village life during wartime Britain—the rationing, the uncertainty, the community spirit, and the quiet heroism of ordinary people. Through Joe’s eyes, readers can experience both the struggles and the warmth of that time.

Why Cumbria Matters

Setting the novel in Cumbria was important to me. The landscape of the North of England has a timeless quality—rolling hills, stone cottages, and towns that seem unchanged for generations. That sense of history makes it the perfect setting for a story about slipping between past and present.

The small market town atmosphere, inspired by real places like Alston, allowed me to explore how war touched even the most remote corners of Britain. It also gave the novel its emotional heart: the idea that history is not just about battles and politics, but about everyday lives and relationships.

A Debut Novel Close to My Heart

Many readers have told me that The Vintage Coat remains their favourite of my books, and I understand why. It was written with the excitement and uncertainty of a first novel, when every page feels like an adventure. Without this book, none of the others would have followed.

As an author of time travel novels, historical romance, and stories inspired by real places, I still look back on The Vintage Coat as the beginning of everything.

Is The Vintage Coat Right for You?

If you enjoy:

• Historical fiction set during World War II

• Time travel stories with emotional depth

• Novels set in the English countryside

• Character-driven romance and drama

…then The Vintage Coat may be your perfect read.

Have you ever imagined stepping back into wartime Britain—or meeting someone from another era? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The Vintage Coat is available now in Kindle and paperback editions. You can find out more about this book and my other historical fiction novels here: 👉 https://linktr.ee/christurnbullauthor

Chris Turnbull – Author of historical fiction, time travel novels, and stories inspired by history, memory, and the places we love.