Meet Jessica Ingle-Wood
Author. Aviation enthusiast. Storyteller. Usually found somewhere near a Lancaster.
Based in Essex, Jessica Ingle-Wood writes historical fiction inspired by RAF Bomber Command, the airfields of wartime Lincolnshire and, most importantly, the ordinary people who found themselves living through extraordinary times.
Her fascination with aviation began long before she ever thought about becoming an author. The Avro Lancaster in particular captured her imagination, but over time it was the human stories behind the aircraft that became just as important — the young men who climbed aboard them night after night, the ground crews who kept them flying, the WAAFs working across the stations, and the families and loved ones waiting at home.
The taxi ride that changed everything
After completing cancer treatment in 2024, Jessica made a bucket list of things she had always wanted to experience. Near the top was something very special: a taxi ride aboard Lancaster NX611 “Just Jane” at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre in East Kirkby.
She expected to love it. She didn't expect it to lead to a novel.
Sitting inside a Lancaster as four Merlin engines came to life made the history suddenly feel extraordinarily close. Jessica found herself thinking about the young aircrew who had sat in those same positions during the war, knowing that every operation carried the possibility that they might not return.
But she also thought about the people they left behind.
What was it like to love someone who disappeared into the darkness night after night? What was it like to work in an operations room, watching aircraft leave and waiting for them to reappear? How did people fall in love, laugh, make plans and imagine a future when tomorrow was never guaranteed?
Those questions became the beginnings of Just Jane.
Stories that give back
Bomber County Books was born from another idea Jessica felt strongly about: if aviation heritage inspires these stories, the stories should help aviation heritage in return.
Jessica does not personally retain the royalties from Just Jane. 100% of the royalties from the novel are donated to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, the home of NX611 and the place where the story began.
As Bomber County Books grows, Jessica hopes her future novels will continue supporting organisations working to preserve Britain's aviation history — protecting historic aircraft, places and stories so that future generations can experience them too.
Because these aren't simply stories about the past.
They are stories inspired by a history that is still here to be protected.
Every book tells a story. Every royalty helps keep another one alive.
A little bit more about Jessica
Away from writing, Jessica can usually be found at an airshow, visiting an aviation museum, photographing aircraft or talking for far too long about Lancasters.
She lives in Essex with her husband and young daughter and remains slightly amazed that one item on a post-treatment bucket list somehow turned into becoming a published author.
And it all started with a taxi ride aboard Just Jane.
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