Linda Matchan from The Boston Globe researching at Fort Hommet yesterday on a visit inspired by the surprise best-seller that is drawing holidaymakers from the United States to the island. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0844898)

A BOOK about Guernsey during the Occupation has inspired an American journalist to see the island for herself.

Linda Matchan, 55, who works for The Boston Globe, will be writing a travel feature on Guernsey for the newspaper and its website.

She became fascinated with the island after reading the novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

‘I read the book at my book club back home and it was one that we all agreed we liked,’ said Ms Matchan.

‘I thought to do a piece on Guernsey for the travel section would be a good idea.’

She said before the book was released in the US, not many Americans knew much about the Occupation of the Channel Islands.

‘The main character in the book was from England and she fell in love with the beauty of the island,’ said Ms Matchan.

‘Being here now I can understand why.’

After forming the initial idea of doing a travel feature, Ms Matchan priced up the trip and contacted Guernsey tourism officials.

They put her in touch with tour guide Annette Henry, who had planned to do a Potato Peel Society tour for visitors.