A Recent interview

Sometimes a book steps out into the world and finds its own little pockets of light. This week, The Earl's Daughter was selected for Written Word Media’s New Releases in Literary Fiction.

And WWM asked if I’d answer a few questions about the book, my writing process, and the themes that shaped it. I’m not naturally someone who talks easily about myself or my work, so saying yes felt daring. But I’m glad I did. The conversation turned out to be not at all alarming.

I’m sharing the full interview transcript below for anyone who’d like to read it.

What’s the story behind the story? Failure, really. In the distant past, I wrote short stories for women’s magazines, and then after a break I tried full length fiction again. I wrote some fairly mediocre contemporary romances and attempted a series set in the mid 20th century, so almost historical, but I failed almost in every sense, and those books became the secrets I hardly ever mention.

But the desire to write was still there.

Then I realised that American writers mostly dominated the historical romance market even when the setting was English, and I decided I must, if nothing else, be able to bring as much authenticity if not more, to such writing, because I am English and it’s my history – I refer to the sprinkling of genuine historical facts in my books – all researched carefully, and all providing greater depth.

Just over five years ago, I hit on the idea of creating a series, starting in Victorian times and mostly set in England but with a few journeys abroad. A combination of Downton Abbey, The Forsyte Saga and Upstairs Downstairs but with romance at the very centre while not entirely skipping past the more grim parts of life and history.

Favourite genre to read?

I read very widely — Nicholas Sparks to Andy Maslan, Harlan Coben to Robert Harris, David Nicholls to Ian McEwan, Lisa Kleypas to Julia Quinn. The common thread, I think, is emotional intelligence. I’m drawn to books where the characters feel genuinely alive, whatever the genre.

So yes — that is also what I try to write.

TBR pile? Leaving Time – Jodi Picoult The Collected Stories of Katherine Mansfield – Katherine Mansfield The Secret Keeper – Kate Morton [Actually just started yesterday]

Favourite scene in The Earl's Daughter to write

Three scenes stay with me. One follows a moment of real danger and its aftermath — it allowed me to write something quite tender and funny. Another is a garden scene on Alice’s birthday initially comic and ultimately heartbreaking. And the third I’ll leave firmly between the pages.

Quirky writing habits I’m a pantser — I write entirely without an outline, following the characters where they lead. Some writers find that alarming. I find the alternative impossible.

Motto or philosophy

Be kind. It sounds simple. It isn’t always.

What should readers remember from this book?

I’d love them to remember the Aucourte family. Then they’ll know who’s who when we get to future books, but I would like them to remember that England in the 1890s wasn’t so very different from now when it comes to matters of the heart.