The past is another country, but what happens when you make it a magical one? In today's episode, Julia Golding is in conversation with British children's author, Lucy Strange, author of The Secret of Nightingale Wood, and other titles that blend historical fiction with fantasy. Lucy talks about her journey to being a writer, through acting and then teaching. She discusses how what might start as an escape into fiction can also be used to think about contemporary issues in unexpected ways. Lucy and Julia recommend and touch on some of the best historical fantasy novels they have read, particularly the ones which established their own subgenres in the field. As a special treat, Lucy reads a story within her bigger story of Sisters of the Lost Marsh before they go on to discuss where in all fantasy is the best place to be a merperson. https://www.lucystrange.org. You can find Lucy's books sold by independent bookstores on https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/lucy-strange-children-s-books.