Author's Afterword

Charlie and Patrick Gale (Take Nothing With You; Mother's Boy) discuss musicality - his own and his character's, setting a childhood in a care home, the beloved Cornish poet Charles Causley, and a future stage production of Take Nothing With You.

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North Cornwall Book Festival The Penzance Orchestral Society Steven Isserlis' tribute to Jane Cowan (cello teacher) Weston-super-Mare Charles Causley The Charles Causley Trust

Work on the stage production of Take Nothing With You begins this year for performance in 2023.

Question Index

00:40 You're talking from today from your writing room - can you tell us about it? 02:43 Tell us about your farm and how your writing fits in with the routine 04:41 The use of music in Take Nothing With You is inspired by your own passion for the cello? 07:50 Would you say that Eustace is living his best life (without the cello)? 09:26 You've had a cello made? 10:29 What's your favourite piece of music to play? 11:01 Were Eustace's teachers and the cello school based on anyone, any thing? 14:43 Why did you leave a gap between Eustace's childhood and later adulthood? 17:16 The religion is both a big slice of the book and, in literal, word, terms, not so big. Why did you incorporate it in this way? 19:56 Is there any literary significance to Naomi? 21:58 Why did you set Eustace's childhood in a care home? 23:54 Eustace's state school - what was the significance of using this part of the working class? 27:52 What happened to Vernon? 29:36 [Reading] 34:22 Mother's Boy is about the poet, Charles Causley?... 36:58 You are a patron of the Charles Causley Trust? 39:31 (The upcoming theatre production of Take Nothing With You)

Purchase Links

Take Nothing With You: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Indigo Chapters

Mother's Boy: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters

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Photograph used with the permission of the author. Credit: Jillian Edelstein.

Charlie and Kaia Alderson (Sisters In Arms) discuss the little-known 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black female US unit in WW2 - their day-to-day work dealing with a backlog of post that no one else could figure out, the leaders, and the various responses to them then and now - and Kaia tells us about the influential Dr Mary McLeod Bethune as well as the baseball Negro Leagues.

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Links about the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion: Website Article Wikipedia Footage of Charity Adams' unit in England Charity Adam Earley's One Woman's Army Brenda L Moore's To Serve My Country To Serve My Race Wikipedia's article on Charity Adams Earley Video interview with Charity Adams EarleyProgress on the Congressional Gold Medal as of the publication of this episode

The Negro Leagues Effa Manley Spelman College Mary McLeod Bethune Bethune-Cookman University Dovey Johnson Roundtree Keys versus Carolina Coach Company The Montgomery Bus Boycott

Question Index

00:43 You are a romance writer as well (as historical)? 01:28 You made initial inroads to this book in your middle school years? 03:13 You found your editor because she posted a photo of the women you were writing about?... 04:18 Can you give us a brief history of the work the 6888th did? 08:23 How did you research your book - were you able to interview surviving members?... 11:48 [Reading] 21:08 Can you tell us more about Charity Adams? 26:33 Can you tell us about the racism they experienced? 29:45 The 6888th didn't get a parade when they got back home? 33:14 Can you tell us about the baseball Negro Leagues? (Includes info about Kaia's next book) 38:24 Grace and Eliza's on-again off-again friendship - why was that important? 40:04 Can you tell us about Mary McLeod Bethune? 44:12 What's the release date for your next book? 44:30 Anything else you'd like to add?

Purchase Links

Sisters In Arms: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters

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Photograph used with the permission of the author. Credit: Jillisa Hope Milner.

Charlie and Sara Nisha Adams (The Reading List) discuss books! The ways they can bring very different people together, the importance of libraries in Sara's life and their impact as a community hub, and her family in the context of her work.

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Hodder Studio Barham Community Library

Question Index

00:48 You've worked at a few different publishers - can you tell us about your job? 12:34 This book has a lot of you and your grandfather in it? 14:15 Where's Aleisha 'from'? 16:11 You've spoken about your maternal grandfather, can you tell us about your paternal grandmother, how she influenced you? 18:51 The list of books Mukesh and Aleisha read - why these books? 21:45 Was The Time Traveller's Wife initially included in a similar way to the other books? 23:25 We learn at the end who wrote the book list. How important was their identity, and revealing it, to you? 25:19 Why the chapters focused on other people? 27:48 What led you to include the narrative device of the answerphone messages? 30:07 The way the write about Aiden, the hint to the reader about what might be going on - what was important about his role in the book for you? 31:58 Was it important to you to stay away from discussing what Leilah suffers from? 33:35 Your fictional Harrow Road Library and the hopes of saving it - is this based on a real library? 36:35 What's the next book Mukesh and Aleisha would be reading (after the end)? 37:54 You've included your own reading list at the end; tell us about your most favourite books 41:00 Your dad wanted to wait until your book was published to read it. Has he read it? 42:01 To sum up, what is the most important thing(s) about reading, to you? 43:29 What's next?

Purchase Links

The Reading List: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters

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Photograph used with the permission of the agency. Credit: Will Handysides.

Charlie and Edward Carey (B: A Year in Plague and Pencils; The Swallowed Man) discuss his epic drawing project wherein he undertook to create a sketch each day of the pandemic, the various individuals whose lives became a part of the wider picture, and finish on a completely different but relevant subject - the literary and social history of Pinocchio.

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The Harry Ransom Centre Edward's Twitter Edward's Instagram The Tombow B pencil Robert Louis Stevenson's The Land Of Counterpane Xavier de Maistre's A Journey Around My Room Theodor Kittelsen Pesta is the personification of the Black Death The Parco di Pinocchio Carlo Collodi Wikipedia's article on the original story of Pinocchio The oak tree in Collodi where Pinocchio was hanged Robert Coover's Pinocchio in Venice The Foundling Hospital Museum, London The Ospedale degli Innocenti

Question Index

00:53 Was there a defining moment in your life when you realised you wanted to write and illustrate? 02:25 (Asking about Edward's role at the University of Texas) 04:24 Plague and Pencils: why did you start the project? 07:58 Was there any day's work/a couple of days' work that defines the project for you in terms of the actual drawings? 10:11 How many pencils did you get through? 10:54 Can you tell us about your art supplies and the pencils you use? 12:14 If you ever ran out of the Tombow Bs, what would be the next best pencil? 13:01 You often drew people who wrote in isolation or quarantine... 17:08 Was there a particular reason for the dates of the drawings not being included in the book? 19:53 You drew for 500 days; when did you know you had finished? 23:16 You've said you'd never written a diary, but you have now effectively got one. Do you think you might consider doing anything similar again? 23:58 If we can funnel what's been said already, what effect did this project have on you? 25:15 Your latest book is The Swallowed Man. Can you introduce it to us? 33:44 You wrote a stage adaptation of Pinocchio?...

Purchase Links

B: A Year In Plague And Pencils: Amazon UK Amazon US Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters

The Swallowed Man: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters

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Photograph used with the permission of the marketing team. Credit: Elizabeth McCracken.

Charlie and Janie Chang (The Library Of Legends) discuss the incredible journeys made by Chinese university students, during the 1937 Japanese invasion, as they evacuated their campuses and made their way on foot to safer areas of the country. We also discuss the Shanghai International Settlement and Janie's compelling family history.

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Janie's article on the TIME website, 'The Risky Journey That Saved One of China's Greatest Literary Treasures' Blog post: The Difficult Daughter (about her paternal grandmother) Blog post: The Idle Son (paternal grandfather) Blog post: The Years of War Blog post: The Village Doctor (Dr Mao) Blog post: The Origins of Nightmares (father's university years during the war) Du Fu Pinghu Sophie's Choice, named after the book and film, relates to making an impossibly difficult choice, which is forced on a person. The Shanghai International Settlement Empire of the Sun (film) About the monument honouring Chinese workers in WW1

Question Index

00:44 [This becomes a longer discussion] Can you tell us about your blog, which is filled with your family's stories? 11:36 Your father and uncle were university students who were evacuated like your characters? 16:49 How do the myths and legends in your book align to the myths and legends told in real life? 18:41 Within the fantasy of your book, what would have happened to the gods in regards to the progress of science and so forth? 21:45 Were the students all okay - did they get through the war? 24:12 Was Doctor Mao and this side of the story influenced by your mother's family history? 26:57 You've mentioned the International Settlement - can you tell us more about it? 29:28 The stories in your book of refugee parents leaving their children behind whilst on the road, did this happen a lot? 30:57 In the history, a couple of years after your book finishes, the International Settlement was invaded and taken over. What would have happened to your characters? 33:03 Why was it important to have the romance in your book? 35:48 What's next - what are you writing now?

Purchase Links

The Library Of Legends: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters

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Photograph used with the permission of the author.

Samantha Sotto returns! We discuss her latest book The Beginning Of Always (its inspiration was the woman whose death mask was used to create the first aid dummy Resusci Annie), and, not to be outdone, Sam's dog Alfie also returns to make a second appearance.

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Wikipedia: Resusci Annie Article on The Paris Morgue by the Wellcome Trust The Shoes on the Danube Bank monument Sam's Instagram

Question Index

01:03 The proceeds from the sales of The Beginning Of Always went to help those effected by the pandemic? 03:19 Your daughter designed the cover of The Beginning Of Always?... 04:26 Tell us about the Unknown Woman and how you came to write about her 05:46 You started writing this book years ago?... 06:54 What do you think happened to the Unknown Woman? 08:05 Why is reincarnation, immortality, and so on, important in your work? 10:58 Can you tell us about the Paris Morgue? 13:32 What was important in creating your main couple and bringing them to life? 14:38 Where did the idea of Thomas' heart condition come from? 16:45 (Spoiler question) The couple at the end - could they have been included more? 17:54 Why is it important to explore love and everything that goes into it? 20:25 (We discuss location in a similar context to love, as written in the book) 22:46 What do you think happens after death? 25:22 Why was Elise a blogger? 27:19 (Discussing a book Sam was working on two years ago) 28:31 Tell us about the book you've just finished 32:38 We've had Alfie introduce himself; tell us about your dogs, you have another now? 34:13 Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Purchase Links

The Beginning Of Always: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada

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Photograph used with the permission of the author.

Charlie and Rebecca F John (The Haunting Of Henry Twist) discuss being gay and bisexual in the 1920s, the way the flapper years could mask the effects of War, and the fictional man who cannot believe that his male partner is not some sort of reincarnation of his dead wife.

Please be aware that there are spoilers throughout this episode; we couldn't discuss the book properly without them!

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The Hay 30 list

Question Index

01:09 You were named on the Hay Festival's 'Hay 30' list. Can you tell us about that? 02:23 Would you categorise this book as historical fiction or historical fantasy? 07:54 Why did you choose to include Ruby in the way you did? 10:16 Is there a connection between the pacing of the novel and what Henry's going through? 11:42 Why were Monty, Matilda, and Grayson's stories included? 14:04 Henry lives a lot of his life with fear; how much is this a book about the war? 15:57 Were the surnames, Twist and Turner, chosen for any particular reason? 16:52 Is there more to Jack than Henry's ideas - is he even a fully-fledged person? 19:28 I know it's down to reader interpretation, but who is Jack to you, as far as you're concerned? 22:21 Henry and Jack's relationship is accepted by their friends, but what would have happened if it hadn't been? 25:24 What was the treatment of single fatherhood like at the time? 27:47 Did you ever consider having Henry become comfortable as a bisexual person? 29:39 Does Henry love Jack? 30:51 What do you want readers to take away from reading this book? 32:18 Could Monty, Matilda, Grayson, and Sally, be happy together? 33:51 What's next?

Purchase Links

The Haunting Of Henry Twist: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters

The Empty Greatcoat (January 2022): Amazon UK

Fannie (February 2022): Amazon UK Waterstones Hive

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Photograph used with the permission of the author.

Charlie and Rosie Travers (The Theatre Of Dreams) discuss writing novels set amongst the working class of the south coast, Art Deco buildings we've lost and those we've saved, and the sporting professional heroine publishers rejected.

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My post on The Theatre of Dreams' first book launch Lee-On-Solent Pictures and memories of Old Lee Tower Reading Room Lane, Curdridge (Google Maps) The De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill The Midland Hotel, Morcambe Bay The Facebook page for the campaign to save The Floral Hall, Belfast Zoo

Question Index

00:36 As writers do you've always written but you got into it more seriously when living in California and The Netherlands. Can you tell us about your publication journey? 02:52 Why have you decided to relaunch The Theatre of Dreams? 04:57 This story was somewhat inspired by Old Lee Tower in Lee-On-Solent? 06:27 Could you have set this book in a real place; would it have worked for you? 08:21 Lee-On-Solent was going to become either a resort or residential, and ultimately it became residential. Do you think that was the right decision? 13:04 Is either of these two characters more important than the other? 14:03 Was it difficult working with such a large cast of characters? 15:31 Was setting the book amongst so many working class characters important for you? 16:55 Where does Tara in fit in terms of her being a celebrity? 18:54 Have we lost many buildings of the sort you write about? 20:27 Have you ever been involved in a campaign to save a building? 21:09 Was the mystery of Jez's death always going to be a part of the book? 22:59 What was the element you wanted to leave your readers with at the end? 24:17 A Crisis At Clifftops - you found it difficult to get published because of the heroine's career?...

Purchase Links

The Theatre Of Dreams: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada

A Crisis At Clifftops: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada

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Photograph used with the permission of the author.

Charlie and Jennifer Robson (Our Darkest Night) discuss the horrors of life as an Italian Jew during the Second World War, those who fled and those who helped them, and the people who chose to stay behind.

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Monte Grappa San Zenone Degli Ezzelini Father Stocco Oddo's page on Yad Vashem Borso del Grappa Chiara Ponchia Rabbi Ottolenghi

Question Index

00:43 What is it about the First and Second World Wars that interests you? 03:44 Your idea for Our Darkest Night was sparked by a question your son asked you?... 15:07 [Spoiler conversation] Was that Nico? 26:29 Were there many Jewish people who chose to stay behind and not leave? 30:09 How did you come to write about the farm? 33:54 What's next?

Purchase Links

Our Darkest Night: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters

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Photograph used with the permission of the author. Credit: Natalie Brown/Tangerine Photography.

Charlie and Hazel Gaynor (The Bird In The Bamboo Cage) discuss the lives of the pupils and teachers of the Chefoo school for missionaries' children in China during the Japanese occupation, and the way being Brownie Guides helped to keep them going. We also discuss the beginnings of her career, and her collaborations with fellow historical fiction writer, Heather Webb.

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Heather Webb's site

Question Index

00:55 Can you tell us about the story of your first publication and its bestseller status? 09:29 You have written about something not covered much - can you tell us about the story it's based on? 12:45 What was being done back home to help these people stuck under occupation? 14:33 A big theme is Brownies and Guides - why so central? 18:08 Can you talk us through the reasoning for the two narratives - Elspeth and Nancy? 23:43 Were you able to get stories from war generation to help with the book? 25:49 Can you tell us about the honeypot girls? 28:01 You look at the way these children are the children of missionaries and know nothing of China beyond the school - why was this important to explore? 30:14 If you had to choose one or two characters who were most important to the novel or what you were trying to say, who would you choose? 32:11 How is your book with Heather Webb - Three Words For Goodbye - doing? 33:52 How do you collaborate with Heather, in terms of the writing itself?

Purchase Links

The Bird In The Bamboo Cage/When We Were Young And Brave: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters

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Photograph used with the permission of the author.