Author's Afterword

Charlie and Terri Fleming (Perception) discuss looking at the further lives of Mary and Kitty Bennet, working with Austen's original stories and prose, Mr and Mrs Bennet's relationship, and organising bookshelves.

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The Romantic Novelists' Association website

Question Index

00:37 Tell us about your background - writing and Australia 00:59 Have you been able to write articles regardless of the career switch? 03:12 Why Pride and Prejudice? 04:06 Who are you other favourite writers? 04:49 How long have you been a member of the RNA? 05:50 Were your initial thoughts for your book different to how it played out? 08:41 Did it take time to get the balance between your own Mary and Austen's just right, and were you worried about the reception? 15:09 How did you go about creating the gentlemen? 17:11 Was there anything difficult about using Pride and Prejudice as a base? 24:43 What was the best part of writing Kitty's story? 27:08 Did you find anything out about Pride and Prejudice that readers may not know? 29:10 What's your opinion on the dynamic between Mr and Mrs Bennet? 32:36 How do you organise your bookshelves? 34:15 What's next?

Purchase Links

Perception: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

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Photograph used with the permission of the author.

Charlie and Zoe Duncan (The Shifting Pools) discuss coping with and healing from war trauma in reality and fiction, the use and power of dreams, employing various styles and formats, and how fascinating reader interpretations can be.

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Interview with Danuta Kean for Mslexia magazine On Cornwall and Enanti Article in The Times about Zoe's life and work

Question Index

00:46 How long have you been writing? 01:55 Favourite poet? 02:40 Tell us about your childhood (that relates to the book) 03:53 What was it like being in England? 08:32 Is there a reason for the lack of a name for the place Eve lives in? 09:41 How did you come to use Enanti as Eve's coping method? 11:08 How do you see the ending, do you have an answer for it for yourself? 12:53 Was water always to be the healing element? 14:32 The style and structure - what was the purpose of it? 19:23 Was Time something you were thinking about when writing? 21:04 What did you learn about dreams in the context of the subconscious? 24:00 Was the idea of womanhood, sisters, siblings, a theme? 31:04 There is so much hope in the book... 31:48 What did you want readers to take away? 33:47 What is the impact of long-term trauma and grief if not dealt with? 36:07 Was the book cathartic for you? 37:40 What's next? 39:56 (Given everything we've discussed) it must have been busy in your head whilst you were writing?

Purchase Links

The Shifting Pools: Publisher's website Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

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Photograph used with the permission of the author. Credit: Ashvin Mistry.

Charlie and Dan Richards (Holloway, The Beechwood Airship Interviews, Climbing Days, Outpost) discuss asking to join well-known people for lunch and producing fascinating interviews for your book, travelling the less beaten paths of your mountaineering great-great aunt, finding society in isolated places, and looking ahead to how we might continue to approach humanity's harming of nature after the benefits to scaling back have been shown by this current crisis.

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Dan's articles at Caught by the River 'Dream ticket – the night train from Cologne to Vienna' 'My search for the real Moominland' BBC Radio 4: Start the Week – Life in the Wilderness Wikipedia's entry for Dorothy Pilley (includes photographs) Second-hand copies of Dorothy's memoir on AbeBooks (there are a couple of 1935 and 1965 editions on there)

Question Index

00:46 How did you get into writing, specifically the type you do? 02:39 The first book to be written was the second published… 03:37 Tell us about the interviewing process for The Beechwood Airship Interviews 07:43 Has this book had a knock-on affect on your further work in ways we may not pick up on? 08:56 These books are a mixture of travel/adventure (and so on) and there's a lot of your personality there… 10:11 Tell us about mountaineer Dorothy Pilley and how she inspired you 15:00 How did the women mountaineers of the time help future generations? 18:58 Is Dorothy's 1935 memoir available to purchase? 19:51 What was the easiest part of your Climbing Days adventure? 22:26 What did you learn about yourself? 27:27 What draws you to the wilderness? 27:57 You talk about our human destruction of nature – what do you hope will happen following this time that we're living in right now? 31:01 Tell us about the supernatural aspect of the first outpost; did you experience anything yourself? 34:27 In all the outposts you went to, what surprised you the most? 35:11 How did the social aspect of these otherwise isolated places impact your experience of it? 38:52 What's next?

Purchase Links

Holloway: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive

The Beechwood Airship Interviews: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Barnes & Noble

Climbing Days: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive

Outpost: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

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Photograph used with the permission of the author.

Charlie and Weike Wang (Chemistry) discuss having both a scientific – in epidemiology no less! – and a writer background, making use of extracts and white space and preferring them beyond more long-form prose, the difficulties of studies and incorporating friends' experiences in your stories, and fictional dogs who are inherently important to the text.

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Short story 'Omakase' in The New Yorker Short story 'Nanjing' in the Alaska Quarterly Review Short story 'By the Pantheon' in Kenyon Review Short story 'The Poster' in the Gulf Coast journal Weike Wang on the Privilege of Not Having to Think About Race

Question Index

01:01 Your background is in Chemistry and Public Health - how have you come to mix these with writing and are you still doing Chemistry? 03:23 You wrote an introduction to Villette - does Bronte inspire your writing, and who else inspires you? 06:02 Why an unnamed narrator? 08:34 How did you come to strike the balance between the presence and the lack of a presence in regards to the narrator's boyfriend? 10:10 Was the dog always a part of the book, and can you discuss his role? 11:55 Is the dog based on your own? 18:00 Is the writing style (vignettes and so forth) something that was in your mind and something you'll continue in future? 20:46 So with this 'excess', you've potentially got lots of ideas you could use for future books? 21:23 When did the narrator first arrive in your mind, so to speak? 23:25 How did you com to strike the balance between the different cultures and how important was it to the overall effect? 25:33 Is there a lot you see in chemistry that we can learn from? 30:32 The narrator's growth in knowledge of English idioms and metaphors 32:21 Might the narrator be a successful teacher one day? 33:35 How true to life are the experiences of specific pressures for PhD students? 36:44 What's next?

Purchase Links

Chemistry: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

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Photograph used with permission from the author. Credit: Shang Saavedra

Charlie Place and Laura Pearson (Missing Pieces; Nobody's Wife; I Wanted You To Know) discuss the process of grieving for various members of a family, writing a book about cancer when you are working through the same, and changing stories almost entirely from their beginnings.

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The Motherload Book Club Laura's blog 'Breast Cancer and Baby' Laura's article 'When Pregnancy and Cancer Collide' for The Motherload Laura's article for The Guardian

Question Index

00:33 Your first book was found in your publisher's slush pile... 02:53 Were your books difficult to write? 03:54 Tell us about your bookclub 06:13 What was the inspiration for Missing Pieces? 13:07 Tell us about Bea's role in the book 15:28 The chapters specify 'days after' - did you ever consider altering it at the end, after the revelations had come out? 17:21 The use of seasons 18:44 Is there anywhere people who are in a similar situation can go? 20:13 Why Southampton? 26:30 Nobody's Wife - what came first, the characters or the plot? 27:23 The start of the book: was it always the plan to say that only three of the four people remained? 28:03 Character you like; character you dislike? 33:41 Was there a lot of difference between the first draft of I Wanted You To Know and the final book? 36:43 Was there a reason for Jess's mum to be as she is? 38:34 What was your reason for writing something so related to your own experiences? 41:37 Would you recommend that other writers write about what scares them in life? 42:45 What did you want to leave the reader thinking? 44:22 So your next book is going to be happy...

Purchase Links

Missing Pieces: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Barnes & Noble

Nobody's Wife: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Barnes & Noble

I Wanted You to Know: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones

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Photograph used with permission from the author.

Charlie Place and Camilla Bruce (You Let Me In) discuss the darker side of faerie, being as in the dark about answers as your readers are, survival and coping methods following trauma, and the habits of cats inspiring your work.

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Question Index

00:42 Tell us about your background and writing experience 01:12 Have you written any non-fiction before? 02:23 What authors do you admire; do you have any favourite Norwegian writers? 06:43 What inspired your book? 08:34 Have you lived in the woods? 08:53 Are houses in fiction important to you? 09:34 What was the idea behind the lack of a distinct location? 10:25 Did you draw on any folklore? 13:43 Was there a starting point for the dynamic where there's the potential for abuse, and the relationship with Tommy and the Pepperman? 16:06 Did you have a plan? 17:19 What did you want readers to take away at the end? 18:54 How important was it to only give Cassie's voice and viewpoint? 20:44 Cassie's sister Olivia - do you think there's hope for her to come to a better understanding of everything? 21:57 Was the psychiatrist's book an idea that came about during the writing, with you wanting an extra truth added to the story? 22:35 Do you have your own idea of what happened to Cassie? 23:20 Do you believe in faeries? 23:51 Do you have any rough plans for another book?

Purchase Links

You Let Me In: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

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Photo credit: Lene J. Lokkhaug

Charlie Place and Fran Cooper (These Dividing Walls, The Two Houses) discuss open mic nights, current and recent sociopolitical situations in Paris (and the world), the way we talk about women and motherhood, and the complexity of relationships.

Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/podcast/episode-09-fran-cooper/

Question Index

00:33 Did you have a good time in Italy? 00:47 Who was the most interesting to study in English Literature at Cambridge? 02:24 Are there any French classics you particularly enjoy? 03:38 Are you a city or a country person? 04:16 Have you or someone you know had experience of moving to an established community? 05:05 Do you speak French? 09:48 Was there a particular event that inspired These Dividing Walls? 11:36 Was this your first foray into writing in this manner? 12:54 Are there any buildings that are important to you in the sense of a residence? 14:09 Why Paris rather than England? 15:27 The terrorism in the book 17:54 Edward and Frederique - what was the significance for you of these characters coming together and experiencing their separate griefs 20:28 Is discussing the issue of motherhood important to you? 23:13 Frederique and her husband - was there any inspiration for their living arrangement? 29:02 Was The Two Houses inspired by a scene in These Dividing Walls? 30:30 Working with foresight in the book 31:52 What is your particular interest in art? 33:03 Do you have a favourite artist? 33:54 The metaphors of broken things 35:00 Are you interested in 'smaller stories' in your own reading? 35:52 What's most important to you when exploring issues of division in relationships? 37:47 What's next?

Purchase Links

These Dividing Walls: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

The Two Houses: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

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Photo credit: Alex Mantei

Charlie and Andrew Blackman (On the Holloway Road, A Virtual Love) discuss life on the road, following in Jack Kerouac's footsteps, offline and online identity, writing an entire book about a character but never giving them a voice, current climate change activism, and withholding – for very good reason – the endings your readers expect.

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Andrew's round up of his travels in 2019 A list of selected articles written

Question Index

00:57 You've been travelling for quite a few years now, can you tell us more about this? 01:57 You sold your books… 02:33 Where can we read your articles? 03:22 What was your journey to publication like? 11:07 When did you first read Kerouac's On The Road? 11:59 Had you made a journey of the sort Neil and Jack go on? 13:34 Were you ever tempted to emulate Kerouac's writing style? 15:42 What's the relationship between your own characters and Kerouac's? 17:28 Why the Holloway Road? 18:51 The ending – what did you want readers to take away with them? [vague spoilers] 21:18 How much did your experience of blogging influence A Virtual Love? 22:52 Was Jeff's granddad inspired by your own relationship with a grandparent? 24:47 Why doesn't Jeff have a voice in the novel? 34:38 Is there a way we can be more social in our current age? 37:40 Where did the environmental activism stem from? 40:01 How important is a sense of silence? 41:20 [Spoiler question] Can you talk about your choice not to have a big reveal? 44:27 What's next?

Purchase Links

On the Holloway Road: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble Book Depository

A Virtual Love: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble Book Depository

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Photograph used with the permission of the author. Credit Genie Austin.

Charlie Place and E C Fremantle (The Poison Bed) discuss changing pen names, a horrific murder case in the Stuart nobility, coping as a new mother in a one-of-a-kind situation, and the historical line between witchcraft and 'simple' superstition.

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Liz and Charlie's previous conversation (YouTube) The painting of Frances Howard by William Larkin, included in Liz's blog post.

Question Index

00:59 You've changed your pen name… 02:41 Are you going to be E C Fremantle for a while? 12:51 Can you tell us about the history of this story and what made you want to write about it? 15:22 Was it a difficult writing it? 16:57 Was the way Frances felt closer to the reader compared to Robert planned? 18:09 Who was Robert Carr? 21:01 Do you think there was love between Robert and Frances? 24:43 Do you think your version of Frances would have come to like her baby? 26:54 [Spoiler questions] 1) Were you ever tempted to change the history? 2) Can you tell us the story of Anne Turner? 34:23 Who was Northampton and did he work alone? 36:47 Did any other stories, films, media inspire the book? 39:02 Had you read Gone Girl? 40:24 Where did the line fall between what was witchcraft and what was not witchcraft? 43:11 What else can you tell us about your next book? 45:24 Queen's Gambit adaptation. 46:37 They introduced themselves to us earlier – how long have you had your poodles?

Purchase Links

The Poison Bed: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

Queen's Gambit: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

Sisters Of Treason: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

Watch The Lady: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

The Girl In The Glass Tower: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive

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Photograph used with the permission of the author. Credit: JP Masclet.

Charlie Place and Nancy Bilyeau (The Joanna Stafford Trilogy; The Blue; Dreamland) discuss the lifestyle of Dissolution-era nuns, using a website's 'contact me' form to great success, there being more relics than there were items, using your family's name in your work, and the grand amusement parks and luxury hotels of New York's past.

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Nancy will be discussing Dreamland at the Astoria Bookshop (31-29 31st Street, Astoria NY) on Thursday 16th January, 19:00-20:00 Dartford Museum's website Elizabeth Vigee Le Brun, the artist who painted Marie Antoinette

Question Index

00:50 You've been on the staff of various magazines – did you always hope to write novels? 04:23 Where do you head to, sources-wise, when you're first thinking about a book? 17:48 How much work was it to get around the issue of Reformation? 23:13 Was there a particular reason you wanted to focus on Catherine Howard rather than Henry's other wives? 27:20 Is Joanna based on anyone in particular? 29:56 The Athelstan crown – is it real object or inspired by anything? 33:18 The part about the nun's having to host a Lord for a feast – was this something that happen in convents at that time? 39:18 What was the position of women artists in the 1700s? 42:02 How much of the idea about shades and discovering what other factions were doing is based on fact? 44:13 So Genevieve's grandfather's surname is Billiou… 49:00 (Introducing Dreamland) 55:09 What can you tell us about The Ghost of Madison Avenue? 58:56 Do you have a favourite time period to write in out of the three you've used so far?

Purchase Links

The Crown: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Book Depository Barnes & Noble

The Chalice: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Book Depository Barnes & Noble

The Tapestry: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Book Depository Barnes & Noble

The Blue: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Book Depository Barnes & Noble

Dreamland: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Book Depository Barnes & Noble

The Ghost Of Madison Avenue: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada

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Photograph used with permission from the publisher. Credit: Joshua Kessler.