What was the most intriguing fact you learned about the Smuggling era in Mudeford?
That there seemed to be tunnels everywhere! The smugglers’ tunnel in my novel is fictional, but there were rumours of tunnels beneath Christchurch High Street, running from various different pubs to the crypt of Christchurch Priory. One supposedly ran from the cellar of a pub my son worked in. But he told me there was no evidence of it!
Did the restrictions imposed by COVID help or hinder in the writing of The Storm Girl and how?
As I mentioned earlier we moved to Mudeford in December 2020. We’d been vaguely thinking of downsizing for a while, and being stuck at home during the first Covid lockdown seemed like a good time to thin down our possessions and start house-hunting. Then in early 2021 with the next lockdown, we got into the habit of going for daily walks exploring our new area, and it was during these walks that the idea for the novel gradually took shape.
Sometimes as writers, we don’t have to look very far for a story. Would you say this pertains to The Storm Girl? And if so, how?
Absolutely! The setting for it is right on my doorstep.
I get the impression this novel was a lot of fun to write with all its mystery, danger, tension and unique plot and characters. What was the most enjoyable part of the process? And the most exciting scene to write?
You’re right, I really enjoyed writing this one. Once I’d researched the ‘Battle of Mudeford’ I knew I wanted to structure the historical parts around that. But those weren’t the most fun to write – I enjoyed writing parts of the modern-day story more.
Describe the fictional pub/house that exists in the past and present and how you were able to use it as a time capsule in The Storm Girl (without giving anything away!).
There’s no exact house that matches the building I describe in the novel, but in my mind it’s situated where the Guides hut currently stands, on Stanpit. There are a few old buildings just along the road which look something like the house I imagined. It has an archway leading to a rear yard, and a couple of outbuildings accessed from there. The door at the front is almost on the street, and leads to a small flagstoned hallway, with a kitchen to one side. The main room runs across the back of the house with the fireplace at one end.
What books have you recently read that you would recommend? Are you more of a paperback, e-book or audio-book fan and why?
I’ve recently read The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. It’s set at Bletchley Park and is a brilliant and absorbing read. I mostly read novels on my kindle but buy non-fiction paperbacks or hardbacks. I never listen to audiobooks – I need stories to go in through my eyes not my ears!
What was the greatest compliment or most memorable comment you ever received from a fan of your books?
I’m lucky in that my books seem to appeal to quite a lot of people. One of my favourite reviews, from years ago, said she must have read 5 or 6 of my books and loved them all. I’d only published 4 at the time so that one has stuck in my mind! I love it when readers tell me they learned some history from reading my books.
Are you working on a new novel and can you give us a few hints of what is to come?
Of course, I am always working on something! My next novel is a return to Ireland, and tells the story of the Easter Rising in 1916. Once again I’ve put fictional characters at the heart of real events, so I can tell the story in a new and hopefully exciting way.
Thanks so much for featuring me on your website once again!
Thank you, Kathleen, for being my guest. I wish you much success on the launch of your novel The Storm Girl.
