BackStory: Five Questions with Sarah Smith Author of The Blockcutter What inspired you to write this ‘The Blockcutter’? My grandad, who worked as a blockcutter in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. The town was central to the linoleum industry for a large part…
The Blockcutter
The Blockcutter by Sarah Smith Apprenticed at fourteen; he never minded the early starts. Mornings, he shrugged his jacket on and pocketed his piece box. At the corner of Braehead Cottages and Mid Street, he wrapped his muffler close to…
BackStory: Five Questions with Rosanna Hildyard
BackStory: Five Questions with Rosanna Hildyard Author of Whispers, behind closed doors What inspired you to write ‘Whispers, Behind Closed Doors’? I’ve always been interested in Anne Boleyn. She seems to have been as glamourous to the English courtiers of…
Whispers, behind closed doors
Whispers, behind closed doors by Rosanna Hildyard Many years ago, back in our green days, we played at the new game of tennis, dressed up for May masques and dared call King Harry’s wife ‘the Spanish woman’ almost openly behind…
BackStory: Five Questions with Kiira Rhosair
BackStory: Five Questions with Kiira Rhosair Author of From Darjeeling, with Love What inspired you to write ‘From Darjeeling, with Love’? I was researching varieties of tea for my novel and came across some academic pieces about the history of…
From Darjeeling, with Love
From Darjeeling, with Love by Kiira Rhosair April 1948, Happy Valley Estate, north Darjeeling. Koyli teeters forward into the bush. It’s the thirst. So intense, that her tongue has dried into the roof and she’s afraid her throat will crack…
BackStory: Five Questions with Santino Prinzi
BackStory: Five Questions with Santino Prinzi Author of The Landmines Up Near Sapper Hill Sing What inspired you to write ‘The Landmines Up Near Sapper Hill Sing’? I don’t usually write historical fiction, but I have recently read a few…
The Landmines Up Near Sapper Hill Sing
The Landmines Up Near Sapper Hill Sing by Santino Prinzi The day before we’d finished our stint de-mining the Falklands, Yousef lost his legs. He knew the dangers, we all did, and it weren’t as if he were taking risks.…
BackStory: Five Questions with MaryPat Campbell
BackStory: Five Questions with MaryPat Campbell Author of Love in the Margins How much research did you do while writing and editing this piece? Did you discover anything that surprised you? I follow a medieval manuscript site which gives me…