BackStory: Five Questions with Cathy Lennon Author of A Note on the Understanding of Fossils What inspired you to write ‘A Note on the Understanding of Fossils’? I felt great sympathy for Mary Buckland who clearly enjoyed learning about things…
BackStory: Five Questions with PJ Stephenson
BackStory: Five Questions with PJ Stephenson Author of Black Two What inspired you to write ‘Black Two’? I love history and have developed a special interest in the Second World War, partly stimulated by the exploits of family members: Cyril…
BackStory: Five Questions with Gina Headden
BackStory: Five Questions with Gina Headden Author of Stones Heavy in Their Pockets What inspired you to write ‘Stones Heavy in Their Pockets’? Many suffragettes were ‘ordinary’ women who risked everything for their cause. I’ve often wondered what it must…
BackStory: Five Questions with Caroline Greene
BackStory: Five Questions with Caroline Greene Author of The Writer’s House What inspired you to write ‘The Writer’s House?’ It was actually inspired by a visit to Shaw’s Corner – the country home of George Bernard Shaw. When he lived…
BackStory: Five Questions with Linda Walsh
BackStory: Five Questions with Linda Walsh Author of Comfortless Cove What inspired you to write ‘Comfortless Cove’? I strayed onto a holiday website and as soon as I saw ‘Comfortless Cove’ I needed to know more. The history of Ascension…
BackStory: Five Questions with Mark Left
BackStory: Five Questions with Mark Left Author of It’s Raining Today What inspired you to write ‘It’s Raining Today’? I’ve long had a fascination with the Second World War and the long shadow it casts. You can’t grow up through…
BackStory: Six Questions with Tamsin Cottis
BackStory: Six Questions with Tamsin Cottis Author of Freedom Pass What inspired you to write ‘Freedom Pass’? My first proper job, in the early 1980s, was working with adult with learning disabilities who’d returned to London from many decades of…
BackStory: Five Questions with Mary-Jane Holmes
BackStory: Five Questions with Mary-Jane Holmes Author of Down the Long, Long Line What inspired you to write ‘Down the Long, Long Line’? This piece came from a writing prompt combined with research for a project looking at outstanding women…
BackStory: Three Questions with Jude Higgins
BackStory: Three Questions with Jude Higgins Author of Wolf Moon What inspired you to write ‘Wolf Moon’? I’ve been sharing prompt words daily with John Wheway for a while and the word ‘wolf’ plus a few other words in this…
BackStory: Five Questions with Jan Kaneen
BackStory: Five Questions with Jan Kaneen Author of The Arnolfini Funeral What inspired you to write ‘The Arnolfini Funeral’? I watched a documentary series on BBC 4 called A Stitch in Time, where fashion historian Amber Butchart explores historical figures…