Embarking on a Literary Adventure

 Writing a novel is a journey, and right now I’m deep in the heart of The Sketch Book—my latest work-in-progress. I've lit the woodburner in my garden office and am at work. Set between 1914, 1960, and the present, my new novel explores family secrets, an ancient curse, long held regrets and the power of time. I'm quite obsessed with it and the characters already seem very real. There is a great deal of detail in this novel so I have created detained character and setting files so that I can keep track of everyone.

Today I am in 1908 and I am setting the scene and placing the foundations for the events that will underpin the rest of the story. I can't say much more than that right now, but for me this a really important part of writing my books. They have layers and layers of detail that make the events which unfold feel real and which offer explanations for why characters behave as they do.

For me, character is key and the people who inhabit the world of my books often lead the action. Cornwall becomes a character in its own right and the setting often shapes the ways the characters behave and fosters their sense of identity and belonging.

My new hero is an artist and we meet him briefly in my short story HARRY.

My new heroine is half French and half Cornish. She is a modern young woman trapped in a world shaped by traditions and demands. The coming of war will present her with challenges and opportunities....