The Importance of Celebrating Good News

Oh dear, oh dear oh dear...  I have truly neglected my blog.  But here I am! 

So what HAVE I been doing all this time?  I have been toiling away at my next novel but in recent weeks I stepped away from my manuscript to enjoy a cultural bonanza of activity with my mom while she visited us here in London. We were a whirlwind of theatre, exhibitions, a couple of road trips etc. 

Since her departure, I have returned to working on my manuscript. And I just received the BRILLIANT news that it has been shortlisted in the Historical Novel Society First Chapters Competition.  Competitions are very important and can help writers find publishers and literary agents, so this is an accomplishment that must be properly celebrated. If there is one thing that I have learnt in this industry, it’s celebrate, celebrate and celebrate again when something good happens. (Because it might be a very long time...)

In celebration, I am sharing the opening chapters of my manuscript, Mrs. Jordan’s Final Act, on my website. This one is set in Georgian England with a biographical core and the action mostly takes place in my local area, my beloved Bushy Park. While visiting the National Portrait Gallery with mom, we ran into my whole cast of characters, beautifully displayed.

Top left: Dorothea Jordan, Queen of Comedy of the Georgian stage.

Middle: Queen Adelaide

Right: King William IV

I think the lower left is one of William’s brothers, not significant to our story.

These characters have become very near to my heart and seeing them all together in such splendour was emotional. Here's to hoping that Dorothea, Adelaide and William can find a publishing home (SOON!). Until then, you can have a sneak peek here.

What would Galina do?

I have been distracted all day. I’m struggling to work on my WIP and even resorted to cleaning my bedroom and bathroom to avoid sitting down and getting words on the page. Horrific events in Ukraine have been unfolding for many days. Why am I finding it so hard to focus today?

The answer is simple. Yelena Osipova was arrested last night in Saint Petersburg. Yelena is a pensioner who bravely took to the streets with her handmade posters to express her opposition to war. Yelena is no stranger to protest. She has been making beautiful posters and protesting, often alone or in very small groups, for many years. And she is no stranger to being arrested either. You can read more about her and see her evocative work in this article in Russian Reader.

I had never heard of Yelena Osipova before yesterday. But ever since I watched the video of her being hauled off by riot police, surrounded by protesters applauding and cheering her , she has been in my thoughts. There are many parallels between Yelena and the main protagonist, Galina, in The Girl from the Hermitage. They are from the same generation and both are artists. Both are proud residents of St. Petersburg. Yelena was born in 1945, just after the siege of Leningrad. Both women grew up in the shadow of the war.

Readers often ask if there will be a sequel to The Girl from the Hermitage. This is probably due to the open ending of the book. When I was writing it, I never considered a sequel and the idea seems strange to me as I would need a long arc of 10-20 years to carry on Galina’s story. Over the past few years, the world has struggled with big, common challenges–covid and now the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Throughout the covid crisis, I have thought about Galina–even though she is a fictional character. How did she react to the global pandemic? Did she retreat into her flat and behave with caution? Did she survive?

And now, as tragic events unfold in Ukraine, I ask: what would Galina do? While I would love to imagine that she would rustle up a placard and join Yelena Osipova on the streets, I know this is extremely unlikely. Many Russians, especially from the older generation, believe the narrative they are being fed on the TV news: Russia is on a peacekeeping mission, the Russian army would not possibly obliterate entire towns with bombs, it is beyond possibility that the whole operation is a built on a lie, the west is always against us-this is no different etc... Others, who do not believe the lies are terrified to join protests. It is only a scant few who bravely take to the streets. Would Galina join a protest and risk being thrown in prison for eight years?

There is a fierce divide between those who believe Putin’s version of events and those who don’t. Schisms are growing between people–mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, husbands and wives, friends. Many of us can relate to this sort of painful wedge as we have all experienced similar over BREXIT, covid vaccination, Trump, etc...

Much like my novel, this rambling post has an open ending. I just wanted to spread the word about Yelena Osipova. I don’t know what Galina or Putin will do. But I do know that the heated argument I had with a friend on the tennis court over BREXIT seems rather silly now.

Favourite Books of 2021

As 2021 staggers across the finish line, it is time for my yearly review of books. I have had a great year of reading and it gives me great pleasure to share my list. One thing I noticed when going through this year’s reads was that I had read far fewer BAME authors and authors in translation. My 2020 reading list was much more diverse. In 2022, I’d like to make a point to seek out a wider variety of authors.

I’d love to hear about your favourites this year! Please leave recommendations in the comments below.

Without further delay, here are my 2021 Favourites.

The Young Survivors by Debra Barnes

This book is marketed as YA but it is engaging and interesting for adults as well. If I’m honest, I was reluctant to read this one. It is a story of a Jewish family during the holocaust and initially I was not sure if I was up for it but I am very glad I did. Inspired by the author’s mother, it is a important story of love, resilience and just plain luck. Highly recommend.

A History of Loneliness, The Heart’s Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne

Yes, this author gets no less than 3 books on my top list of 2021. I had not read any of his books until this year and I think he is fabulous. The first two listed are set in Ireland and both tangle with the topic of paedophilia and growing up in the Catholic church. While A Ladder to the Sky gives a glimpse into the dog-eat-dog world of prize winning authors and the publishing industry-what could possibly go wrong? I’m so glad I came across Boyne’s work this year. He’s brilliant.

Beginning with Cannonballs by Jill McCrosky Coupe

This story spans from the 1940s into modern day, a time period very similar to my own novel, The Girl from the Hermitage. But it is set in America and traces a friendship between a white girl and an African American girl. Well written and thought provoking.

The Innocents by Michael Crummey

Set in an extremely isolated 18th century Newfoundland, this book is brilliantly written. It explores an intense bond between siblings under harsh circumstances. It is haunting, disturbing and not for the faint hearted.

Charity by Madeline Dewhurst

A duel timeline book which alternates between modern day London and Kenya in the 1950s. I love historical fiction which considers how events of the past ripple through time and continue to impact today. A brilliant debut.

The Hidden Child by Louise Fein

I listened to the audible version of this book and it is great. This is Louise’s second book and it does not disappoint. Set in the 20s, it is about a couple who are involved with the eugenics movement but then discover their own child has epilepsy. This is historical fiction at its best. The research and detail never overshadow the characters and storyline. Highly recommend, along with her debut.

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

Another heavy, difficult to stomach book but the writing is truly outstanding. Inspired by the author’s mother’s experiences, the story is set in rural Ohio in the 50s/60s, and explores growing up in a dysfunctional family.

Charlotte by Helen Moffet

After several heavy books, I turned to Charlotte. Moffat develops the story of Pride and Prejudice, focusing on the story of Charlotte. I loved this book. It was refreshing and fun and there's a sexy piano tuner.

A Book of Secrets by Kate Morrison

A story of a west African woman in Tudor England and it offers a little glimpse into the world of publishing at that time. Extremely well researched yet I never felt a dump of information. Brilliant. And what a gorgeous cover. Loved it.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

This is the first Kate Quinn that I have read and I was not disappointed. Set in Bletchley Park during the war, this book tells the story of the women code breakers who worked there. Pacey storytelling, great characters and there’s cocktails and dancing with Philip (before he married HRH Princess Elizabeth).