The past is never dead, it isn’t even past
Miranda, The Puritan Princess was your debut novel about the Cromwell family. You're also a Trustee of the Cromwell Association. When did your interest in the Cromwells begin and what sparked it? My fascination with Oliver Cromwell and his family began as a teenager...
Richard Foreman’s new short story collection, Never Surrender, presents an exciting set of tales that are diverse in their historical settings, yet united in the strength of their characters and wit of the prose. While some readers may be familiar with the characters...
Richard Foreman, Firstly, can you tell us about Never Surrender? Never Surrender is the third and final title in a series of books which I've curated. Each collection contains novellas and short stories linked to series I've written. As I mentioned in the introduction...
David Cairns’ latest novel The Case of Emigrant Niece is bursting with mystery, action, and adventure told through the eyes of protagonist Major Findo Gask. This novel dives into the changing world of the nineteenth century of upheaval, exploration and war filled with...
The novel centres around the gold rush era in Australia – what inspired you to write about this time period? My first novel came about because I was researching my Australian wife’s forbears who were transported to Van Diemen’s Land in the 1830s. Once they had served...
Catherine Hokin explores the shadows of World War II throughout the Hanni Winter series, and the third novel, The Girl in the Photo, continues this trend. Here Hanni's story continues when her husband, Freddy, recognises the face of his sister, lost to the Nazis, in...
Derek Birks, The Last of the Romans is set in the dying days of the Roman Empire. What was it about this time that interests you, as there’s so much that is seemingly unknown? I’ve always had an interest in the fifth century perhaps because it was such a turbulent...
It is hard today to come to terms with the speed of communication that existed some 150 years ago. In an age where instant video conferencing is available to all it can bring some of my readers up short when I tell them that even 50 or 60 years ago to speak to...
Warrior of Mercia is the third book in The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. How has your main character, Icel, changed throughout the series so far? Icel began life as a young lad whose only thought was to become a healer. Circumstances are making him a warrior, although...
Deborah, congratulations on The Fortune Keeper. What drew you to Renaissance Italy? I’ve always been fascinated by Renaissance art and science and its effect on cultural life. In these novels I explore the artist Bernini and the legacy of Galileo Galilei as well as...
