The acclaimed author shares insights into her inspirations, including Michael Ondaatje, and how Hilary Mantel shifted her perspective on historical figure novels, a genre she once found challenging.
My Earliest Reading Memories
My formative years were certainly shaped by the captivating stories told around me. I vividly recall my village primary school headteacher spinning terrifying Cumbrian ghost tales for the class, an experience that undoubtedly left its mark. Alongside this, the melodic cadence of my mum’s rhymes, like “Oranges and lemons, say the bells of St Clement’s,” remains clear in my memory.
My dad was also a dedicated storyteller, repeatedly reading the ‘Ant and Bee’ books to me. He would make the long drive home from work over a high upland road, always arriving in time for our cherished bedtime stories. However, my very first independent reading memory, the one that truly stands out, is of ‘The Story of Ferdinand’ by Leaf and Lawson. I absolutely adored that gentle bull!
My Favourite Book Growing Up
As a young reader, I often found large books daunting; they sometimes gave me what I describe as “the whirlies.” It took some time for me to fully engage with and appreciate longer narratives.