Tag Archives: books

Mostly about Writing

by thehistoryinterpreter

I thought that it was about time I wrote something, so that people didn’t start enquiring after my welfare. It’s been the season for the descendants to descend; typically, they were here during the few days of less good weather. Plenty of board game opportunities, with Taverns of Tiefenthal being the current favourite, alongside the obligatory visits to the pick and mix sweet shop, the ice-cream shop, the rock pools and the playground. We also watched people attempting to paddle cardboard boats across the river and some of us acted like ninjas (best not to ask) and that was summer fun done for another year. There then followed what passes for a spring clean, as I removed buckets of sand from various corners of the house, washed a million sheets and towels and returned things to their rightful places. Though, to be fair, the visitors were pretty good and setting things to rights.

Now it is back to the computer, interspersed with occasional paddles and even a very quick swim. A quiet month for talks this month but I am gearing up for a hectic September. I’ve done some brick wall busting. Well more of a chipping away, as Devon FHS members have got too good at solving their own, so we tend to only get almost impossible ones sent in now. I have practiced my ag labs workshop for the end of the month and am very excited to launch that on the unsuspecting public at the end of a whole day of exploring agricultural labouring ancestors.

Biography club was concentrating on household tasks this month. This must be at least the eighth time I’ve run courses to help people write their life stories and this time (like all the other times) I am determined to keep up with the participants and finish mine. On the strength of having done quite a bit already, I am just about on schedule. The plan is to finish in time for next year’s ‘big’ birthday. No one will want to read it of course but it is fun to write, if an exercise in self-indulgence. Seriously though, everyone has a story to tell and everyone’s story is important. Of the planned fourteen chapters, eight are done, two are almost done and four are figments of my imagination. One of these will be about voluntary work and that’s going to take some time. I’ve got as far as making a list and have come up with twenty different things I’ve done over the past fifty-five years that come under this category. Some were short-lived, most were fun and almost all are chocked full of memories. The trouble is that voluntary work and hobbies, another chapter that is as yet a blank page, overlap so I am going to need to distinguish between then somehow. The first three chapters alone are 40,000 words and run to 145 pages including illustrations. I told you it was self-indulgent – I may not be printing this out! The expurgated versions of some of the chapters are over on Granny’s Tales, just in case anyone is curious.

Related to all this looking back, I’ve been preparing a talk for the 40th anniversary of Isle of Wight Family History Society, which is one of three big live performances scheduled for next month. As well as what I hope will be some thought-provoking comments on the family history community’s past and future, there’s plenty more self-indulgence in the shape of ‘do you remember?’s. Family history has been and still is an enormous part of 70% of my life. Most of my friends are those I’ve made through family history. It has been a blast and it isn’t over yet.

In between all this, I am still plugging away at my seafarers and shoemakers in Southampton – see I didn’t even have to try to create the alliteration. This too is growing like topsy. What I should be doing is more to the next book. It is on the, rather dauntingly long, to do list! By way of encouragement, reviews have been coming in for Women’s Work. I am particularly chuffed with Julia Packman’s review in this month’s, Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine ‘a creation to be reckoned with’. Oh and it is currently on offer at 30% off from Pen & Sword, that’s a hardback at paperback price (ebooks also available). So if you want a creation to be reckoned with you know where to go.

A Deep Breath and Another Brick Wall with Structural Damage

by thehistoryinterpreter

Time to take a deep breath as I launch in to the next few weeks. Not only is the job I must not mention about to hit with a vengeance but at some point long ago, I decided that it would be a good idea to cram the next few weeks full of presentations. So in the calendar for the next two weeks I have, Women’s Life  on Farms, the story behind my novel Barefoot on the Cobbles, Mistress Agnes talking about life in the seventeenth century and Researching in the Twentieth Century, swiftly followed by looking at cottage industries. If you want to know more about straw-plaiting, lace-making, glove-making or button-making, as well as home working in general, you can book for that one here. All those topics get chapters of their own in my new book A History of Women’s Work and straw-plaiting and gloving are two of the sections that are accompanied by case studies. It is currently at its introductory price of 20% off, which means you can get a hardback for a paperback price and not have to wait two years for the paperback to be issue. The ebook will follow at the end of next month. I am humbled by the lovely reviews that have been coming in.

Today is also the final Zoom for my Pharos ‘Writing and Telling your Family History’ course. What a lovely cohort of students and such fascinating stories to be told. If you are sorry you missed it, it runs again in April, or you can sign up to research and tell the story of a female ancestor in September.

As this post in in danger of sounding like an advert, on to other things. In the interests of writing and telling my own family history I have been getting my pick axe out and working at my own genealogical brick walls. I have two stories to share with you when I get the time to draw breath and write them up for public consumption. Having decided that Mary Newlands is indeed my 3x great grandmother (see previous post), I am now pushing back to try to confirm that her family are of Scottish origin, as seems almost certain. So one brick wall crumbles and another looms.

News too on the second of my three ‘big’ brick walls. I’ve been working on the family of a different ‘almost certainly my 3x great grandmother’; oh wow, what a story. At the moment the ‘proof’ is based on rigorous documentary research but a missing baptism means two of the jigsaw pieces are DNA matches that are so small even I am reluctant to entertain them and hereditary large ears – yes, best not to ask. In a quest for more evidence, I launched into researching the wider family. I am back to the sixteenth century in Gloucester and Upton on Severn and have had plenty of palaeography practice. I do realise my missing link won’t be found in Tudor times but the rabbit warren (too big to be called a rabbit hole) sucked me in and there I was, head first in the throes of a virtual one-name study. It is an unusual name but beset with spelling variations and the use of contractions to add spice to my journey. There may be a connection to a seventeenth century barber surgeon. An added excitement is that my children also have paternal ancestry in Upton on Severn. I just may have to revisit that branch in search of a link. I am in the area in September. Do I wait patiently, or do I spend a small fortune ordering copies of wills? So many ancestors, so little time.

Sadly now back to the day job and three meetings Monday.

Commemorating the Marginalised

by thehistoryinterpreter

Rootstech is round the corner and with it the option to see if I am related to any of the many lovely fellow-attendee family historians that I have got to know over the decades, both in person and online. Along with thousands of others, I am attending the mega international conference virtually, from the comfort of home and I’m looking forward to learning new things. As well as the ‘Relatives at Rootstech’ fun, there are options to see if you are related to famous people. Allegedly I have connections to a few. Most of these relationships are based on some seriously speculative genealogy. So, although I probably am Winston Churchill’s tenth cousin three times removed, I have serious doubts that the late queen is my 14th cousin, at least not in the way that is suggested. I suppose it would be mildly interesting to find that ‘Gateway Ancestor’ that leads back into royalty but even though I am about to enter my 48th year of serious research I have never found that connection. Do I care? Not in the slightest. My interest is in all those ordinary ancestors whose stories will never be told unless I tell them.

I find marginalised ancestors the most fascinating of all. What circumstances led them to become stigmatised, or to find themselves on society’s fringes? Was this down to their own actions, or society’s attitudes? I love to find the lawbreakers, the sick, the poverty stricken and the ostracised on my family tree. Not in the slightest because I want to reveal their stories in some kind of version of the sensationalist press but because their lives are so caught up in the social history and mores of their times. They become much more ‘real’ as their lives are revealed and of course they may leave traces in the documentary record.

It was this interest in those that history forgets that led me to give talks on the subject and my Rootstech presentation this year is about just that. Entitled ‘Tracing your Marginalised Ancestors in Britain’, I will be delivering this remotely but live at 8.30pm GMT (London Time) on Friday 1 March. If you register you can listen for free from anywhere in the world. I believe the session may be available afterwards too but that is still to be confirmed.

A couple of years ago, as a result of a magazine article I wrote on the subject, I was delighted to be approached by Pen and Sword to write a book to help others trace their own marginalised family members. It seems like forever since I finished writing it last March but it now exists as an actual book and those who ordered pre-publication copies should be receiving them any day now. If you have ordered a copy, please do post a photo on social media when it arrives, as I love to see where in the world my books end up. I am supposed to take a photo of me with the book for publicity purposes. This endeavour is hampered by the fact that I am the least photogenic person in the world. To detract from unphotogenic me, I decided it would be a good idea to utilise some of the spectacular landscape that is on my doorstep. This of course means it needs to be dry and ideally sunny. The first attempt was Monday. Bright, rather than sunny but unfortunately also windy. My fine, baby soft hair looks windswept when the Beaufort Scale is at zero. Let’s just say this photo shoot was not a success. It may have to be the ubiquitous, in front of the library shelves shot. You can order copies directly from Pen and Sword.

On the upside though, I have just signed a contract to write another book that may be out next year, or the one after; the writing is well underway.

The study of the marginalised ties in very well with my work with the A Few Forgotten Women Team and I am looking forward to talking about Forgotten Women, in person this time, at the Alfred Gillette Trust in Street, Somerset, to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March. A Few Forgotten Women will also have a small exhibition, tickets are available here.

New Book, New Ventures and a Random Shopping Order

by thehistoryinterpreter

Firstly, I am now allowed to tell the world the exciting news that my next book is at the publishers. This is a non-fiction volume, commissioned by Pen and Sword, about tracing Marginalised Ancestors. So, my usual fare of tragedy and trauma, with chapters on Poverty, Criminality, Illegitimacy, Mental Health, Sickness, Prostitution, Witchcraft and more. Each chapter includes a case study and they were such fun to research. I can’t wait to introduce you to Sarah and Joseph and Charity and Harriet and Frederick and co.. Don’t hold your breath though. I am hoping that this may be out by the end of the year, so in your Christmas stockings but it could be 2024. This isn’t exactly a cover reveal as it is still provisional but I have been given the green light to share.

Then two new ventures that will also involve writing. I am to join The History Girls as a reserve blogger. This blog contains a fascinating range of posts on all things historical and is billed as ‘A blog from great writers of historical fiction’. I am having a serious bout of imposter syndrome but it should be fun. As I clearly don’t have enough to do, I applied for and have been accepted as a contributor to the Mass Observation Project. This is particularly exciting as my mother was a contributor in the early 1960s. The website does say that the original project ran from 1937 to the early 1950s but does also mention some material from the 1960s and I distinctly remember my mother having to write down what was on her shopping list. They have asked for a biography ‘it can be as long or as short as you like’. Do they realise that I have an 80,000 word, as yet unfinished, auto-biography stashed away? I am assuming they don’t want all of that. On the other hand ……….

Last week, I encountered that thing when you accidentally click on the wrong day for your T****s order without realising (meant to be next week) and just bung all the favourites in the basket regardless to hold the order, thinking you’ll sort it out and delete stuff a couple of days before. Then you get an email confirming that goods to the value of twice your normal shop are on their way and you have no space in the freezer, because obviously the order is the following week and you daren’t even look at what you’ve ordered, as probably it includes stuff that your daughter, who eats funny modern stuff, ordered when she was here and a load of random things you don’t want. I never did look at the order, so Mr T****’s delivery man turned up with quite a lot of trays of stuff. Well, it could have been worse. Not too much frozen stuff, no weird modern stuff but I have all the ingredients ready for next year’s Christmas cake and puddings!

My Books of the Year

by thehistoryinterpreter

As I haven’t done an ‘advent calendar’ on my blog this December, I thought I’d share my top fiction reads of the year. I have read seventy novels in 2020. With a week to go I might manage a couple more; this is about the same as in a ‘normal’ year. I know some people’s reading habits have changed in favour of ‘feel-good’ books during the pandemic but I have stuck to my usual fare. There is a bit of a witchy theme, perhaps because I was writing about witches myself at the time. These books do obviously reflect my own interests, that’s why they are my top ten but I hope you might be tempted to give some of them a try. I decided not to rank them 1-10, so here they are in alphabetical order of author. I have deliberately only provided links to the authors’ own websites, where I can find them. As an author, I know how important it is to encourage you to buy directly from authors, publishers or independent booksellers, rather than from major online retailers but if you want e-reader versions, or if you really must, you can find them there too.

Moreton in Lockdown – Nathan Dylan Goodwin

I am a great fan of genealogical mysteries and Nathan is one of the best exponents of this genre. During the first lockdown he created a choose your own adventure for his long-running character Morton Farrier. This is a work of genius, as it is read online and you can follow Morton’s research via links to genuine documents and websites. I can only imagine how much effort it took to construct the story and create all the conceivable choices. I loved the topical references as Morton and his family struggled with food shortages and virus restrictions. Even better, you can read it for free. If you enjoy this and Nathan’s books are new to you, then there are plenty more Moreton adventures for you to enjoy.

Tidelands – Phillippa Gregory

I do prefer Phillippa Gregory’s books about ‘ordinary’ people to those whose main characters are royalty and this is one such. It is the story of Alinor, a wise woman who lives in 1648, when England is in the grips of the Civil War. At a time of turmoil, neighbour begins to turn upon neighbour and Alinor is in the line of fire. As you’d expect, it is well-researched and well-written. This is the first of a series and I am looking forward to the sequel.

Killing the Girl – Elizabeth Hall

An absorbing psychological thriller in which the lead character, Carol, is forced to revisit incidents from her past. It is difficult to say very much without spoilers but I was immediately drawn into the story. Some of it is set in a realistic 1970.

The Familiars – Stacey Halls

I usually try to avoid ‘Best Sellers’ that everyone will have heard of but I couldn’t ignore this. Set as it is against a background of the Pendle witch trials, this was likely to hold my interest. Stacey Halls has taken real people as her main characters and has created a plausible story about Fleetwood and Alice, who come from different walks of life.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane – Katherine Howe

This book was previously published as The Lost Book of Salem. It is set during the Salem witch trials, with a more recent strand. In 1991, Connie comes across the physic book whilst researching for a PhD and sets out to discover more about the life of Deliverance Dane. In the process, the reader is given an insight into the world of late C20th American academia.

A Kind of Spark – Elle McNicholl

A neurodivergent lead character, historical witchcraft and a struggle for acceptance. This had to be on the list. A coming of age story in which Addie comes to terms with who she is and how others perceive her. Elle McNicholl has used her own experience of neurodivergence to craft a compelling novel, which draws links between past instances of intolerance and bullying and Addie’s own life. Definitely a must read for anyone who wants to understand the overwhelming nature of neurodivergence and to rejoice in Addie personal triumphs.

The Fear of Ravens – Wendy Percival

Another of my favourite authors of genealogical mysteries. This is the latest of a series of books featuring genealogical sleuth Esme Quentin. Set in North Devon and featuring, yes, you’ve guessed it, more witches, as well as a curse and a mystery to uncover. Wendy’s, or rather Esme’s, genealogical research is believable and I enjoy learning more about Esme with each book Wendy writes. Although this is one of a series, you don’t need to have read the others but having read this one, you will probably want to.

The Gossip’s Choice – Sara Read

More seventeenth century (inevitable really). Sara Reed has used her academic research about the history of early modern midwifery and crafted a fascinating account of Lucie Smith, who practices her craft of midwifery as London begins to be gripped by the plague. I like my historical novels to be rooted in sound research and this certainly is. A fascinating story.

The Song of the Skylark – Liz Shakespeare

A story set in my home village and based on real nineteenth century events. Liz has set her characters against a carefully researched background and I was quickly absorbed in the story of the Mitchell children. A beautiful evocation of the Devon landscape and a wonderfully detailed portrayal of Victorian rural poverty. It is difficult to write a convincing book for adults with children as the main characters but Liz has achieved this with admirable skill.

Who’s There – Karena Swan

A compelling read this one and a little different from the historical novel fare. We follow the story of Arnold, a young man with learning difficulties who is taking his first steps towards independence. Sadly, there are always those who seek to exploit the vulnerable and the plot takes a sinister turn. The characters were convincing and portrayed with empathy. A gripping recounting of how terrifyingly easy it is to become a victim.

Reading, Writing and Recording

by thehistoryinterpreter

Regular readers might recall that I often do daily ‘advent calendar’ posts but I decided to give that a miss this December. What I am preparing is a list of the top ten books that I’ve read this year. I’m not going to rank them one to ten but just the ten best of the 70 or so fiction books that I have read in 2020. If you are wondering if that is more or less than usual because, well because it is 2020, that’s probably about normal for me. Then there is all the non-fiction but I tend to dip into many of these rather than read from cover to cover, so my list will be fiction only. Stand by for this nearer the end of the year.

Now to recording. A few weeks ago, I was invited to chat to the lovely History Hacks Ladies. As a result I am now a podcast, whatever that is.  So if you want to hear me chatting about Sins as Red as Scarlet in a very croaky voice you can. There’s plenty of other good stuff on there too, so head on over and listen in.

Then, whilst I was still reeling from all the Genealogy award thing excitement, came the amazing news that I had won a writing competition. I found out on Monday and once I’d picked my jaw up off the floor, spent most of the week with a stupid smile on my face. I don’t usually ‘do’ short stories but both my novels are on the Trip Fiction website, so when they announced a competition I decided to give it a go and well, wow, just wow – look! You can read my story and those of the other winners on the site. It is also a great place to look for books that are set in your favourite locations. If you are expecting my story to be set in the West Country, sorry, no, Northumberland this time. I’m afraid it is no good sending begging letters asking for a share of the prize money as a significant proportion has already been donated to charity. If you like the story and still haven’t dipped into my novels, if you are very quick, I can still send signed, festively wrapped copies out to the UK in time for Christmas – you do need to order directly from me for this though. P.S. and here is what the lovely judge said – I still can’t believe this is about something that I have written.

In other news, I glimpsed this under the clematis yesterday. I am hoping he is hibernating not deceased and will add more leaves and possibly build a shelter to put over him as this looks a bit exposed. The first photo was taken in the summer.