I have been doing a lot of writing over the last few months. As you may know I am currently working on two novels, part of a series that I have intended to write for many years.

There were originally going to be six books, however a couple of years ago I met someone who really inspired me to add another book to my list.

This partly explains why I have been working on two novels at once, as I needed to get all my thoughts down on paper, as they say, before I forgot them. Which I did on a wet day at a Norfolk campsite a couple of years ago. This second novel is partly based on my own recent experiences as well, so I needed to write them while it was fresh in my mind.

However, one of the main reasons that I haven’t finished book one, the one set at Hardwick Hall, the one I have been working on for nearly five years now, was a case of writer’s block.

The last person to live at Hardwick, before it was given to the National Trust, was Lady Evelyn Cavendish, born Evelyn Emily Mary Petty Fitzmaurice, second daughter of Lord Landsowne, Viceroy of India.

Evelyn married into the Cavendish family, heirs of Bess of Hardwick, owners of Chatsworth among many other properties, in 1892, when she wed Victor Cavendish.

As a teacher, and a lecturer I have written a lot over the years, even been published, my claim to fame is two chapters in textbooks, and a few journal articles. If you have been here for a while you may remember the doctoral years, when I wrote, (and rewrote!) 80,000 words.

But those were all factual pieces of writing, and writing fiction is very different.  Especially when it is based in fact. I was having real trouble with combining the life of someone who actually lived, with my fictional characters.

A research visit to Chatsworth a couple of years ago, where I was lucky enough to come across some notes written by Evelyn, really helped. I have still been struggling with how to present them in my writing though, to do justice to her as a person.

One of my overwhelming issues is that very little has been written about this her, although she was quite famous in her day. Much of what is out there, and this will probably not surprise you, is written about her in the context of her as a daughter, and a wife. An aristocratic woman, beautifully painted here by John Singer Sargent.

It is a familiar story, throughout history, particularly for someone born into an age where women were often referred to solely by their husband’s names, often not even having their first name used. 

There are letters, and diaries, but those are not readily available to me, partly to do with the 100 year rule, which prevents material being available to protect people still living, that the author may have referred to.

I have found some really useful sources though, and am working my way through them.

Published biographies, and autobiographies are helpful. I have been reading some by Deborah Cavendish, herself one of the very well known Mitford sisters, and pictured below on the left. She knew Granny Evie, as she was then known, during WW2.

The ‘Stags and Serpents’, book by John Pearson, from which the above photo comes,  has also been very helpful.

I am also currently reading a really interesting book, ‘Storming the Castle’, by Jill Downie,  written about the time that Evelyn and Victor spent in Canada from 1916.

Victor had been appointed Viceroy of Canada, which must have been really interesting for Evelyn, being the daughter of a former Viceroy. Especially with the contrast between the two countries. 

The book is very much an, ‘Upstairs Downstairs’, if you are old enough to remember that series, or in a contemporary context, ‘Bridgerton’, as it traces the lives of Evelyn, and her cook, Dora.

One of the great things about this book is its references to family life, albeit the family life of the Viceroy!

Most of the other things that have been written about Evelyn are her more formal roles, connected with royalty, as she was Mistress of the Robes to Queen Mary for  many years.

There is some reference to her other roles, during WW2 she was active in the Red Cross, and there is a wonderful photo in the Stags and Serpents book of her mending the tapestries at Hardwick. This is the period that my book is set, so is a very special one for me.

It has been really interesting for me, as a fledgling fiction writing, to reflect on the process of writing. How I feel about it, what I find difficult, and what comes more naturally to me. I have really enjoyed the process, even if at the moment there is no finished product!

I have also found it fascinating to read about other’s thoughts and processes. I have always been an avid reader, but now I am writing I find myself thinking so much more about how and why the writer structured their books that way.

I am sure that my long suffering English teacher would be very pleased to hear that, some 50 years after my very poor performance in my English Literature O level! I got a D in that one, but an A in Language 😉

My latest read was the very interesting, ‘The Secret Sewing Society’, a dual timeline story set in Ukraine, by Siobhan Curham.

I will definitely read more of her books, as her subjects are ones that I am really drawn to. She also has a Substack, where she writes about the process of writing, and how she gets ideas, which is really interesting.

So, hopefully I will make good progress with the last few chapters of novel one over the next few months. It would be lovely to be able to let people read it, and my very kind friends have said they will act as beta readers for me.

Whatever happens I have thoroughly enjoyed all bits of this new journey, even the getting stuck bits have been helpful, as they have made me think of other ways to work. After all, as was always mine and my sister’s family motto, ‘no-one ever said it was going to be easy!’

I shall leave you with that thought, it is a beautiful sunny day here in Scotland, so I am going to make the most of it and head for the hills. See you all soon!