The Letter
The Letter begins in Manchester in 1973 when Tina Craig discovers an old letter in the pocket of a suit that has been donated to the charity shop where she works. She notices that the letter is still firmly sealed and unfranked and has clearly never been posted. Feeling incredibly intrusive she opens the letter to discover it was written on 4th September 1939. The writer, Billy, is apologising to his sweetheart, Chrissie for his selfish actions and begs for her forgiveness. He declares his love and asks for her hand in marriage. Tina is moved by the contents of the letter but also puzzled as why such a heartfelt missive went unposted. In spite of problems of her own, chief amongst them trying to survive in a violent relationship with her husband, Rick, she vows to find out what became of Billy and Chrissie.
The story moves between two different times. How difficult was it to write back and forth between them throughout?
Not too difficult actually! I had done all the research into the two time periods before I even began to write the book. The narrative does move between Tina’s story in 1973 and Billy and Chrissie’s story in 1939 quite a bit but this is done in large chunks rather than flitting back and forth chapter by chapter. This means that the reader becomes thoroughly absorbed in one thread only to find out that as they turn the page the action has switched back to the other time period, which I hope is equally as compelling. I think it is for this reason that my editor described the book as ‘pure mastery of the art of the cliff-hanger.’
What do you think makes a letter such a good device for story telling?
Good question! I think the simplicity of the title immediately makes the reader wonder about the writer of the letter, the recipient and of course what the letter said. The fact that the letter in my story was not posted only adds to the mystery. When Billy had obviously put so much emotion into his writing, why was the letter still languishing in his suit pocket some 34 years later?
Where did your inspiration for the story come from?
This is my debut novel and it has been a long-standing ambition of mine to write a book. I honestly cannot remember what inspired the story. I started planning it back in 2009 and have been writing, editing, re-writing and honing it ever since!
Tell us about some of your previous publications?
The only other works I have had published are short stories. Whilst not as time-consuming to write as a full-length novel, short stories do present challenges of their own. To try to get readers to care about the characters in under 2,000 words can be tricky, plus I also like to put a ‘twist in the tale’ in the final line of the story.
People don’t write letters as much as they used to with the rise of new technologies. Do you think this is a good or bad thing?
It would be easy to get sentimental about the demise of letter-writing but unfortunately it is inevitable. I can remember writing letters to friends abroad on the thinnest blue airmail paper imaginable in order to keep the cost of the postage down. Things have changed in the commercial world too. When I began work I would be called into my boss’s office first thing in the morning and he would dictate page after page, which I would write down in shorthand and then spend the rest of the day typing up. The grammar was always impeccable and everything was spelt correctly. E-mail may be quicker but the standard of English has slipped and they call it progress! However, I always insist that my children send a handwritten thank you letter when they receive a gift. I am not saying they don’t moan about it but unfortunately a text or e-mail in this instance is simply not good enough for me.
What were the reasons for exploring the character Tina’s abusive relationship?
I really wanted my main character to have a story of her own, with problems to overcome and for the reader to really root for her. The character of her husband, Rick, just emerged to me as a violent bully, but back in 1973 domestic violence was not really recognised and many women suffered in silence, as indeed many still do today. It was difficult finding the right balance between the reader getting annoyed with Tina for putting up with so much and feeling desperate sympathy for her and the position she is in. I can imagine the reader screaming at Tina to get out but it is not that simple for her or indeed many women in her position today. Thankfully though, attitudes to domestic violence have changed and there is a lot more help out there for women today that was not available to Tina in 1973. Even Rick’s own mother, on hearing about her son’s violence towards Tina, remarks, “Well, what man doesn’t cuff his wife once in a while?”
Who are your favourite reads?
Oh my goodness, where do I start? It’s an eclectic mix but if I was pushed I would name George Orwell’s Animal Farm as one of my favourites. I first read it at school and before each lesson our rather eccentric English teacher would lead us all in a chorus of ‘Beasts of England’ just as though we were the animals in that cowshed rising up against Farmer Jones! I can still sing all the words some thirty-odd years later. Also up there would be Life of Pi, and anything by Nicholas Evans or Khaled Hosseini.
How much research was required for the earlier element of the book?
As I was only nine in 1973 I had to research both time periods. I can remember snippets from my childhood, in particular the three-day week and having the electricity cut off in the evenings. Obviously the internet is a fabulous tool for research but I also obtained newspapers from the outbreak of World War II to really try and capture the mood of the nation. The book opens on 31st March 1973, the day of the Grand National. Rick asks Tina to put a bet on for him. He wants to gamble £50, which is a lot of money in 1973, and Tina is horrified. She takes the money and says she will do it but then changes her mind. She thinks he will be none the wiser. Unfortunately, the horse he has chosen is called Red Rum. I must have watched this clip dozens of times on YouTube for my research and really feel for Tina as she watches the end of the race in abject horror.
What is next for you?
Another book hopefully! I am still at the planning and research stage but this book will be set in the present day and will take the form of a black comedy. I would also love to turn The Letter into a screenplay. It would make a wonderful television show, even if I say so myself! A gritty northern drama, with a seventies soundtrack and a quality cast of characters. What’s not to like?