What is the inspiration for your current book?
Some years ago, I was staying in Mission Beach and I visited
the castle ruins at Paronella Park in the north Queensland rainforest. It is a
beautiful, fantastical place, and became the inspiration for Castillo de Suenos
in my novel. So it came about by chance that I chose Queensland and the sense
of place was one I tried to convey to my readers.Is there a particular theme
you are exploring in this book?
In Castle of Dreams, a dual narrative story, I explore how
war impacts not only on those who go to war but those left behind on the home
front. When I was researching I found that in WW2 American servicemen were
stationed in far north Queensland where the 1940’s storyline is set. I already
had the idea for two sisters, Vivien and Rose, growing up in a castle in the
rainforest and when Robert Shine, an American soldier, found his way into my
story, their love triangle echoed the triangle of the American and Australia
allies fighting the Japanese in the Pacific War.
Which period of history particularly interests you? Why?
I have always been interested in military history so it was
natural that I set my stories against a backdrop of WW1 or WW2 as these periods
of war had a great impact on people around the world.
What resources do you use to research your book?
For my research, I read primary sources like diaries,
letters and newspaper reports (Trove is wonderful!). I read books written about
and of the period I am researching. I use Google but online information can be
inaccurate so be careful and check more than one source. I use my wonderful
local library and inter-library loans for books I don’t necessarily want to
keep on my bookshelf, and also, I always read bibliographies carefully in each
book as they are a source of more information on the subject you are
researching.
What is more important to you: historical authenticity or accuracy?
I don’t think you can have a good story unless it is
historically accurate. If it is necessary to move, say a battle scene, by a
year to suit the plot and the author makes a note of this in the
acknowledgements that’s fine (occasionally). Otherwise the book should be
labeled ‘faction’.
Which character in your current book is your favourite? Why?
Vivien Blake, a
photographer who was a woman of her time (1940’s) and she came alive for me
when I was writing her. Women have had an active role in photography since
its inception. While researching I found that in 1900 British and American
censuses women made up almost 20 percent of the profession at a time when it
was unusual for women to have a profession. Many Australian women photographers worked before the Great
War and more did hand colouring and darkroom work. At that time it was thought
that ‘lady operators’ should only photograph women and families. By WW2
women photographers were working in advertising and portraiture and the worlds
of fashion and theatre. I made Vivien a photographer because I wanted to
have a motif of light through the story. The American soldier is named Robert
Shine and the rainforest is lit with filtered light and the sparkling glitter
ball that hangs from the ceiling in the castle’s ballroom showers the dancers
with light. There are many references to light in the story.
Are you a ‘plotter’ or a ‘pantser’? How long does it generally take you to write a book?
I would like to say I’m a plotter as it would save so much
time. I do start off with a detailed outline and I know the ending of the story
before I start writing but inevitably it changes along the way. I write to find
out what happens along the way and once I know my characters it all starts to
fall into place like a jigsaw puzzle. I can then write the chapters in any
order if I wish. It takes me about eighteen months to write a book.
Which authors have influenced you?
Katherine Mansfield. Pat Barker, Vladimir Nabokov, the
Brontes, Virginia Woolf, Mary Wesley.
What advice would you give an aspiring author?
Never give up. I have three books in the bottom drawer, my
apprentice books, and every one of them taught me something about writing. If
you don’t have time to write a novel then write short stories, or a blog, or
write reviews of books. Writing should not be at the bottom of a
long list of ‘to do’ things, it should be at the top. Treat it like a job, even
a part-time job, and not a hobby. Set goals. Those first words are the
hardest part. Then rewrite.
Tell us about your next book or work in progress.
It is a time split novel set during WW1 and in 2015. The
earlier narrative thread is set in the southwest of Western Australia where I
lived for several years on a vineyard, with detours to other parts of the world
and finally, and most importantly, for this is where the heart of the story is,
in the Tumut Valley where the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people lived for
thousands of years prior to European settlement. My story is about
abandoned gardens and love and romance, betrayal, and of course big family
secrets and what more beautiful place to write about than the lovely valley
that sits on the north-west foothills of the Snowy Mountains.
Castle of Dreams, published by Allen & Unwin, is a poignant, luminous novel about two sisters, about a mother and daughter, a loved granddaughter, the past that separates them and the healing that comes with forgiveness. Norwegian publisher, Cappelen Damm, published Castle of Dreams in translation in April 2017.
Elise McCune will be taking part in a panel on Worlds at War: the appeal of 20th Century Historical Fiction with Paddy Richardson, Justin Sheedy and Julian Leatherdale at the HNSA conference in September. She is also appearing in our Meet the Author satellite event on 20 August at the Mail Exchange Hotel, 688 Bourke St, Melbourne from 2.30-4.30pm discussing War and Romance Historical Fiction with Gabrielle Gardner, Alison Stuart, and Sylvia Karakaltsas. More information and tickets are available from the HNSA website.
Elise McCune will be taking part in a panel on Worlds at War: the appeal of 20th Century Historical Fiction with Paddy Richardson, Justin Sheedy and Julian Leatherdale at the HNSA conference in September. She is also appearing in our Meet the Author satellite event on 20 August at the Mail Exchange Hotel, 688 Bourke St, Melbourne from 2.30-4.30pm discussing War and Romance Historical Fiction with Gabrielle Gardner, Alison Stuart, and Sylvia Karakaltsas. More information and tickets are available from the HNSA website.
HNSA 2017 Conference
The HNSA 2017 Melbourne Conference is being held on 8-10
September 2017 at Swinburne University. This celebration of the historical
fiction genre will showcase over 60 speakers discussing inspiration, writing
craft, research, publishing pathways and personal histories in our weekend programme.
Among the many acclaimed historical novelists participating are Kerry
Greenwood, Kate Forsyth, Deborah Challinor, Libby Hathorn, Lucy Treloar, Sophie
Masson, Sulari Gentill, Robert Gott and Arnold Zable. The HNSA’s speakers’ list is
available on the HNSA website.
In addition to the two stream weekend programme, there will be ten craft based super
sessions and two research masterclasses.You won’t want to miss our
interactive sessions on armour and historical costumes either! Purchase a
ticket and you will be entered in the draw to win a $100 Dymocks Gift Card.
Manuscript
assessments will be conducted by industry experts, Alison Arnold and Irina Dunn.
Our free extended academic
programme is open for general admission but bookings are essential.
Our
First Pages Pitch Contest offers an opportunity for submissions to be read
aloud to a panel of publishers. And we are delighted to announce the
introduction of our inaugural HNSA
Short Story Contest with a $500 prize!
Let’s make a noise about historical fiction!
