Author Archives: cherylsimpsonbennetwriter

Sunday, 26th November, spent the morning at St Pancras Station. It may not sound exciting or a tourist hub but it actually is. Architecture is Gothic Revival, a Victorian style inspired by Gothic cathedrals and other medieval architecture – I love it.

But inside it’s a hive of consumerism and coffee. Even Fortnum and Masons have got in on the act. We (fellow writer, Richard Holliday) didn’t visit to travel of buy a rail ticket but to give an opinion on Hatchard’s ‘book’ Christmas tree. The esteemed Piccadilly bookshop having built a wooden bookshelf to resemble a Christmas tree.

It would have been fun to mount the stairs but I can see why it was cordoned off. What you were able to do was sit underneath it and, if you want, read a book, drink coffee or annoy the people who wanted the perfect photo.

Anyway, Richard, forever on the lookout to publicise his novels, brought it along and we took the opportunity to promote his book.

PRICE WAR – When the cost of doing business is blood, one man must save what’s left of his family from paying the price…. https://richardholliday.co.uk

I’ve got two novels on the go at the moment – neither of which need peat for inspiration but I find England’s ancient past inspiring. At present I’ve got gothic on my mind as I’m re-editing a novel. Originally a novella, a reviewer told me it didn’t go far enough. When I looked at it I agreed. There was more to it. Then discovering third person close, I just had to re-edit the whole thing.

But the peat thing and our Saxon past really resonates with me. So last Tuesday I was off to……..

The Avalon Marshes

First visit to Avalon Marshes, a magical wetland landscape at the heart of Somerset’s Levels. Surrounded by Glastonbury Tor, Isle of Avalon and some of Britain’s best wetland. Boards are part of a trackway to cross the swampy peat. Can’t wait to go back with my proper boots.

Many of the trackways were preserved and discovered by peat diggers, some in the late 1800s.  Walking the trackways, through lush, green foliage, careful not to plunge into any hidden water covered moss, you can imagine Alfred the Great’s flight into the marshes, hiding from the dreaded Vikings.

I don’t have time to percolate a story around this wonderful history but the environment makes me look for the nearest book and I choose The  Lady of Mercia  

Also did a bit of bird watching – the first time ever in a hide. Not that I knew what I was looking at. Fortunately I’ve got a friend, although also a city girl, who knows her way around a hide.

No photos of birds but a beautiful lake anyway.

The harbour at Watchet, Somerset, is ripe with Coleridge atmosphere. It was overcast that day – which is the perfect time to visit the place that inspired the great poem. I’m sure that some people may take the poem, sit at the feet… and read. I decided to walk around, look at the sea, always evocative , then have tea and cake.

In 1797 Samuel Taylor Coleridge walked over the Quantock Hills from his home in Nether Stowey with his friends William and Dorothy Wordsworth, and there found Watchet. And the dark tale – more than a poem was created.

I still can’t decide whether to go with self publishing or begin the long slog to find an agent or publisher – subject to contract :).

But I do like a colourful poster so thought I’d look for an artist/designer to see what they had in mind. Glad I did. I found an enthusiastic creative designer and she really kept me on my toes. By the end of our email exchange (and she really did want to know everything about Rosie) I knew more about my character than I did before. Then – low and behold Rosie Slade was born. Thank you Zoe Saunders.