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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best book magazine in the UK“, author Clare Hawkins shares the inspiration behind her new book, The Dust Of Melita, and her creative writing process.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed Clare Hawkins about her life and career, the story of her new book, The Dust Of Melita, and what inspired her to write it.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
I have many interests and activities as well as writing. After 38 years working in various sectors of education, I teach voluntarily nowadays, write historical novels, read, cultivate an allotment, learn German, cycle, jog and play music badly. I have a dear husband of 47 years, two daughters, four grandchildren (between 9 and 7), two boys and two girls.
When did you first WANT to write a book?
As a keen teenage reader, with a particular liking for romantic and historical novels by Georgette Heyer and Mary Stewart, I dreamt of being an author or journalist.
When did you take a step to start writing?
I tried to write short stories for women’s magazines in my twenties, but my first serious step didn’t happen until my 50s. My two daughters had left home, my part-time teaching for the OU finished and I found I had Saturdays completely free. I enrolled on a distance learning course in novel writing, wrote my first novel and then couldn’t stop.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
My first completed novel took about one year. My first published book, by Cahill Davis Publishing ‘The Dust of Melita’, was originally written in 2015, and took about a year and a half from the initial research to completion. The manuscript was submitted to Cahill Davis Publishing in July 2022 and it was published in April 2023.
Focusing on your latest release. What made you want to write The Dust Of Melita?
My daughter fell in love and married a Maltese man. Knowing so little about Malta, I started reading about its history and became fascinated. The tiny island, placed so strategically in the Mediterranean, has been the focus of so many extraordinary events and power struggles that I felt compelled to explore some of these through fiction. A visit to Malta allowed me to see the amazing topography and sense, through its unique historic sites, the wonderful legacy of its past.
What were your biggest challenges with writing The Dust Of Melita?
The research. There was so much to read and I knew I would have to stop at some point if I really intended to write a novel. Because I chose to create different fictional stories at various key points in Malta’s history, I had to read quite widely, as well as gaining enough depth to write convincingly about the main period in which it was set, namely the Second World War siege in 1940.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?
One of my sources referred to the memoirs of a young British infantry soldier who served in Malta during the infamous WW2 siege. His youth and naivety appealed to me, so my main character was a little like him.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?
The main antagonist was war. I was, and am, horrified by the brutality and futility of war and the suffering, disruption and destruction of the lives of its victims, both civilians and armed forces. So the antagonists are the Italian and German forces who bombed the island and torpedoed the convoys of ships in the Mediterranean, to starve the people into submission.
What is the inciting incident of The Dust Of Melita?
The initial inciting incident is the main character’s escape from an Italian bombing raid, which leads to the beginning of his exploration of the island’s history and the process of his own self-discovery.
What is the main conflict of The Dust Of Melita?
The ruthless bombardment of the island.
Did you plot The Dust Of Melita in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?
I plotted it broadly, then wrote chapter summaries, but these many elements changed as I wrote, and as the development of the characters and their situations demanded new details and twists.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did The Dust Of Melita need?
Members of my writing group gave me very valuable feedback from the first readable draft onwards. It needed editing in terms of plot plausibility, characterization and sometimes style.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?
Identify the central ‘tension’ in the story, think about the main character(s) and plot, then write a draft, no matter how rough. Get it down on paper. Now you’ve got something to work on!
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
I’ve just finished a novel set in Scotland in the reign of James IV, inspired in part by his cruel linguistic experiment. I am also thinking about the next novel on the theme of treachery, which I’d like to write as a series of linked episodes at particular ‘flash points’ in British history, featuring characters who for different reasons betray their tribes, comrades, families or causes.
And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
I am very glad that quite a few people have enjoyed reading the story. It was worth the effort as it was enjoyable as well as challenging.
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4aCo9nV
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4acK8Ca
https://www.facebook.com/HawkinsAuthor
https://www.twitter.com/@hawkinsauthor
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26807920
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