The author on being inspired by Michael Ondaatje and how Hilary Mantel helped her overcome her aversion to historical figure novels
My earliest reading memory
The headteacher in my village primary school used to recount terrifying Cumbrian ghost tales to the class, which I’m sure was formative. I can also still hear my mum sing-songing rhymes; “Oranges and lemons, say the bells of St Clement’s”. My dad read the Ant and Bee books to me, repeatedly – he’d drive back over a high upland road from work and get home in time for bedtime stories. But my earliest independent reading memory is The Story of Ferdinand by Leaf and Lawson. I loved that bull!
My favourite book growing up
Big books gave me the whirlies so it took a while for them to start landing.
