Books that have inspired me

My writing is inspired by the books I love to read, particularly ones with atmosphere, which draw the reader into mysterious depths and live with you long beyond their endings. I particularly enjoy magical realism, stories with a time travel element and shadows of the supernatural. Here are some of my favourite books and the authors who have influenced me.

Daphne du Maurier

I love all her books but The House on the Strand, a classic gothic time travel story and The King’s General set in the English Civil War, which has a spine-chilling ending based on true events, are top of my list closely followed by Rebecca and Frenchman’s Creek. Her descriptions of Cornwall are wonderfully atmospheric.

Mary Stewart

The Merlin Trilogy is superb. A re-imagining of Arthurian legend from the sorcerer’s point of view.

Susanna Kearsley

Mariana is an intense and gripping time slip story set in the seventeenth century. I never tire of reading this book. The Rose Garden is another firm favourite, thrilling, haunting and set in Cornwall.

Kate Mosse

The Languedoc Trilogy. My favourite of these is Labyrinth. I love the dual time storylines which intertwine.

Joanne Harris

Blackberry Wine. A quirky, playful, magical realism novel following two separate timelines narrated by a vintage bottle of wine.

Carlos Ruiz Zafón

The Shadow of the Wind. I love the idea of a cemetery of forgotten books.

Kate Morton

The Clockmaker’s Daughter. A multi-layered historical mystery set across dual timelines. I love all Kate’s books, but this is a favourite.

Alison Uttley

A Traveller in Time. Written in 1939 this vivid historical time slip novel set in the Derbyshire countryside about a young girl who becomes involved in an attempt to rescue Mary Queen of Scots from her imprisonment was where I first became enthralled with the idea of living concurrently in the present and past.

Diana Gabaldon

The epic Outlander series of books is a real feat of writing. I love the idea of the feisty female lead character Claire being able to travel between eighteenth century and post second world war Scotland. It is totally immersive taking the reader deep into the lore and land of the Scottish Highlands.

Terry Pratchett

The Nome Trilogy is sheer genius, heartwarming and hilarious. I have read these books about a race of tiny people hidden among humans so many times, yet I never get tired of the inventiveness and humour.

BB (Denys Watkins-Pitchford)

Any of BB’s books about the countryside I find inspirational. His illustrations are stunning.

J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter series. I feel this is just a fantastic masterclass of storytelling. So cleverly crafted and composed with original characters and ingenious ideas.