COUNTDOWN TO LAUNCH.....ONE DAY TO GO
I was interviewed on Jera'sJamboree as part of The Judge's Wife blog tour . You can click on the link here or read below. /
http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2016/06/a-moving-story-three-woman-one-man.html
Welcome to Jera's Jamboree.
Please summarise The Judge’s Wife in 20 words or less.
A saga sweeping across continents, this is a story of one great love and those who wanted to destroy it.
What was the idea/inspiration for your novel?
Many years ago, I visited the Taj Mahal in North India. It was a very hot day and I sat down to the side of the great monument in the shade of a tree. Some workmen were up on bamboo scaffolding tapping away with their hammers, replacing damaged pieces of marble. Suddenly one of the men broke off and came down. I thought he was going to say I was disrupting the work, but instead he opened up his fist and there on the palm of his hand were three small pieces of white marble.
He picked out a piece and handed to me.
"Take it. May it bring you luck," he said. He was gone back up the bamboo scaffolding, before I had a chance to say anything other than a quick thank you.
The kindness of that man; the simple generosity behind the gesture all those years ago started me thinking of the love story that became The Judge’s Wife.
Grace Moran was a beautiful young woman married off to an older judge in 1950s Dublin. She falls in love with Vikram Fernandes, an Indian doctor. Theirs is a beautiful young love. She loves to wear designer Sybil Connolly clothes; he wants to bring her back to India and especially the coffee estate in the hills, but she ends up in an asylum and Vikram returns to India heartbroken. It is Grace's daughter when the judge dies, who is left to piece together the mystery of the life of the mother she never knew and the great love that once was between Vikram and Grace.
I enjoyed the scene when Vikram wrote the letter to Grace telling her they would find a way to be together.When I say I enjoyed it, I actually cried writing that letter. It was as if Vikram was dictating it to me. I cried because it was beautiful to think that he loved Grace so much and his wish was a simple but beautiful one; sit in the shadow of the Taj Mahal, to hold her hand “and just be.”
There was a lot of research on asylums in the 50s and that involved reading accounts of those who had been incarcerated for any other reason beside psychiatric issues. But the research which was the most fun was on the designer Sybil Connolly. It was fascinating to learn about the pleated linen which was her trademark. I had lived in India, so the Indian chapters came easy enough to me.
I lived in India for a year and while there, spent time in a coffee state in Chickmagalur. It was the most beautiful peaceful place, especially when the mists came in over the hills; it was really a world apart. It was this special place that I drew on for many of Vikram’s reminisces. Also I lived in the city of Bangalore, where Vikram spent most of his days, so I was able to write from experience of that great city.
Do you have a theme for your book covers? Who designs them?
The cover for The Judge's Wife was designed by photographer and designer Henry Steadman. I just love this cover and I think it is a wonderful successor to the bestselling The Ballroom Café. The Ballroom cover was universally loved.
The kindness of that man; the simple generosity behind the gesture all those years ago started me thinking of the love story that became The Judge’s Wife.
Please tell us about the characters in The Judge's Wife.
Grace Moran was a beautiful young woman married off to an older judge in 1950s Dublin. She falls in love with Vikram Fernandes, an Indian doctor. Theirs is a beautiful young love. She loves to wear designer Sybil Connolly clothes; he wants to bring her back to India and especially the coffee estate in the hills, but she ends up in an asylum and Vikram returns to India heartbroken. It is Grace's daughter when the judge dies, who is left to piece together the mystery of the life of the mother she never knew and the great love that once was between Vikram and Grace.
What scene did you enjoy writing the most Ann?
I enjoyed the scene when Vikram wrote the letter to Grace telling her they would find a way to be together.When I say I enjoyed it, I actually cried writing that letter. It was as if Vikram was dictating it to me. I cried because it was beautiful to think that he loved Grace so much and his wish was a simple but beautiful one; sit in the shadow of the Taj Mahal, to hold her hand “and just be.”
Did you do any research? What resources did you use?
There was a lot of research on asylums in the 50s and that involved reading accounts of those who had been incarcerated for any other reason beside psychiatric issues. But the research which was the most fun was on the designer Sybil Connolly. It was fascinating to learn about the pleated linen which was her trademark. I had lived in India, so the Indian chapters came easy enough to me.
Did you travel to any places? Undergo any new experiences?
I lived in India for a year and while there, spent time in a coffee state in Chickmagalur. It was the most beautiful peaceful place, especially when the mists came in over the hills; it was really a world apart. It was this special place that I drew on for many of Vikram’s reminisces. Also I lived in the city of Bangalore, where Vikram spent most of his days, so I was able to write from experience of that great city.
Do you have a theme for your book covers? Who designs them?
The cover for The Judge's Wife was designed by photographer and designer Henry Steadman. I just love this cover and I think it is a wonderful successor to the bestselling The Ballroom Café. The Ballroom cover was universally loved.
I know you have a book trailer Ann. What do you think book trailers achieve?
I regard the book trailer as an invitation to the reader to sit down for a while and listen to a bit of chat about the book. In my trailer I read that letter Vikram wrote to Grace because it is one of my favourite parts of whole book. The trailer gives a taste of what is to come in the book and I find my readers like to see me in my sitting room chatting about the book.
Finally Ann, what has been the best part of your writing journey so far?
The best part of my writing journey has got to be the fantastic feedback from readers. Writing is a lonely business. I sit in my kitchen early in the morning with the dog at my feet. It is so wonderful then to get the reaction of readers and the appreciation of the story told and the work put in. The reaction of the readers and the reviews are the greatest gift to the author.
Thank you for sharing with us today.
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