Hi, I’m the author of four historical fiction novels, and one non-fiction literary history. My specialism is biographical fiction, so I focus on fictionalising the lives of real women, like Claire Clairmont, Isabella Baxter Booth, and Madeleine Smith.
I love messing with genres, though, so I would say my more recent novels could also be classed as ‘dark fiction’ or ‘dark romance’ or ‘gothic fiction’, as well as ‘historical crime.’ My favourite era to write about is the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and my favourite writers from that period stretch from sensation writers like Wilkie Collins, to the master of ambiguity, Henry James.
My first long piece of work, though, was my PhD, which was a feminist reading of the work of James Joyce, from Dubliners to Finnegans Wake. I embarked on an academic career, teaching at the University of St Andrews for two years, before coming to my senses – or should that be ‘making a crazy leap of faith’ and turning to literary journalism. For twenty years, I reviewed books, interviewed writers, and covered book festivals for publications like The Herald, The Sunday Herald, The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday, The Independent, The Independent on Sunday, The Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, and The Sunday Times.
In 2007, I finally published a novel of my own – my first of four, so far! Now, I write whilst working as a freelance editorial consultant for Jericho Writers, The Literary Consultancy and The Blue Pencil Agency. I also chair at festivals like Aye Write. When I’m not researching for my own novels, I like to catch up on the latest by favourites Joyce Carol Oates, Megan Abbott, or Madeline Miller. Or I’ll indulge in a re-read of Shirley Jackson, or Hilary Mantel.
But I love an unusual take on the past, like Virginia Feito, or a tender one like Alice McDermott, and I’m a sucker for anything haunted. Complicated women characters, who aren’t necessarily likeable, are also more likely to have me gripped.
Right now, I’m researching spiritualism, fairies, and ghost stories for my next historical-biographical novel about another complex and fascinating woman. If I get stuck at a plot point, I’ll hassle my crime novelist husband, Russel McLean (who writes now as R D McLean) for suggestions, or bother our cats, Mycroft and Magwitch!