I’ve always been fascinated by this macabre story and have relished the fresh research and the thinking that went into the novel. My artistic dilemma has been how to resist the power of the stultifying myth, and bring Mary Ann (called Marian in the novel…) to life – and to her sad death - in a way which would make people think afresh about the case. The ambiguous, mysterious Marian, and the dramatic events of that year, are seen through the eyes of young Victoria Kilburn, my fictional niece of the real doctor who did the autopsies - the first of which absolved Marian, the second of which condemned her.

As well as this I have been writing short stories. I was commissioned by the Woodhorn Mining Museum two write two of the five short stories – called ‘Into the Dark’, and ‘Shifts’, which are informing the actual design of a new multimillion pound project at the museum. 

It was amazing to see how the talented designers and museologists ‘realised’, in architectural design form the stories as a kind of metaphor for the collection and well as a vehicle with which to display it. This is a unique initiative, not done anywhere else, and it was a privilege to talk and work with curator/co-ordinator Victoria Coxon who thought up the revolutionary notion of using literature in this way. Now all I have to do is wait until 2006 when the whole thing realised and be up and running…

I was also commission by New Writing North to write a short story for a new collection rooted in County Durham to be called BOUND. I based my story in Sunderland, a fascinating city which deserves more to be written about it. My story - called ‘Glass’ - emerges from the fact that along with shipbuilding and related industries for hundreds of years Sunderland has been involved in the manufacture of glass. I had fun with my story which involves a young burglar, a madwoman (no, two…) and a glass egg. I taught in higher education in Sunderland for thirteen years and have until now have never made use of it rich inspiration in my writing. The book that houses this collection will be the work of a very talented and avant-garde designer. It is a fascinating artifact: a work of art in itself. It will be published in October this year.

Now I am working on my next novel which is about the music hall in 1921. My head is spinning….

I have so much enjoyed reading your emails. Keep them coming!

Happy summer!