June Edit – part 4 – Euston reccy
- At June 22, 2015
- By Niel
- In Research, Writing
0
Eversholt Street shops and cafés
Chapter 14 is my home now. Almost halfway. Ah well, I’ll finish when I finish, but it’s not going to be by the end of the month, that’s for sure!
Still, I’ve made some good progress this week, and even did a reccy of some of the book’s London locations. I took a walk up and down Eversholt Street which is home to my two main characters. A lot of the early action takes place around their home, including a shop and cafe. I took pictures of most of the shops on the street to help me get the feel of the location right. I’m not using any existing shops in my story (although I’m so tempted to use the Skylight Café, given my story’s subject matter, but no one would ever believe it wasn’t a made-up cheesy pun!) but these pictures give a flavour of the places I’m describing.
Flats on Eversholt Street
It’s always really useful to walk through the locations. Google maps gets you so far but there’s so much more to learn by walking in your character’s footsteps. I’d imagined the character’s flat to be a bit more modern but the reality of the current houses on Eversholt Street are more run-down than I’d expected. They’ve got an earthy quality which I like but I’d never have known that without taking a stroll!
Next I walked to St Pancras Church which is just over the road from Euston Station. It’s a beautiful old church where my characters find sanctuary. I spent several minutes sat inside, imagining the events of my book taking place around me. As well as being really useful it was also a very relaxing and quiet moment. The reccy really helped to cement the story in my mind and it’s a process I’d recommend to other writers.
Outside St Pancras Church
Inside St Pancras Church
Research – Rouland and the Paladin
- At November 01, 2013
- By Niel
- In Research, Writing
- 0
This post is the first in an occasional series on the research and inspiration for some of the characters in Sorrowline and Timemith. I wanted a lot of the things in my stories to feel real, as if they might have once existed, and I found inspiration in many myths, legends and folk tales. So let’s begin with Rouland – the menacing figure at the heart of Sorrowline.
Rouland was inspired by the Frankish military leader, Roland, immortalised in the historic French poem, The Song of Roland. The figure has been romanticised in many French texts in a similar way to how King Arthur has been treated in the UK; legend obscures fact until nothing else remains. I’ve always been fascinated by Arthurian legend, especially with the idea of his loyal Knights of the round Table. There are parallels between Arthurian legend and the French stories, collectively known as The Matter of France. Like Arthur, Rouland was also one of a group of powerful knights. The paladins, sometimes known as the Twelve Peers, were the foremost warriors of Charlemagne’s court.
I loved the idea of twelve knights fiercely loyal to their leader. So, with a lot of liberal creative licence and no regard for historical accuracy, I took Roland and the Paladins and turned them into Rouland de la Mare and his Paladin. Rouland became a great statesman and scientist who had uncovered many scientific secrets. His army of Paladin were hand-picked to be his loyal bodyguards. He chose their number from the dead, resurrecting them into a state between life and death – the OnceDead. And, in a deliberate change to the history of both Arthurian and French legends, I made them all women. The Paladin represent Rouland’s greatest work, a subtle mix of science and magic.
The Paladin’s individual names were also inspired by members of the historical Paladins. The outcast Eloise de Montauban took her name in part from the Paladin, Renaud de Montauban. Rouland’s closest ally, the Captain of the Paladin, Alda de Vienne, took her name from Olivier de Vienne, Roland’s closest friend, advisor, and confidant. Even Rouland’s sword, Durendal, which features heavily in Timesmith, is based on the legend.
There are other connections which I won’t mention here in case you’ve not read Sorrowline (WHY NOT??) but I’m sure those who are familiar with the source material might spot them.
