Q&A with Paula Brackston

 

 

Paula Brackston is the author of the new novel The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish. Her other books include The Witch's Daughter. She lives in Hereford, UK.

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish, and how did you create your character Hecate?

 

A: In 2019 we moved to the city of Hereford. It is such an ancient place, steeped in history and stories of people who have lived here for over a thousand years. The cathedral stands at the centre overlooking the river. It houses a chained library and an ancient world map - how could I not be inspired?! 

 

I knew I needed a character who would be at the heart of each book in the new series, putting us right in the middle of the action and the middle of the city. I wanted someone high energy, curious, brave, quick-witted. I’d also promised a friend my next character would have red hair (as she does)!

 

Hecate very soon started to form in my mind and I began to glimpse her in places whenever I was walking by the river, or the streets, or visiting the cathedral.

 

Q: The writer Manda Scott said of Hecate, “Hecate Cavendish is a breath of fresh air - a young woman who knows her own mind and is prepared to swim against the tides of her time - and ours.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I love it, of course! That is exactly how I wanted Hecate to come across. She is pioneering in many ways; riding a bicycle, working in the cathedral library, putting her job and her ghostly friends before her marriage prospects.

 

She’s also a sister, a daughter, and a friend and those relationships sometimes suffer because she is so caught up in what she is doing. I thought that was a relatable thing.

 

So many of us (particularly women, I have to say) are called upon to be so many things at once. We often have to make choices in our priorities and that can cause conflict. Hecate is young and only just learning how to navigate this.

Q: What do you see as the role of magic in the story?

 

A: This series is very much a return to magic for me. When I wrote The Witch’s Daughter I immersed myself in reading about the many different types of witchcraft, magic, and belief systems that would have informed my characters.

 

The Found Things series has less magic in it - apart from the time travel! - and I have to say I missed learning about and writing about those sorts of things.   

 

When Hecate starts her work at the chained library she discovers that she not only has the gift of being able to commune with phantoms, but she has a deep and meaningful connection with the goddess Hekate. This gave me a whole new world of magic to explore, and talents for her to acquire. I am really enjoying writing those aspects of the story.

 

Q: Did you need to do any research to write the book, and if so, did you learn anything that especially surprised you?

 

A: Most of the research I do for this series (Hekate’s mythology aside) is either local history, or to do with the Mappa Mundi (the medieval world map in the cathedral).

 

It’s been lovely to be able to explore the area, visit beautiful houses, learn about Herefordshire legends and folklore, and speak to people here who know about these things. The archivist at the cathedral has been particularly helpful, and local residents are happy to share their knowledge. And their ghost stories!

 

Q: This is the first in a series--what's next?

 

A: Book Two - The Cathedral of Lost Souls - is having its final polish and is due out in November. I am now beginning work on Book Three in the series.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: If anyone finds themself near Hereford there is a wonderful exhibition in the cathedral where you can see the original Mappa Mundi and the chained library. Well worth a visit!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Paula Brackston.