An Interview with Frances Donovan

I’m a journalist and presenter with twenty-five years of experience working with the BBC, ITV, Sky, Channel 4, and IMG. I’ve been writing for TV and radio throughout my working life, but Angarrack is my debut novel. I’ve loved every second of creating it, although it’s been a steep learning curve. I was delighted when Angarrack was recently short-listed for The Historical Novel Society’s First Chapters Competition. Away from writing, I’m married and operate as chef, butler, and chief entertainment officer for my two rescue dogs! I’m a Ricardian and also love Winston Graham’s Poldark novels so much, I know them more or less word for word! I have a lifelong obsession with the landscape, history and quirkiness of Cornwall—it’s my spiritual home.

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What inspired you to start writing this book?

A combination of factors. There’s a house that sits on the North Quay in Padstow. Parts of it date from the fifteenth century and I’ve been fascinated by it ever since I was young. I used to write essays about it when I was at school, imaging the magic the house might be concealing. I was also (and still am) a huge fan of Daphne Du Maurier’s novels, particularly The House on the Strand and Frenchman’s Creek. The House on the Strand started an interest in the concept of time travel and the discoveries, advantages, dangers, and responsibilities that might go with it. When I read the views of the late Stephen Hawking on the subject, it really felt as though I could go ahead and indulge my imagination on how and why time travel might happen. If recent history’s greatest astrophysicist was prepared to acknowledge such a journey might be possible, who was I to argue? The final link in the inspirational chain came while I was staying at my friend’s pub, The Gurnard’s Head, which nestles between St Ives and Penzance. One night, a pair of fishermen came into the bar to sing sea shanties and seiner songs. Afterwards, over a drink or two, they told stories of the part some eighteenth and nineteenth Cornish smugglers played in helping freed or escaping enslaved Africans return home. Was I being fed a series of tall tales? It’s possible, but, delving deeper into the accounts of the free traders passed down through generations, it felt equally feasible there was a grain of truth in the yarn. Angarrack is the result.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

I was lucky enough to find the title fairly quickly. The magic that allows my main protagonist, Rachel, to time travel is generated by the synergy between the elements and the ancient rock that Angarrack (the house in the novel) is built on. I discovered Angarrack means ‘rock’ in the Cornish language and because I wanted something slightly ‘Du Maurier-ish’ as a title, it felt like the right choice. I know some people might prefer a title that explains the novel, but because the house plays such a major role in the story, it really felt appropriate to give it that level of prominence.

Describe your dream book cover.

Because of having worked in TV for years, Angarrack was very visual to me as I wrote it. I actually created a mood board for it that I kept pinned above my desk. The board shows a ‘time spiral’ set against the wildness of the North Cornwall coast, with the Padstow house at the heart of it. I think something like that would work for me!

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Now Is Here – Clannad; Time Traveller – M.I.A; Because the Night – Patti Smith Group; The Grey Funnel Line – Kessenyan; Dancing Barefoot – Patti Smith; Falling – Harry Styles; The Chain – Fleetwood Mac; Run For Your Life – The Seige; (Reach Up for the) Sunrise – DURAN DURAN; I Will Find You – Clannad; You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart – Sinéad O’Connor; Trelawny – Fisherman’s Friends.

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

At the moment, I’m writing a novel set in the 1970s so I’ve been researching a lot around that time—currently reading The Improv by Budd Friedman and Tripp Whetsell. It’s a fantastic chronicle of stand-up comedy around the time. I’m really enjoying it. Away from research, I’ve just finished Cesca Major’s Maybe Next Time, which really hits all the emotional buttons. I recommend it. I’ve pre-ordered and am really looking forward to Carol McGrath’s The Queen’s Sister, which is out very soon. Carol’s a terrific author, too, and both she and Cesca have been really generous in advising and mentoring me. Asking about ‘comfort books’ is a great question. Every year I re-read Jane Eyre, Jilly Cooper’s Rivals, one or two of the Poldark novels, Outlander, and Sharon Penman’s The Sunne in Splendour. It probably makes me sound very boring, the fact I keep revisiting, but all those books feel like old friends and it’s still a treat to open them. Jilly was also very kind to me, a fabulous cheerleader as I worked my way through Angarrack. I was privileged to be invited to a service at Southwark Cathedral earlier this year that celebrated her life. It was a wonderful event to be part of, and I met Cesca for the first time, so it was a lovely day all round. The cast of the Disney+ adaptation of Rivals were all there and I had chance to chat to Bella Maclean and Alex Hassell, who were both really friendly and charming. I had Bella in mind as I was creating Rachel—one of the two main protagonists in Angarrack—and she asked to read the manuscript, so I’m excited to find out what she thinks of it.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I’m a journalist and presenter. Sport has been my main bag for the past twenty years, although I’ve been lucky enough to front news and entertainment programmes as well. At one time, I had a sports chat show, which was brilliant. I love interviewing people—I’m a nosey sort and journalism has given me complete licence to indulge that! As for a ‘weird’ fact about me … well, I’m trained in battlefield first aid, so I can dress your wound if you’re ever injured by shrapnel. I’m also learning to play the guitar—something I’ve taken thirty years to get around to … Nothing like impetus! I love the band America and want to be able to master some of their brilliant catalogue.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I wanted to be a journalist from when I was in my early teens, but the idea of writing a novel started buzzing around in the back of my brain following the first ever TV interview I did with Jilly Cooper. She told me then that I had a book in me. It’s taken me a long time, but I’m delighted I was eventually able to prove her right.

Where is your favorite place to write?

I don’t get chance to do it enough as I don’t live there, but my favourite place to write is in a fab little bar in Padstow called 17 Duke Street. I can while away hours there, with an endless supply of coffee or gin and tonics! It has big windows which look out onto a little Cornish Street. It’s brilliant for people-watching and picking up little bits and pieces of inspiration. At home, my desk sits in front of doors to the balcony. The balcony looks out over the sea. I can often watch the weather rolling up the channel, seeing it change from squally to sunshine in minutes. It’s pretty awe-inspiring. There are always dog beds scattered around the desk area—I love having the company of my dogs as I write.

What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?

I think I’d tell myself that it’s ok to make mistakes as you get the first draft down. That’s what editing’s for. I kept re-visiting what I’d written the day before when Angarrack was developing and it slowed things down a lot. I’d cut myself a bit of slack and say, ‘Enjoy creating the story—you can fine tune later.’

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

I hope they get the same satisfaction from Angarrack that I had when I read Outlander for the first time. I love Diana Gabaldon’s writing and it left me hankering for much more of it. I’d be thrilled to think readers would feel the same about Rachel and Joshua—my two main characters—as so many did and still do about Claire and Jamie Fraser.

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