Clare Hawkins

 

My childhood fascination with the past was fuelled by tales of the lives and adventures of elderly relatives: a grandmother born in 1889 and a great-grandfather a hansom cab driver in mid 19^th century Glasgow. Then, as a teenager, absorbed in the worlds created by novelists like Georgette Heyer and Mary Stewart, I desperately wanted to use my own imagined time-travelling to create stories of the past. This ambition, however, would not be realised for many decades to come.

Retirement from a long career in education at last offered the chance to take action, with no excuses to avoid getting started. A short-part time course in novel writing led to the production of a first novel, and what had begun as an experiment quickly became an enjoyable obsession. With one novel hardly complete, I started thinking about the next, but there was so much to learn about writing. To develop my skills I enrolled on various courses, long and short. 

I was thrilled when my second novel The Bookbinder’s Daughter was short-listed to the last three in the Historical Novel Society’s International Award 2012/13. Three of my other novels, published and unpublished, The Conjuror’s Truth, The Apprentice’s Pledge and the Dust of Melita have been long-listed in various competitions: The Mslexia Novel Competition, The Yeovil Literary Award, The Exeter Novel Competition. My self-published novel Lament for a Siege Town, was the editor’s choice in the Historical Novel Society’s indie awards competition in 2016.

My first publishing deal came in 2021, from Blossom Spring Publishing for The Pawnbroker’s Pledge, and shortly after, one from Cahill Davis Publishing for The Dust of Melita. I have recently been busy writing a 5 book series of Gothic House Mysteries for Sapere Books, the outcome of my entry to their novel competition.

Inspiration for plots and settings derives mainly from my interest in social history and my background (childhood and youth spent in Scotland and experiences of living in various different regions in England.) I have ranged widely over different historical periods, enjoying the research immensely, as well as the creative challenges of plotting, character development and narrative style. I write for readers who enjoy well-written, plot-driven stories with strong elements of romance and dramatic action. I want readers to share in the emotional struggles and dilemmas of the characters, whilst appreciating historical contexts where attitudes and beliefs offer both contrasts and resonances with those of today.

When I am not writing, I do voluntary ESOL teaching for a not-for-profit adult education organisation founded by myself and some former colleagues. My hobbies are jogging, allotment gardening, playing the flute, practising yoga and learning German.

      

https://clarehawkins.com