I’m delighted that Broken Madonna has had its first radio & podcast outing on Radio Reverb/Brighton Book Club with knowledgeable literary host Anna Burtt.
It’s a historical fiction special, and we talked about the inspiration and research behind Broken Madonna in a lovely, warm conversation which spans the psyche of post-war Italy, strong women, the beauty of the Apennine Mountains and ordinary lives changed by politics, societal expectations and religion.
I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed sharing stories of my Italian family background and the themes of empowerment of women and female mystics. Remembering moments and places of inspiration, such as a beautiful monastery garden in Italy which prompted the orphanage garden where wounded and traumatised soldier Giulio finds solace, put me right back into the pleasure of creating and bringing to life a compelling story and cast of characters.
What made listening even more interesting, was to share the billing with fellow authors who also tell fine stories. Jacquie Bloese discussed The Secret Photographs, a great novel about the women behind erotic photographs in Victorian Brighton. Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell feature as crime solvers in Ciar Byrne’s A Deadly Discovery, which draws on her fascination with the sisters.
Listen now for more about visions, Victoriana and Virginia!
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