‘Return to Mandalay’ is set in Burma, land of scorching heat and monsoons, green paddy fields and golden temples... The story is told from two main perspectives: Lawrence’s and his granddaughter Eva’s. This enables me to tell a story ranging from 1938 to present day, but in fact the story goes back even further – to the time of the final Burmese dynasty.
As a child, Eva was entranced by her grandfather’s stories of his life in Burma, and she senses that his heart still remains there - but he will not tell her why. When Eva’s job as an antique dealer requires her to go to Mandalay, Lawrence breaks his silence and asks her to return a mysterious artefact he has in his possession – a decoratively carved wooden chinthe – to its rightful owner. But when Eva arrives in Burma, her mission proves dangerously complicated and the treasure she is guarding becomes the centre of a conspiracy dating from the final Burmese dynasty. Unsure who she can trust, Eva is caught between love, loyalty and integrity, but she is determined to find the truth about her grandfather’s past, her own family origins, and the red-eyed chinthe itself – enigmatic symbol of the riches of Mandalay.
Please tell us about the character of Eva.
Eva is very creative and has always loved old furniture and the stories it has to tell. So it is not surprising that she makes antique restoration her career following a degree in restoration and the decorative arts. She has been heavily influenced in this by the grandfather she adores and by his stories about the timber industry in Burma. Eva has suffered after the death of her father when she was a young girl, not least because her mother's grief made it hard for Eva to reach out to her. This eventually led to them becoming estranged when Eva's mother married and moved to Copenhagen. Eva is intelligent and independent, but her past has made her vulnerable. She also shows her bravery in Burma and her determination to do what her grandfather asks, and she remains loyal, even when circumstances suggest that people are not always what they seem. At heart though, Eva is a romantic!
What made you want to explore the relationship between granddaughter and grandfather?
I think that grandparents can be very important and influential on a child's life. Sometimes children can have a closer relationship with a grandparent than they can with a parent - perhaps because they are 'one removed' and often have more time to spend with a child and arguably more wisdom to impart. Most of us are fascinated by our ancestors - the further back the better. Their lives were so different from our own. Looking at it from the other perspective, for a grandparent like Lawrence there is less pressure on him than there was when bringing up his own daughter. He is more relaxed, he is no longer working, there are fewer emotional restraints. He is able to have a closeness with Eva that he was not able to have with his daughter Rosemary. This can be poignant and fulfilling for both grandfather and granddaughter. By the time the story begins, Lawrence is nearing the end of his life, so their roles are already reversed and Eva feels that she wants to look after him. It was a very interesting relationship to explore.
Did you travel to Mandalay for the book?
Yes, nothing replaces this for capturing the flavour of a location. And my husband has family over there. The character of Lawrence (as regards his work and personal life in Burma) was very loosely based on my husband's father. We went over there for 3 weeks and spent time in Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan. It was a fascinating experience.
You have been praised for being a page turner so how have you developed this addictive quality to your writing?
Hmm, this is probably for someone else to say! I try to end each chapter with a question or two being posed that the reader will hopefully want an answer to and therefore read on. And I write in different viewpoints and time zones so the reader may have to wait even longer for than answer! This may be frustrating at times but I hope that it develops the page turning quality that you refer to!
Why is your book a great summer read?
It is kind of people to describe it this way. I suppose it would be because the book features an 'exotic' location and because it is an escapist read with a good dollop of heady romance. Just what we want in the summer!! But I hope that the book is also historically interesting and thought-provoking. It is intended to be an intelligent read as well as a summer one!
What is next for you?
I am currently writing a book with the working title 'The Saffron Trail'. This is set in Morocco and West Dorset. It features two families and a trail as labrynthine as the alleyways of the medina in Marrakech!