The course of true love never did run smooth, but lighthearted new novel I Know You perhaps takes this adage to its extreme.
Penned by novelist Russell Govan, it is a captivating and unique time-travel romance revolving around a young woman who keeps getting catapulted back into the recent past. But whatever time, or location, she finds herself in, the one constant is Walter, a man she first meets in the present day when he is elderly and suffering from dementia. Seemingly travelling through his timeline, Eilidh slowly comes to know, and fall in love with, Walter. But how can these two lovers from different ages ever hope to be together?
The unique dilemma that young protagonist Eilidh faces in the name of love is pure dramatic dynamite, and to mark the publication of I Know You, we caught up with Russell to find out more.
Q. I Know You is distinguished by the strength and realism of its central characters. Which character did you sympathise with the most, and why?
A. Wow, that’s a question I’ve never considered. The obvious answer would be Walter because we’re both male and, although he’s older than me, I’m closer to him in age. But I actually feel more empathy for Eilidh. The crux of the story involves her having to make an incredibly difficult decision that would be challenging for anyone. I imagine most readers would sympathise with someone in that situation – I know I do.
Q. What interested you in exploring a time-travelling romantic relationship?
A. What intrigued me was whether I’d be able to weave a story about two people whose world views were shaped by the different times they’d grown up in and keep it sufficiently credible and light-hearted for readers to buy into.
Q. What challenges did writing a time-travel narrative present to you?
A. More than I anticipated when I was starting out! There are some chapters of the book that are set in particular locations and at specific points in the past, and I was keen that those parts should be as historically accurate as possible. Fortunately, there’s lots of stuff available online, which makes research relatively easy. Less fortunately, it wasn’t unusual to find different sources that conflicted with each other. So, I’d say that presenting historical contexts as authentically as possible was the most significant challenge.
Q. What do you hope readers like most about I Know You?
A. I really hope that they will like the characters, particularly the two main characters and how they interact. I’m presuming that anyone willing to read something that involves time travel is happy to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the story for the yarn that it is.
Q. If there was a film version of I Know You, who would you cast for the central roles, and why?
A. If I was limiting myself to Scots then I’d go for Karen Gillan and Sam Heughan. I think Karen could carry off both the sensitive and sassy side of Eilidh, and she’s beautiful. Sam just looks like a more muscular version of how I imagined Walter. Funnily enough, I wrote to each of them separately to see if they would be willing to provide a blurb for the book. I never heard back from either, but I don’t bear grudges! If I looked outside Scotland I’d go for Michael Fassbender and Catriona Balfe for no better reason than they are both accomplished actors and I think they’d look good together.
Exclusive Extract From I Know You
With his third novel, author Russell Govan has confidently stamped his name on the list of Britain’s best storytellers. Here is an exclusive extract from I Know You, describing Eilidh and Walter’s first encounter, to give you a flavour of this compelling and emotive time-travelling romance.
I think he’s telling the truth. The situation’s so ridiculous that he couldn’t be making it up. The other thing I realize is that he’s not frightening. Not at all. He’s a big enough guy, maybe six-two. And despite his age, he’s neither carrying too much weight nor looking as if he’s shrinking the way so many old folks do. If he wanted to overpower me, he probably could, contrary to my initial impression of him.
Easily, in fact. But there’s something about his demeanour that makes me know that’s not the case. He’s got that stance and expression you see on a deer when you stumble across one in the early morning, when it’s eyeing you and preparing to bolt. There’s a vulnerability about him that’s vaguely familiar.
“I know you.”
“What?” He’s wrong-footed me.
“I know you.”
“What do you mean you know me?”
“I know you.”
“How do you know me?”
“I don’t know. I can’t place you. But I do know you.”
I can see the frustration in his face. He believes what he’s saying, even if he’s mistaken. “I’m pretty sure we’ve never met.”
“What’s your name?”
“What’s your name?”
“I asked you first.”
“Aye, and I asked you second.” I look him in the eye and see a glint there.
He smiles gently. A pause. “Wattie ... Walter. Walter Buchanan.” He leans forward and extends his right hand. Mine responds automatically.
“How do you do? I’m Walter Buchanan. Wattie to my friends.” His left hand closes on the back of my right, pressing softly. I glance down and register prominent veins, long fingers, and a wedding band. The handclasp is firm without being oppressive and is over in a couple of heartbeats.
He leans back and looks at me expectantly. His sudden formality has thrown me, and I hesitate. “Eilidh. Eilidh McVicar. Pleased to meet you.”
There’s something gnawing at the back of my mind, a feeling that there’s something familiar about this guy. There’s something that I know I should recognize.
“Pleased to meet you too, Eilidh McVicar. I’m sorry we kind of got off on the wrong foot.”
“Aye, well, these things happen.” I’m surprised at myself—and at how quickly the mood is changing. From war footing to detente in moments, I fire him a half-smile.
“Aye, they do.” Beaming. The thaw is virtually complete. “So come on then. How is it I know you?”
“I’ve already said: I don’t think you do.” His persistence should be making me cross—back of the queue when patience was being given out, Mum always says—but I’m keen to set him right without being confrontational.
He’s looking straight into my eyes. You know when you’re looking for something for so long that you half forget what it is? Well, he’s looking at me a bit like that. And long enough for it to just start feeling uncomfortable, although he seems oblivious. The piercing alarm chuckle of a gull swooping aggressively overhead causes us both to look up instinctively. When I look back at him, he’s turning away from me.
I Know You by Russell Govan is published by Guernica World Editions and is out now on Amazon in paperback and eBook formats, priced at £14.91 and £6.99 respectively. For more information, visit www.russellgovan.com or follow the author on Twitter at @RussellGovan.