A Tapestry of Two Worlds follows a young boy growing up in 19th-century Lancashire and his family’s transition to life during the Industrial Revolution. Where did the idea for this book come from?

A Tapestry of Two Worlds tells a story based on the life of my Great-grandfather. Using the known facts of his life blended with social history, I imagine dialogue, reactions to those events, and interaction with other characters, to build the character arc. This story breaks his world into two distinct aspects; his life in Northern England compared to the last half of his life in India.

How much and what type of research went into planning and writing this novel?

I begin my stories with a timeline of factual events for my protagonist and key relationships in their lives. Layered in, I research the social history of the places during those times. Extensive research happens before and during the process of crafting the manuscript. I discovered my protagonist on a ship’s passage notice in the China and London Telegram, a paper used by the P&O Shipping line to share news from the colonies. Another great find came from a letter posted on a blog site, detailing a similar journey around the same time. As it turns out, this person travelled on the same ship my character did.

What draws you to the historical fiction genre?

We have such a rich world of stories in our history. Exploring the lives from the past can teach us about resilience, courage, and inventiveness. I love writing in this genre. Recently, I’ve explored other forms of writing from poetry to flash fiction, but still find myself inspired by historical fiction.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

Due in 2026! Story Synopsis:

In 1932, at the age of 47, Victor Veevers, left his Indian birthplace, Bombay, to settle his family in London, England. Born in 1885 to a British father and a mother of Portuguese and Indian descent, he lived during a period of growing unrest in India and sought economic security as well as protection from the mounting resentment his family faced in Bombay.

Vic’s skills as a photographer and cine-recorder, along with his local knowledge of India, earned him a spot on the British Gaumont Studios production team hired to film the 1933 Lady Houston Mount Everest Expedition. The daring adventure would test both aviation and photographic technology by attempting to take aerial images of one of the last frontiers of the world, Mount Everest. The story arc follows the production unit as they prepare and film the events, culminating in the Academy Award for short film in 1936.

Within a year of leaving the birthplace that rejected him and his family, Victor finds himself back in India. The story reveals challenges and triumphs on his path of acceptance as Victor explores the dual perspectives of his British and Indian heritage.

It may also include memoir pieces; the discovery of my heritage, and the mixed-race heritage influenced future generations.

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