Continuing my look at authors and the inspiration behind their books – this week I was lucky enough to talk to Nicola Slade about her new book. There’s a touch of the 
paranormal at work here and along with a historical mystery, I had to get involved and ask more about the background.
Tell us the basic premise of your novel?
Freya Gibson, PA to Patrick Underwood, a best-selling novelist, inherits an old, run-down house from an unknown elderly relative. She falls in love with the house but waiting for her is an enigmatic letter from Violet, the elderly cousin, telling her that she must ‘restore the balance’ of the house, beginning by reciting a Latin verse. Freya does so, while wondering whether it’s a prayer or a spell.
She learns that Ladywell was known as a place of healing and the house begins to work its magic on her as she discovers family secrets that shake her foundations.
Woven into Freya’s contemporary story are echoes of the family through the ages and although the reader learns why things happened as they did in the past, Freya is unaware of the house’s history.
What or who inspired you to become a writer?
My mother and grandmother were great readers and meals were always quiet as we all ate and read at the same time! I realised when I was very young that books came out of people’s heads and knew that was what I wanted to do.
Are your locations based on a real place? and do the locations hold any real life significance to you?
In this book my fictitious town of Ramalley is based on Romsey, in Hampshire, a bustling market town between Winchester and Southampton and about five miles from where I live, so it’s a place I visit frequently. When I was small I used to visit an aunt who lived not far from the town and I’ve always loved it so I was delighted when we moved to Hampshire back in the 80s.
Did it take a lot of research for your locations and the historical aspect of the story line?
I’m passionate about history so I mostly enlarged on historical events that fascinate me and I had a lot of fun reading up on them. The Lady’s Well – part of the history of the house – was inspired by the font at Mottisfont Abbey, a National Trust property not far away and I had a couple of interesting day trips to check out the Chalice Well at Glastonbury and the Wishing Well at Upwey in Dorset. I blogged about it here .
There’s a supernatural feel to the story, do you believe in ghosts?
I’d like to! But I’m not sure though I do think some places have a distinct atmosphere. It’s not a spoiler to say that some people can smell flowers in The House at Ladywell even where there’s not a petal in the place!
The House at Ladywell has legends about hares all through the book – partly because, like so many people, I find hares magical.
What is your favourite genre to read and to write?
I love historical mysteries and have written a cosy mystery series, The Charlotte Richmond Mysteries, set in the 1850s. I don’t like to read anything too gritty or gory and I do like a happy ending!
What are you working on next?
I’ve written the first draft of a cosy mystery set in 1918, actually in the same fictitious town of Ramalley as The House at Ladywell and I’m about to start on the serious revisions.
‘Three sisters struggle to keep the home fires burning but are hampered by wartime shortages, lack of money, demanding lodgers and a difficult mother. As though this isn’t enough, there’s a rumour that their late, unlamented father may not be dead after all and their lives are further inconvenienced by murder!’
Buy your copy of The House at Ladywell here
Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/nicolasladeuk/
Twitter @nicolasladeuk
Website www.nicolaslade.com
Blog www.nicolaslade.wordpress.com
Email Nicola.slade@virgin.net
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/nicola8703/the-house-at-ladywell/
Anne-Marie Ormsby 