1. When did you know that you wanted to be an author?
Not until my forties. I enjoyed writing short stories, children’s stories and long newsy letters, but it wasn’t until then that I started writing a novel and thoughts of publication would creep into my daydreams.
2. What inspired you to write Magnolia House?
It was something quite uninspiring actually! I was walking back to my hotel after a day at The London Book Fair and passed a terrace of three-storey Georgian properties. They were all similar but one stood out from the rest because it had a huge magnolia tree full of fat, pink blossoms. I idly wondered who lived there, what they did for a living, what their demons were… and my story began to develop.
3. If you could sell this book in a couple of sentences, what would they be?
Behind millions of front doors where a perceived glow of perfection shines, live individuals or families struggling with private battles. Magnolia House is one such place.
4. Poor mental health plays a big part in Magnolia House. Can you tell us a little about that?
My protagonist, Rowan, must confront a devastating change to her life in the opening chapters of Magnolia House, while her sister-in-law, Libby, suffers from depression that manifests in the form of an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
I think when handled with care, a character with mental illness can not only enliven a storyline but also open readers’ eyes to new experiences and perspectives. As a writer, introducing a character with mental health problems is a huge responsibility and I felt an obligation to avoid making caricatures of my characters, and most importantly I had to get the facts correct.
Stories with characters suffering with mental illness work best when they are written around a person and their relationships, rather than writing about the illness itself. It doesn’t take pages of obsessive thoughts to deliver the message of an altered mental state. Mental illness can be debilitating but it doesn’t define a person.
What are your three favourite reads of 2024?
The Dream Home by T.M. Logan
The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.
What are you working on now?
I’m writing my fifth novel that has a working title of The Mountains Wept. Here’s a paragraph to give you a taste of what’s to come.
With the backdrop of the beautiful Pyrenees of southern France and the scent of pine resin drifting in through open casements, it would be easy to relax into a state of wellbeing. But this was 1943 and the enemy had recently crossed the demarcation line and entered the free zone. But the Germans weren’t the only danger. Troops of French men, miliciens, had been created by the Vichy regime to help fight against the Resistance. There was only one way to escape – across the treacherous peaks. So beneath the dazzling landscape of white and gold mountains, and inside the shuttered windows of the limestone houses of Fleurine’s inhabitants, there were secrets, collaborators and corruption. But of course, no one can see furtive motives, so it was necessary to choose friends wisely and learn to keep thoughts unspoken.
7. Ooh, I love that. Now, who would you say is your biggest inspiration?
My daughter, Rosanna, is a great inspiration to me. She has battled some negativity in life and came through even stronger. She is the kindest, funniest, most generous and patient person I know. Rose is an amazing mother to twin girls, is a loyal friend and has strived to overcome obstacles so she can now do the job that she’s always wanted to do. She's a police sergeant and has won awards for her work.
Brave women also inspire me. Sophie Scholl was a German student and member of the anti-fascist White Rose Movement. At only twenty-two she was executed for her anti-Nazi beliefs and taught us that no matter how high the stakes, we must fight for the oppressed and what we believe in.
Thank you for your interview. Having read your books, I'm eagerly awaiting The Mountains Wept.
Thank you for your interesting questions, Monica. Good luck with your future book blogs and interviews. My books can be found at www.angelabarton.net
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