People and physical spaces

Part of the fun in writing several novels about the same family is in showing how different characters react to stressful situations. In my novel about Julia Maitland, she was very much the typical well behaved eldest sister, and much more “law abiding” than her lively middle sister Sophie.

You will not expect any prizes for guessing which of the two novels I enjoyed writing most!

I have often thought that, in P&P, Lydia behaved more like a second sister much of the time. Jane Austen was, of course, a “second sister” herself.

But I suppose that one can take all these stereotypes too far, although sometimes it is useful to have an actor or friend in mind when writing about a particular character

Similarly, having a room or building in mind can be very useful. In “Sophie’s Salvation”, I describe the ballroom in Harford Castle, and say that it was a copy of the Upper Rooms in Bath. If you have been there, you will know why – see http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bath-...