Becky
asked
Bruce Beckham:
Bruce, Why did you decide to write your stories around the Lake District area? Not that I don't like it, mind you, I love it, please keep doing it, I was just wondering if there was a reason behind it.
Bruce Beckham
Hi Becky - believe it or not I've had to rack my brains to answer this question. I wrote the first novel long before the others (never imagining there would be a series) - now there are 13 books and I just take the Lakes for granted.
On reflection, I would say Skelgill came before the location. I had a fairly clear idea of his character traits and it just seemed to me he would be a person hewn from the northern fells.
The next step was to choose somewhere I knew well and could write about with confidence. Had I planned a series, I might have had second thoughts about the 'sleepy old' Lake District (but I would have been wrong).
Cumbria is extraordinarily beautiful, hugely popular with visitors, and yet is a place of extremes. It is home to the ancient Herdwick sheep, introduced by Viking settlers, and to Europe's largest nuclear reprocessing plant. It contains both some of the nation's most valuable country estates, and its most deprived neighbourhoods. It is isolated, yet adjacent to Britain's major north-south transport artery. There never seems to be a shortage of trouble, home grown and of the invasive variety, for Skelgill to get his teeth into!
Thanks for your question and your kind comments. Bruce.
On reflection, I would say Skelgill came before the location. I had a fairly clear idea of his character traits and it just seemed to me he would be a person hewn from the northern fells.
The next step was to choose somewhere I knew well and could write about with confidence. Had I planned a series, I might have had second thoughts about the 'sleepy old' Lake District (but I would have been wrong).
Cumbria is extraordinarily beautiful, hugely popular with visitors, and yet is a place of extremes. It is home to the ancient Herdwick sheep, introduced by Viking settlers, and to Europe's largest nuclear reprocessing plant. It contains both some of the nation's most valuable country estates, and its most deprived neighbourhoods. It is isolated, yet adjacent to Britain's major north-south transport artery. There never seems to be a shortage of trouble, home grown and of the invasive variety, for Skelgill to get his teeth into!
Thanks for your question and your kind comments. Bruce.
More Answered Questions
Joanna
asked
Bruce Beckham:
Are you as addicted to fishing and fellwalking as Skelgill? Or is his knowledge of and passion for both from picking the brains of those who are? At any rate, many generations of my mother's paternal ancestors were from Clifton, Bolton and Penrith, so I'd always had the impression all of Cumbria was a vast wasteland. Thank you sooo much for changing that perception forever!
Ruth
asked
Bruce Beckham:
I like Betty's comment about a series on PBS, but what about a movie? Any ideas on who would make a good Skelgill? Jones? Leyton? Smart? My father was an angler and was almost as quirky as your character. Really brings back so many memories of fishing with him - which was the best way to connect. Has also made me appreciate the beauty of that area. Absolutely love your books.
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