Frank Settineri asked Amanda Larkman:

I just read Bookbinder and was very impressed with it, although I was rather confused at the beginning. Just like Liz and Amber, my heart was racing quite often as the story developed. How did you decide on making a bookbinder one of the main characters? Do you have a background in that profession? I'm glad I found your novel.

Amanda Larkman Thank you for reading and your question! Liz was a character who jumped into my head fully formed as a damaged person with tremendous artistic and creative talent. She’d let her obsession overwhelm her to such an extent she’d lost the ability to see what she could achieve. Just before I wrote the book I got a bit obsessed myself with a shop window near me of a bookbinder. His window was completely chaotic and I asked him if I could come in and look around. I loved examining the tools and machines he had there along with the leather and paper (and dust!). I kept thinking ‘Liz would hate this, she’d reorganise it straightaway and clear out the clutter’. I think that’s when her job as a bookbinder solidified. I did quite a lot of research into how books were made and how books can be re-covered - which was most enjoyable. I called the book The Bookbinder because really it’s Liz’s story. So, no background in bookbinding just a keen, amateur interest!

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