A Goodreads user asked F.G. Cottam:

have you ever been a boxer or seriously into sports? was university always in your life plan or did you do something else before? The House of Lost Souls is one of my favorite books. so well thought-out and developed.. it reminds me of O.Onions, The Beckoning Fair One.

F.G. Cottam Hi Nancy, yes, I boxed at school and at university and afterwards first in Birmingham and then in London. I used to train at the Fitzroy Lodge gym under the railway arches on Hercules Road in Lambeth (as does Paul Seaton in THOLS). I still enjoy skipping and sessions on the heavy bag, though running is more inspirational for plotting stories. I always wanted to go to university because no one from my family had ever done it before. I'll have to check out The Beckoning Fair One...

flag