In Conversation ... with Belinda Lyons-Lee

  

In Conversation with 

Belinda Lyons-Lee

Belinda is speaking about her debut novel at the Belmont Library on Thursday 29th April.

BOOK HERE

Tell us about your most recent publication. 

Haunted by the French Revolution, Marie Tussaud has locked herself away in her shop with the death masks she was forced to make to avoid the guillotine. Philidor, a famous magician, offers her the chance to accompany him to London to assist in creating a wax automaton that will bring them both money and success.

Following a disastrous performance on their opening night in which the wax on their prized spectacle melts, the eccentric Duke, William Cavendish, invites them to his rambling estate, Welbeck, where he suggests they take up residence, use his underground ballroom for a new show and in return create a private commission for him: a wax automaton in the likeness of Elanor, a beautiful girl who mysteriously disappeared from the estate when he was a child.

‘Tussaud’ is published by Transit Lounge.

‘Tussaud’ is available from any good bookstore including BOOKTOPIA as well as an audio book from any audio platform. 

How much research goes into your writing?

I’ve been fascinated with the 19th century for a very long time and so have built up my own library of primary and secondary sources from this period. In specifically writing ‘Tussaud’, I watched documentaries, sourced newspapers from the time, read ‘Madame Tussaud’s Memoirs and Reminiscences of France’, studied historical accounts of her life, the French Revolution, learned about the magicians of the 19th century, used Google maps to stalk buildings, streets and shops, read accounts of servants and visitors from Welbeck Abbey, studied language use from the period, researched the technicalities of the wax figures and automaton construction process….the list goes on!

What is the hardest aspect of being a writer?

I’d suggest that most authors pull on their own experiences to some degree, to ‘put flesh’ on their characters so that they’re not simply metaphorical cardboard cut outs. In writing about Marie, and each of the people in ‘Tussaud’, I did the same. At times this can be difficult and even painful, but as a writer, I think a personal willingness to explore and go to some of these inner places, enriches the work.

Other than writing, what else do you love?

I’ve been teaching English in secondary schools for nearly 20 years now, which I love. I teach part time and try to balance this with my writing and my family.

Top tip/s for writers?

I’ve had this quote by Neil Gaiman as my screen saver for about 7 years, which speaks to how highly I rate this advice! ‘Start telling the stories only you can tell. Because there will always be better writers than you and there will always be smarter writers than you. There will always be people who are much better at doing this-or doing that- but you are the only you.’

Do you have a favourite characters from your stories? Spill the beans and tell us about them.

Marie Tussaud is one of my favourite people from history as well as one of my favourite characters. Marie was sentenced to be executed as she was accused of being a royalist in the French Revolution because she had wax figures of royalty in her windows, she then had her own head shaved in readiness to meet the guillotine. Fortunately, she was given a reprieve at the last moment on the condition that she make wax death masks of notable people executed for the revolutionaries to use as trophies. 

Marie Tussaud not only survived this but used these experiences to build a thriving business, even after her partnership with a somewhat dubious real-life stage magician all went horribly wrong. This partnership intrigued me and so I followed the trail further and read about how this magician, Philidor had worked with Marie for some time in England putting on shows. When I read that Marie had a premises in Baker Street, I then came across a controversy that had happened in the same building called the Baker Street Bazaar. A woman, Mrs Druce, claimed that the tenant who operated the Bazaar was actually the 5th Duke of Portland, William Cavendish who was living a dual identity for his own advantage. This all came together for me in my mind and the story of ‘Tussaud’ was born.

Do you have any writing rituals you can share? 

I drink A LOT of green tea while writing in cafes.

How can we learn more about you? 

    

   

  

Thank you for joining In Conversation this week. Remember to always 

Dream Big ... Read Often.