A little while ago I had the pleasure of having lunch with author Lorna Hunting which I wrote about in a post you’ll find here. Consequently, I am delighted that Lorna agreed to stay in with me and chat about one of her books today.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Lorna Hunting

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Lorna and thank you for staying in with me.  Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I have brought New Beginnings on Vancouver Island which is book one of the Colville trilogy and my debut novel. 

You’re a Lincolnshire author. Why Vancouver for your debut?

It is historical fiction based on fact. My great grandparents, John and Rhoda Malpass travelled around The Horn to Canada in 1854 to open up the coal mines for The Hudson’s Bay Company. 

Crikey. That must have taken some courage! Is New Beginnings on Vancouver Island about John and Rhoda then?

I’ve taken the bare bones of their journey and created fictionalised characters and events. There was much deprivation and hardship during the journey, but all the real people – true pioneers – who emigrated saw out their 5-year contracts and settled in Canada. I am one of their descendants through my Canadian mother. Colville is now known as Nanaimo and as a personal aside, I understand I took my very first steps there, although I don’t remember it!

It must have been fascinating to delve into family history as part of your research. How has New Beginnings on Vancouver Island been received by readers?

Looking through the reviews, it seems my readers have enjoyed learning about pioneer life in the mid-19th century and appreciate the research I put into my books. As a historian, (I lectured on Chinese history) I do like my settings to be as historically accurate as possible. I was lucky enough to be able to read a relative’s diary of the original journey and to source other familial papers deposited in the British Columbia archives in Canada.

That all sounds as if there’s more than enough for one novel. You say New Beginnings on Vancouver Island is the first of a trilogy…

There are two more stories in the Colville trilogy – Called to Vancouver Island and Farewell to Vancouver Island. I am currently writing book 4 of my Shackleton saga books which are set in Whitehaven in Cumbria.

You sound incredibly busy. What motivates you to write?

My aim is to tell a good story with interesting characters that will entertain my readers with action, romance, tragedy, and joy. One of my Canadian reviewers has written “She spins a good tale in a superbly intriguing style” and I’m happy with that. 

I imagine you are. How brilliant!

What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

I have brought the Staffordshire figures that John and Rhoda Malpass, my 3 x great grandparents took with them when they left England in 1854. These figures have travelled round The Horn in winter and miraculously been passed down through the generations from log cabin in Colville to Vancouver town house, and then on to live with me in Stamford.

That’s just wonderful. I wonder why John and Rhoda chose to take something so fragile?

My guess is that my forebears wanted to take a piece of England with them. Something to remind them of home. A home they’d left forever. I like to think that because they are still in one piece that all the generations that followed on knew they were special and have looked after them with care. It’s quite a responsibility, but one I’m more than happy to take on and hopefully to pass on to the next generation.

I think it’s wonderful that you have such an important family artefact Lorna. You have really whetted my appetite for your books. Thank you so much for staying in with me to chat about New Beginnings on Vancouver Island. It sounds fabulous and I’ll just give readers a few more details:

New Beginnings on Vancouver Island

The year is 1854 and Stag Liddell, a young collier from Whitehaven, signs up to work in Vancouver Island’s new coal mines. Whilst waiting for his ship to Canada, he meets ambitious school teacher Kate McAvoy who is also making the trip.

As the ship nears its destination, Stag and Kate’s relationship begins to blossom, but damning information comes to light and a pact made years before comes into play.

Will their budding romance survive these devastating revelations? And will they both achieve their dreams in this new land?

New Beginnings on Vancouver Island is available for purchase here.

About Lorna Hunting

Lorna Hunting was born and brought up in north Lincolnshire and now lives in Stamford. She writes Historical Fiction set in the mid-19th century. Her aim is to write stories about interesting fictional characters set in historically accurate settings.  

After teaching the piano and raising a family, Lorna exhibited and lectured on antique Chinese textiles in the UK and abroad. Following on from this she taught Chinese history at the School of Oriental and African Studies [SOAS] in London, and at Bristol and Sheffield universities. 

Lorna is a member of the Leicester chapter of the RNA – Romantic Novelists’ Association -, The Society of Authors, and the Retford Authors’ Group.

Now Lorna writes full-time in what she calls the Command Centre in what used to be her upstairs spare bedroom. 

For further information, visit Lorna’s website where she writes occasional blogs and publicises her books. You’ll also find Lorna on X @lornahunting, Facebook and Instagram.