Sue Lawson and I started our writing careers at roughly the same time, and it seems that over the last dozen or so years our paths keep on crossing, and we have become buddies as well as colleagues. So it is my great pleasure to welcome her to my blog today where she will be discussing her latest release, Pan's Whisper, and the things that influenced her in the writing of this poignant novel.
Over to Sue.
Sue, thank you so much for inviting me to visit your blog to
chat about
Pan’s Whisper.
I thought it would be interesting to talk about influences,
as I’ve been asked and know most writers are asked how much of our work is
autobiographical.
I guess for me the simple answer is not much is directly
from my life – though I did have a pet chook when I was about 12 (Tessa), I grew up on a wool property (After) and my grandfather did die
aboard the Montevideo Maru (Finding
Darcy). Rather than being stories about me or my life, my books are
influenced by my experiences and the questions that these raise.
Pan’s Whisper was
sparked by a conversation with my younger sister about an event from our
childhood, which both of us remembered differently – she recalled it with
fondness, while I remember it was an uncomfortable experience. Strange thing is
I can’t remember the details of the discussion now, just the question it sparked
– why do two people have such different memories of the same event?
Once I start writing it’s inevitable that important
influences in my life slip into a story. In
Pan’s Whisper two of my great loves
are featured – Shakespeare and Smocker (pronounced Smocker as is soccer).
From the moment our English teacher, Mr Samuel, started
reading Romeo and Juliet to our class, Shakespeare’s language, humour, tragedy
and unforgettable characters had me hooked. So that influence is obvious. But
what about Smocker?
One of my early memories as a child was an ABC radio program
we used to listen to on Saturday morning, called I Smocker. (Before you right me off as ANCIENT – we did have TV, but
ABC radio ruled our home.) Smocker, written by Eugene Lumber, was the story of a
British Blue cat who lived with Patrick the Irish terrier next door to Nasty
Neighbour Norton. It was hilarious! I can remember my complete joy when I
received the two books, I Smocker and Smocker Takes Off for Christmas.
 |
| Sue's fat ginger tom, Smocker |
So great was my love for Smocker that I named my first pet,
a HUGE ginger tom, after him. My Smocker
was every bit as unique as Eugene Lumber’s Smocker, though not quite as
mischievous. (Or well bred – he was a moggy!)
When I was writing
Pan’s Whisper, I wanted somewhere for Pan
to keep her treasures and it had to be something that also gave her comfort. A
tin or box would be too hard and cold. While trawling the internet, I stumbled
upon a picture of a pyjama holder from the 80s and knew I was onto something.
The moment I decided the holder had to be a cat, I knew its name was Smocker.
 |
| Sue's rabbit pyjama holder she found on Etsy that sparked the idea |
Thanks so much for having me Sue.
Hope to see you there!
All the best for the success of Pan's Whisper, Sue.
"Frankie stared as usual at the painting hanging beside Ma's bed. It was dark and a little menacing and not at all the kind of picture Frankie would want to look at as he went to sleep, but Ma was devoted to it. A ghostly woman with long yellow hair stood, waiting, beside a four-poster bed hung with draperies. The brushwork was so fine you could make out each strand of the woman's hair and the strain on her knuckles." 
Pan’s Whisper was
sparked by a conversation with my younger sister about an event from our
childhood, which both of us remembered differently – she recalled it with
fondness, while I remember it was an uncomfortable experience. Strange thing is
I can’t remember the details of the discussion now, just the question it sparked
– why do two people have such different memories of the same event? 
