Hi Katy, I am presently writing a children’s novel with an historical background – how did you go about researching for your story and how indepth did you go? I’m ordering Bloodline from Amazon and looking forward to reading it. Regards, Jane W, West Yorks

Hi Jane
Thanks so much for your question, and for ordering Bloodline.

I always look for source material which will really give me a flavour of the sights, sounds and smells of the period – what were people wearing and eating etc. It is also important to have an awareness of what was going on politically and culturally. The hard thing is knowing what to leave out! You don't want the research to take over from the story. It's a balancing act.

I studied Anglo-Saxon archaeology at university, so had a strong feeling for Britain at that time before I began Bloodline. On the other hand, for Bloodline Rising and the book I am writing now, I had to begin from scratch. Beware of the internet – you can't always trust the accuracy of articles/information found online, but it is a useful place to hunt for bibliographies which can lead you to interesting and useful books. Local libraries are also a good place to start. I hope this is helpful, and all the best of luck with your research, and your writing!