Running before the Wind

by Catherine Czerkawska

Four-part drama written for radio by Scottish-based author and playwright Catherine Czerkawska

Audiobook

Published January 29, 2018

About the author

I’m a novelist, historian and experienced professional playwright, living and working in Scotland.

I write warm, intelligent and grown-up stories - some historical, some contemporary and some a mixture of both. I have more than 100 hours of BBC radio drama to my name as well as many professional theatre productions.

My fiction and non-fiction was previously published by Saraband, now by Dyrock Publishing, and some of my plays by Nick Hern Books.

My fiction includes The Physic Garden, a Scottish historical novel about an early nineteenth century gardener, his love for weaver's daughter Jenny and his friendship with botanist Dr Thomas Brown. Set in Glasgow, this is a moving and engrossing story of friendship and betrayal.

The Jewel, published in May 2016 is a luscious historical novel, bringing to glorious life the dramatic years of Jean Armour and Robert Burns's courtship and their tempestuous, married life against a background simmering with political intrigue and turmoil. For Jean is a selection of poems, songs and letters written by the poet with Jean Armour in mind

The Curiosity Cabinet is set on the small fictional inner Hebridean island of Garve, and involves parallel stories, three hundred years apart. Henrietta Dalrymple is kidnapped and held on Garve by the fearsome laird, Manus McNeill, while in the present day, Alys returns to the island where she spent childhood holidays, and renews an old friendship. While Henrietta must decide who she can trust, Alys must earn the trust of the man she loves. But for both women, the tug of motherhood will finally influence their decisions.

The Posy Ring set on the same small fictional Hebridean island as the Curiosity Cabinet, is (almost) a sequel to that novel, now published by Dyrock Publishing.

My books, fiction and non-fiction, are available in paperback and as eBooks on Amazon.

I’ve held Creative Writing fellowships and residencies and spent four years as Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at the University of the West of Scotland. I enjoy giving readings and talks about all aspects of my work and love chatting to my readers so please don't be shy about contacting me.

I also collect and deal in antiques, mainly textiles, in my spare time - quite often they find their way into my fiction.

Reviews

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09pypmz

Casting Off: When Alison fell in love with an old wooden yacht called the Isabella, she didn't realise she was looking at the last relic of a family history. Then she finds that the lady for whom the boat was named is still alive...

Hoisting the Sail: Alison has got to know Isabella - her yacht's namesake - and has agreed to take the old lady down to see the vessel at the marina.

Still Waters: The Lynns are now established as a major force in world yacht design. After David's death James runs the firm. He and Hetty have married and their daughter, Isabella, has an important appointment at the yard in the near future...

Weathering the Storm: Like her namesake yacht, Isabella still survives - the last of the Lynns. But without help Alison can't pay for the work needed on the yacht Isabella. Having learned about the family, she hates the possibility of losing her Lynn yacht...

Catherine Czerkawska's 4-part family saga of yacht designers on the River Clyde.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
Episode 1 of 4
When Alison fell in love with an old wooden yacht called the Isabella, she didn't realise she was looking at the last relic of a family history.
Then she finds that the lady for whom the boat was named is still alive...

Episode 2 of 4
Alison has got to know Isabella - her yacht's namesake - and has agreed to take the old lady down to see the vessel at the marina.
The history of the yacht is important, but more so is that of the family - and Isabella is the sole repository of that story...

Episode 3 of 4
The Lynns are now established as a major force in world yacht design. After David's death James runs the firm. He and Hetty have married and their daughter, Isabella, has an important appointment at the yard in the near future...

Episode 4 of 4
Like her namesake yacht, Isabella still survives - the last of the Lynns. But without help Alison can't pay for the work needed on the yacht Isabella.
Having learned about the family, she hates the possibility of losing her Lynn yacht...

Catherine Czerkawska's 4-part family saga of yacht designers on the River Clyde.

Starring Sybil Wintrope as Isabella, Louise Beattie as Alison, Alan Sharpe as Adam, Alec Heggie as David, Sheila Donald as Annie, Anne Downie as Sadie, Alec Monteath as Malcolm, Irene MacDougall as Emily, William Armour as the Archivist, Susan Maguire as the Nurse, Isabel Wright as Young Hetty and James MacPherson as James.

Director: Hamish Wilson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2006.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09pypmz

4* The Curiosity Cabinet
CR Running before the Wind