Ellie’s Comments (group member since Aug 20, 2012)

Ellie’s comments from the Ask Ellie Stevenson group.

Re. Q&A Session

Thanks, Margaret, for some great questions (!), and Roz, for your thought-provoking comment. I'll look forward to contributing to your Q&A sessions!

Not in a similar vein, no. Some of the themes will be similar: ghosts, loss and a partly historical setting, but the protagonist(s) will be quite different.

I'm very enthusiastic about the next novel - I love writing and there's never enough time for it.

Initial drafts (whether novel or short story) are very enjoyable - I love developing the characters and the story line without being too constrained at this stage by language, rhythm and flow. The hard work comes later!

Hi Roz

I do agree that the supernatural makes great stories - it's a wealth of material - but I also think it's more than that.

Some people say that when we tap into things we don't know, it's because we're accessing the collective unconscious, a huge storehouse of everyone's experience. That may or may not be true, I don't know, but it seems to make sense - how often do we 'know' something we have no experience of.

I do believe in reincarnation (although I don't always want to!) - and I think that's partly because (apart from the evidence) I think life is a journey, the purpose of which is to learn and grow, and you can't learn everything in one lifetime.

In my model, people progress as they go along, becoming more self-aware and therefore aware of how their actions impact on others (including animals and the planet) - this is a huge work and, given that we can't live for hundreds of years yet, requires reincarnation.

Some people would argue reincarnation also gives people the opportunity to experience other perspectives on life, ones we wouldn't necessarily always choose!

Hi Margaret!

This question made me laugh. When I do have sleepless nights, it's usually to do with a practical problem like some impending deadline or paying the bills.

Seriously, though, I did get involved with the characters and story, although not always how I expected. I ended up feeling very sorry for Mad, for example, who is a rather dubious character and makes a lot of mistakes, but has to go through situations and traumas that most of us would find very hard to deal with.

After writing some of the most traumatic scenes I did feel quite drained, and doing the re-rewrites of those was hard. On the other hand, there were scenes that I loved to write (such as the ones under the sea) and writing those gave me a lift.

Margaret wrote: "Have your readers commented on the authenticity and realism that this research would bring to your work?"

A couple did, and I'm very grateful to them!

Also, because I've got a background in history, I'm of the school of thought that believes fiction should be based on fact and the story fits in the gaps in between.

That depends, of course, on what you're writing. If you're writing fantasy or dystopian novels, for example, then sticking to facts might not be so crucial.

But if there's an historical or an obvious contemporary element, then I believe a grounding in facts gives your work more substance. But it's just an opinion!

Margaret wrote: "When did you first become interested in the Titanic, and why?"

Not sure I can answer this, other than to say I've been interested in the ship for a long time and the novel was an opportunity to make something of it.

I think a lot of people are fascinated by Titanic because it was a microcosm of life at the start of the 20th century (the different classes/lifestyles, etc) but also because the personal stories are very moving.

The disaster was the culmination of a series of errors - so many mistakes, so much bad luck - that in many ways it seems inevitable. But what many of us remember (I believe) is the human side - the individuals and what they did.

Titanic didn't change history but it did change individual people's history. And in the end, that's what counts - people trying to do their best.

thank you!

Margaret wrote: "Did you do much research for this novel?"

Yes, loads. It wasn't a hardship, I like research and I chose topics that interested me (obviously) and that made it very enjoyable. The problem was knowing when to stop - with a subject like Titanic it's possible to go on and on...

As well as books and articles I visited a Titanic exhibition and contacted a number of specialists for answers I couldn't find in books. One of them pointed me to an excellent (if extremely detailed) book on Titanic (http://tinyurl.com/bwuf49p) which was very useful. I also have a wonderful map which, along with online plans, has been invaluable in helping me find my way about the ship!

I also did quite a bit of research for the child migration aspect but I had some background knowledge on that already as some of my family were child migrants.

Margaret wrote: "We know of your fascination with the Titanic. Any other shipwrecks of special interest?"

I'm fascinated by all shipwrecks really. I think it's that idea of a lost time and place, preserved but unreachable, yet offering tantalising glimpses of past times. The Mary Celeste is one of my favourites. I like a mystery.

In the novel, I mention two others, the Atlantic and the Empress of Ireland. The Empress of Ireland was almost as much of a tragedy as the Titanic (over 1000 people died) but it hasn't had nearly so much attention. I suspect that's because of the 'glamour' and class division aspects of Titanic and also because the Empress sank later, just before the First World War.

The other ship I mention, the Atlantic, was an earlier disaster (1873) and what caught my eye here was that the ship was very close to land but because the weather was so treacherous, many people died (over 500). Victims were buried in two locations (in Nova Scotia) and at one point, due to coastal erosion, bones of the dead were reappearing.

Good question Margaret!

My family were part of the 'Ten Pound Poms' scheme so I travelled on a ship (to Australia) at an early age. At that time I don't remember having any qualms but the crossing was terrible (through the Bay of Biscay) and even the crew were ill. I've been told (although I don't remember) that one poor woman was flung from one side of the room to another and broke a limb. Certainly things rattled about.

Since then I've been on several boats including an almost equally hair-raising journey back to England, but despite this I like ships and I love the sea. Although I do treat both with a lot of respect...

When I lived in Sark, briefly, going on a boat was a requirement if you didn't want to be stranded on an island 3 miles long x 1.5 miles wide!

Please introduce yourself to the group here

Ask me about the writing process

For thoughts or questions on Titanic, Ship of Haunts or shipwrecks in general

We all love ghost stories. But has anyone ever seen or heard a ghost for real?

Belief in reincarnation is rare in the West, but an accepted belief in many countries. What do you think?