It is with enormous pleasure that I welcome Pam Lecky onto the website today. Pam is an award-winning author of historical fiction and is represented by the Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency in London.
Alex: Tell me a bit about yourself, Pam.
Pam: I’m an Irish historical fiction author who is somewhat obsessed with the past. This most likely stems from a lifetime of consuming historical fiction (crime, mystery and romance), and crime novels from the likes of Dorothy L Sayers, PD James and Agatha Christie. I’m married with three children and live in a small town north of Dublin city.
My father was a ferocious reader and a lover of history; something he passed on to me at any early age. A special gift from him when I was about 12, the complete works of Jane Austen, firmly set my sights on the 19th century. My love of reading grew to encompass many genres and I read my way through classics, historical fiction and crime (both modern and set in the past). But I found myself always returning to the 19th century as I was fascinated by the speed of social and political change, the fashion, architecture and the way people behaved. But in the end, it was another author who inspired me to put pen to paper: a historical mystery with a disappointing ending sparked the mad idea of actually writing my own. Now, my writing world has expanded with my next two releases set during WW2 – a nice challenge for me and an enjoyable one to boot.
My first novel, The Bowes Inheritance, was published in 2015 when I was 50 and I carry that as a badge of honour for I do not believe I could have written it as well at a younger age. Life experience has to colour your writing and I hope my work is the richer for it. Of course, what I didn’t realise is that writing can become addictive. Bowes did very well, being longlisted by the Historical Novel Society and shortlisted for the Carousel Aware Prize. That success gave me the confidence to keep writing and so here I am six years later, earning my living as a fulltime writer.
My writing career took a great leap forward when I signed with the Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency in London in 2018. And it was through my agent that I signed a two-book deal with Avon Books UK/Harper Collins at the end of 2020. However, I will continue to be a hybrid author, with my popular Lucy Lawrence Mysteries (Victorian mysteries) being independently published.
Alex: Tell me a bit about yourself, Pam.
Pam: I’m an Irish historical fiction author who is somewhat obsessed with the past. This most likely stems from a lifetime of consuming historical fiction (crime, mystery and romance), and crime novels from the likes of Dorothy L Sayers, PD James and Agatha Christie. I’m married with three children and live in a small town north of Dublin city.
My father was a ferocious reader and a lover of history; something he passed on to me at any early age. A special gift from him when I was about 12, the complete works of Jane Austen, firmly set my sights on the 19th century. My love of reading grew to encompass many genres and I read my way through classics, historical fiction and crime (both modern and set in the past). But I found myself always returning to the 19th century as I was fascinated by the speed of social and political change, the fashion, architecture and the way people behaved. But in the end, it was another author who inspired me to put pen to paper: a historical mystery with a disappointing ending sparked the mad idea of actually writing my own. Now, my writing world has expanded with my next two releases set during WW2 – a nice challenge for me and an enjoyable one to boot.
My first novel, The Bowes Inheritance, was published in 2015 when I was 50 and I carry that as a badge of honour for I do not believe I could have written it as well at a younger age. Life experience has to colour your writing and I hope my work is the richer for it. Of course, what I didn’t realise is that writing can become addictive. Bowes did very well, being longlisted by the Historical Novel Society and shortlisted for the Carousel Aware Prize. That success gave me the confidence to keep writing and so here I am six years later, earning my living as a fulltime writer.
My writing career took a great leap forward when I signed with the Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency in London in 2018. And it was through my agent that I signed a two-book deal with Avon Books UK/Harper Collins at the end of 2020. However, I will continue to be a hybrid author, with my popular Lucy Lawrence Mysteries (Victorian mysteries) being independently published.
Alex: How would you describe your writing, and are there particular themes that you like to explore?
Pam: What drives my writing is my desire to entertain; to grab the reader (hopefully in the first chapter!) and take them on a journey. I want them to feel part of the worlds I create. Other than that, I do like a good mystery and hope that I can keep the reader guessing for as long as possible and surprise them with twists aplenty. There will always be a little romance woven in, but my books are predominantly crime/mystery novels.
All of my books so far feature strong female protagonists. I fully admit that I live my bravest life through them. I am a typical writer, being an introvert, so what better way for me to explore the world than through the actions of women a lot more courageous than I am!
My protagonists always face challenges. It can be the social mores of the Victorian era, facing down a killer or the devastation of losing one’s family in a WW2 blitz. Hopefully, the reader wants to know more; to find out how these women cope and overcome. Essentially, the reader must care about your main character and root for them; otherwise you lose them very quickly.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Pam: My first novel, The Bowes Inheritance, literally formed in my head as I wrote it. It was a very enjoyable experience, however, not ideal if you have deadlines to meet. When I wrote that book, I had no idea I would ever publish it; I wrote it purely to prove to myself that I could write a complete novel.
For my Indie Series – The Lucy Lawrence Mysteries – I tend to have a rough plan which develops as I write and research. For my Avon/Harper Collins novels, there is a detailed synopsis which I must follow, and this suits the typical deadlines you have when traditionally published.
However, I will never be a complete plotter – I find that too limiting, essentially because research, which is such a vital part of historical fiction, always throws up such fabulous ideas, sub-plots, and secondary characters.
Pam: What drives my writing is my desire to entertain; to grab the reader (hopefully in the first chapter!) and take them on a journey. I want them to feel part of the worlds I create. Other than that, I do like a good mystery and hope that I can keep the reader guessing for as long as possible and surprise them with twists aplenty. There will always be a little romance woven in, but my books are predominantly crime/mystery novels.
All of my books so far feature strong female protagonists. I fully admit that I live my bravest life through them. I am a typical writer, being an introvert, so what better way for me to explore the world than through the actions of women a lot more courageous than I am!
My protagonists always face challenges. It can be the social mores of the Victorian era, facing down a killer or the devastation of losing one’s family in a WW2 blitz. Hopefully, the reader wants to know more; to find out how these women cope and overcome. Essentially, the reader must care about your main character and root for them; otherwise you lose them very quickly.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Pam: My first novel, The Bowes Inheritance, literally formed in my head as I wrote it. It was a very enjoyable experience, however, not ideal if you have deadlines to meet. When I wrote that book, I had no idea I would ever publish it; I wrote it purely to prove to myself that I could write a complete novel.
For my Indie Series – The Lucy Lawrence Mysteries – I tend to have a rough plan which develops as I write and research. For my Avon/Harper Collins novels, there is a detailed synopsis which I must follow, and this suits the typical deadlines you have when traditionally published.
However, I will never be a complete plotter – I find that too limiting, essentially because research, which is such a vital part of historical fiction, always throws up such fabulous ideas, sub-plots, and secondary characters.
Alex: Tell us about your latest novel.
Pam: Here is a short synopsis of Her Secret War:
A moment that ruins her life
On 31st May 1941, Germany drops bombs on neutral Dublin and Sarah Gillespie loses her family and home that fateful night. Days later, the man she loves leaves Ireland to enlist in the RAF.
A decision that changes her life
With nothing to keep her in Ireland and a burning desire to help the war effort, Sarah seeks refuge with relatives in Hampshire, England. But before long, Sarah’s family history catches up with her.
A mission that could cost her life
Sarah is asked to prove her loyalty to Britain through uncovering a spy at Vickers Supermarine, the manufacturers of the legendary Spitfire fighter plane. But to progress with her mission, she must become involved with a fifth columnist. And so the most dangerous game she’s ever played ensues…
Her Secret War will be published by Avon Books UK/Harper Collins on 14th October 2021.
Available to pre-order now
Up to this, I have written predominantly in the late Victorian era and my Lucy Lawrence Mystery series is great fun to write and set in a period I absolutely love. However, I wanted to stretch myself with something new. I have always been fascinated by the wars of the 20th century, and in particular the murky world of espionage. However, I was keen that whatever I wrote would have a strong Irish flavour. Her Secret War, set during WW2, began to formulate in my head.
I wanted to begin the story in wartime Dublin. Ireland, still reeling from the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War which quickly followed, declared itself neutral during WW2. And despite Churchill’s attempts to get Ireland to join the Allies, the government stood firm for the duration of the war.
But then the Luftwaffe bombed Dublin on 31st May 1941. Tragically, twenty-eight men, woman and children died, and ninety were injured. The incident occurred only a couple of miles from where I grew up. As I considered the plot of Her Secret War, I felt this event would be the perfect opening for the book.
My main character, Sarah Gillespie, is the only one of her family to survive the North Strand bombing. Her plight resonates with the thousands who survived similar incidences throughout the war, all over the world. From the ruins of her life, Sarah must make some difficult decisions. Like many Irish, she has family in Britain and when they hold out the offer of a new life and a job, Sarah decides to leave Ireland. Unfortunately, her new life slowly falls apart as her family history catches up with her, and she is drawn into the dark world of WW2 espionage.
Pam: Here is a short synopsis of Her Secret War:
A moment that ruins her life
On 31st May 1941, Germany drops bombs on neutral Dublin and Sarah Gillespie loses her family and home that fateful night. Days later, the man she loves leaves Ireland to enlist in the RAF.
A decision that changes her life
With nothing to keep her in Ireland and a burning desire to help the war effort, Sarah seeks refuge with relatives in Hampshire, England. But before long, Sarah’s family history catches up with her.
A mission that could cost her life
Sarah is asked to prove her loyalty to Britain through uncovering a spy at Vickers Supermarine, the manufacturers of the legendary Spitfire fighter plane. But to progress with her mission, she must become involved with a fifth columnist. And so the most dangerous game she’s ever played ensues…
Her Secret War will be published by Avon Books UK/Harper Collins on 14th October 2021.
Available to pre-order now
Up to this, I have written predominantly in the late Victorian era and my Lucy Lawrence Mystery series is great fun to write and set in a period I absolutely love. However, I wanted to stretch myself with something new. I have always been fascinated by the wars of the 20th century, and in particular the murky world of espionage. However, I was keen that whatever I wrote would have a strong Irish flavour. Her Secret War, set during WW2, began to formulate in my head.
I wanted to begin the story in wartime Dublin. Ireland, still reeling from the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War which quickly followed, declared itself neutral during WW2. And despite Churchill’s attempts to get Ireland to join the Allies, the government stood firm for the duration of the war.
But then the Luftwaffe bombed Dublin on 31st May 1941. Tragically, twenty-eight men, woman and children died, and ninety were injured. The incident occurred only a couple of miles from where I grew up. As I considered the plot of Her Secret War, I felt this event would be the perfect opening for the book.
My main character, Sarah Gillespie, is the only one of her family to survive the North Strand bombing. Her plight resonates with the thousands who survived similar incidences throughout the war, all over the world. From the ruins of her life, Sarah must make some difficult decisions. Like many Irish, she has family in Britain and when they hold out the offer of a new life and a job, Sarah decides to leave Ireland. Unfortunately, her new life slowly falls apart as her family history catches up with her, and she is drawn into the dark world of WW2 espionage.
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Pam: I have no idea, I’m afraid. My earliest memories of books are of my father reading me bedtime stories. Most likely the first book I read on my own would have been a Ladybird book. These books included the classic fairy tales, such as Cinderella and Snow White. When I was a little older, I loved Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven series and Mallory Towers. Of late, she has been vilified, but her books sparked my imagination and made me an avid reader. For that, I will always be grateful.
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Pam: For anyone writing historical fiction, the research required can be daunting. Fortunately, I love it, and over the years my collection of reference books has grown. Any historical era requires a writer to explore practically everything in their chosen period from idioms used, to mourning protocols. My library includes Mrs Beetons Book of Household Management (with hilarious cures and advice, by our modern standards), Bradshaws 1895 Railway Timetable, and many books on WW2 espionage and the Home Front in Britain.
For the second book in the Lucy Lawrence Mystery Series, Footprints in the Sand, the amount of research required was enormous as the book is set in Victorian Egypt. As I have always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt, it was inevitable my poor heroine would end up there. Finding contemporary descriptions is the ultimate goal, and I was fortunate enough to come across Amelia Edwards’ A Thousand Miles up the Nile on a visit to the British Museum. Her travel memoir was written a decade before I set my novel. Fortune smiled on me once more when I found a scanned online version of the Baedeker’s Guide to Lower Egypt, published in 1885, two years before my heroine lands in Alexandria. These two books provided accurate detail and gave me an insight into how the Victorians behaved when on their travels. Then, as I delved into the history of Victorian Egyptology, I uncovered the animosity which existed between the British and French archaeological teams. I knew immediately this was a scenario I could exploit in Footprints in the Sand, with the added satisfaction of being able to use the glorious setting of ancient Egyptian monuments.
No Stone Unturned, which was published two years ago, is the first novel in the series and it often threw up some interesting questions for me. For instance, did Victorian households use rubbish bins? What type of train ran in the London Underground in 1886? My collection of research books failed me, as did Amazon and Google.
Since the publication of my first novel in 2015, I have discovered that contacts online can be a useful source of information when you hit a research wall. Lee Jackson, a fellow historical fiction author, has written extensively on Victorian life and several of his non-fiction books are on my shelves. I contacted him on Twitter and he was able to tell me what I needed to know about Victorian rubbish and its disposal.
The train question was a little trickier as I also wished to know how long a particular journey took. Thankfully, I found the London Transport Museum online, and within 24 hours I had not only answers to my questions but copies of relevant timetables. To my astonishment, they used steam trains on the Victorian underground in those early days. As I delved deeper, I discovered that the engineers had not allowed for ventilation in the tunnels and this had to be retrofitted, much to the relief of the commuters, I’m sure.
When it came to my WW2 novels, I read extensively and was lucky enough to come across two invaluable books: Kevin C. Kearns' book, The Bombing of Dublin's North Strand, 1941: The Untold Story (ISBN-13: 978-0717146444) and Tim Tate’s Hitler’s British Traitors (ISBN-13: 978-178578-561-0). Both gave me wonderful insight into the war years. The best discovery of all was the Supermariners website, whose owner had done extensive research on Vickers Supermarine, the company who designed and built the Spitfire. He provided me with all the tiny details that made it possible to recreate the time and place.
But what to do with all this wonderful background information? It is imperative to get the balance right between creating authentic settings, characters and believable plots, while not boring your reader with the minutiae. So, unfortunately, most of it does not end up in the novel. However, as a writer I could not create without it. The information gleaned from all these sources helps me get inside the heads of my characters, enabling me to see their world through their eyes. But of even greater importance, many of my sub-plots and ideas have sprung from the very fertile soil of research.
But, you may wonder, how can you bear not to use all this lovely information? And I felt the same and pondered the question for some time. Then it struck me that a series of blog posts based on the research would make the perfect pre-launch material. This has worked very well for me and helped boost my pre-order sales, via my website. (www.pamlecky.com).
And just in case you are interested, the Victorians did use domestic rubbish bins which were collected by dustmen in horse-drawn carts twice a day - now that’s service!
Pam: I have no idea, I’m afraid. My earliest memories of books are of my father reading me bedtime stories. Most likely the first book I read on my own would have been a Ladybird book. These books included the classic fairy tales, such as Cinderella and Snow White. When I was a little older, I loved Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven series and Mallory Towers. Of late, she has been vilified, but her books sparked my imagination and made me an avid reader. For that, I will always be grateful.
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Pam: For anyone writing historical fiction, the research required can be daunting. Fortunately, I love it, and over the years my collection of reference books has grown. Any historical era requires a writer to explore practically everything in their chosen period from idioms used, to mourning protocols. My library includes Mrs Beetons Book of Household Management (with hilarious cures and advice, by our modern standards), Bradshaws 1895 Railway Timetable, and many books on WW2 espionage and the Home Front in Britain.
For the second book in the Lucy Lawrence Mystery Series, Footprints in the Sand, the amount of research required was enormous as the book is set in Victorian Egypt. As I have always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt, it was inevitable my poor heroine would end up there. Finding contemporary descriptions is the ultimate goal, and I was fortunate enough to come across Amelia Edwards’ A Thousand Miles up the Nile on a visit to the British Museum. Her travel memoir was written a decade before I set my novel. Fortune smiled on me once more when I found a scanned online version of the Baedeker’s Guide to Lower Egypt, published in 1885, two years before my heroine lands in Alexandria. These two books provided accurate detail and gave me an insight into how the Victorians behaved when on their travels. Then, as I delved into the history of Victorian Egyptology, I uncovered the animosity which existed between the British and French archaeological teams. I knew immediately this was a scenario I could exploit in Footprints in the Sand, with the added satisfaction of being able to use the glorious setting of ancient Egyptian monuments.
No Stone Unturned, which was published two years ago, is the first novel in the series and it often threw up some interesting questions for me. For instance, did Victorian households use rubbish bins? What type of train ran in the London Underground in 1886? My collection of research books failed me, as did Amazon and Google.
Since the publication of my first novel in 2015, I have discovered that contacts online can be a useful source of information when you hit a research wall. Lee Jackson, a fellow historical fiction author, has written extensively on Victorian life and several of his non-fiction books are on my shelves. I contacted him on Twitter and he was able to tell me what I needed to know about Victorian rubbish and its disposal.
The train question was a little trickier as I also wished to know how long a particular journey took. Thankfully, I found the London Transport Museum online, and within 24 hours I had not only answers to my questions but copies of relevant timetables. To my astonishment, they used steam trains on the Victorian underground in those early days. As I delved deeper, I discovered that the engineers had not allowed for ventilation in the tunnels and this had to be retrofitted, much to the relief of the commuters, I’m sure.
When it came to my WW2 novels, I read extensively and was lucky enough to come across two invaluable books: Kevin C. Kearns' book, The Bombing of Dublin's North Strand, 1941: The Untold Story (ISBN-13: 978-0717146444) and Tim Tate’s Hitler’s British Traitors (ISBN-13: 978-178578-561-0). Both gave me wonderful insight into the war years. The best discovery of all was the Supermariners website, whose owner had done extensive research on Vickers Supermarine, the company who designed and built the Spitfire. He provided me with all the tiny details that made it possible to recreate the time and place.
But what to do with all this wonderful background information? It is imperative to get the balance right between creating authentic settings, characters and believable plots, while not boring your reader with the minutiae. So, unfortunately, most of it does not end up in the novel. However, as a writer I could not create without it. The information gleaned from all these sources helps me get inside the heads of my characters, enabling me to see their world through their eyes. But of even greater importance, many of my sub-plots and ideas have sprung from the very fertile soil of research.
But, you may wonder, how can you bear not to use all this lovely information? And I felt the same and pondered the question for some time. Then it struck me that a series of blog posts based on the research would make the perfect pre-launch material. This has worked very well for me and helped boost my pre-order sales, via my website. (www.pamlecky.com).
And just in case you are interested, the Victorians did use domestic rubbish bins which were collected by dustmen in horse-drawn carts twice a day - now that’s service!
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Pam: Usually no, but there is one character in my first book who was based on a relative, now deceased.
Alex: How do you market your books?
Pam: My Indie books are available on Amazon, and I sometimes do promotions/ads on that platform. However, mostly I use Instagram and Twitter and occasionally Facebook, but usually only around release date. I also keep the ebook of the first book in my series at 99p/99c to help draw readers in.
I’m a member of the Society of Authors and an enthusiastic member of the Historical Novel Society (HNS), attending their conferences and chapter meetings. The HNS publishes reviews which help bring members’ books before the public. I also go on author panels and have done some podcast interviews.
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing? And what do you do to unwind?
Pam: I love walking, reading and photography. I studied horticulture some years ago and I’m still a keen gardener. There’s nothing like tugging out the weeds to de-stress! I also have 2 cats and a new puppy, who is keeping me rather busy!
Alex: It's been an absolute treat to listen to you, Pam. It's fascinating to hear how you go about researching your material. And also very interesting that you find the reseach itself can create sub-plots. I look forward to reading Her Secret War. It sounds wonderful. Thank you so much for taking part.
Pam: It's my pleasure, Alex.
Pam: Usually no, but there is one character in my first book who was based on a relative, now deceased.
Alex: How do you market your books?
Pam: My Indie books are available on Amazon, and I sometimes do promotions/ads on that platform. However, mostly I use Instagram and Twitter and occasionally Facebook, but usually only around release date. I also keep the ebook of the first book in my series at 99p/99c to help draw readers in.
I’m a member of the Society of Authors and an enthusiastic member of the Historical Novel Society (HNS), attending their conferences and chapter meetings. The HNS publishes reviews which help bring members’ books before the public. I also go on author panels and have done some podcast interviews.
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing? And what do you do to unwind?
Pam: I love walking, reading and photography. I studied horticulture some years ago and I’m still a keen gardener. There’s nothing like tugging out the weeds to de-stress! I also have 2 cats and a new puppy, who is keeping me rather busy!
Alex: It's been an absolute treat to listen to you, Pam. It's fascinating to hear how you go about researching your material. And also very interesting that you find the reseach itself can create sub-plots. I look forward to reading Her Secret War. It sounds wonderful. Thank you so much for taking part.
Pam: It's my pleasure, Alex.