Read our interview with ‘Weyward’ author, Emilia Hart
Emilia Hart is a British-Australian writer. She was born in Sydney and studied English Literature and Law at the University of New South Wales before working as a lawyer in Sydney and London. Emilia is a graduate of Curtis Brown Creative’s Three Month Online Novel Writing Course and was Highly Commended in the 2021 Caledonia Novel Award. Her short fiction has been published in Australia and the UK. She lives in London.
We (the feminist book club) were delighted to be able to send Emilia a list of questions, and here are her responses:
Where did the idea for ‘Weyward’ come from?
I was inspired to write ‘Weyward’ while living in Cumbria during the early stages of the pandemic. Those were strange, uncertain times for all of us, and I took solace from the harsh beauty of the landscape around me. But I learned that the region had a dark history in the form of the infamous Pendle Witch Trials of 1612, which resulted in the hanging of eight women in nearby Lancaster.
At the same time, I was reading about the increase in reports of domestic violence during lockdown, as (mainly female) victims were confined to their homes with their abusers.
The misogyny that had led to the persecution of women as witches had not faded away: it had only changed its face. I really wanted to interrogate this and also showcase female resilience and survival. I had an image in my head of a modern-day woman overcoming abuse by reclaiming the power of her female forebears and the natural world. This was the seed that became ‘Weyward.’
2. Why did you decide to focus on three different generations of women?
Originally, there were only going to be two generations of women: Altha in 1619 and Kate in 2019! But I realised that the characters were so far apart in time that it would be difficult to connect them: I needed a third character to link the two, which is how Violet was born.
Intertwining the lives of three women also allowed me to explore the ways in which the female experience has changed – and remained the same – over the centuries.
3. The book has such an interesting structure. How did you link the three women’s experiences across the centuries?
I wrote the stories in chronological order. So, first I wrote Altha’s story in its entirety, then Violet’s, then Kate’s, braiding them together. This enabled me to create subtle echoes in their narratives – whether experiences of the female body or encounters with male characters.
The shared setting of the cottage, and the characters’ connection with the natural world, really helped with this. I was able to weave common imagery – such as crows, bees, insects and flowers – through all three stories to amplify the sense that these women were all part of the same powerful lineage.
4. What do you hope for the reader to get from the novel?
I appreciate that the novel touches on heavy themes, such as male violence and pregnancy loss. But I’d love for readers, and female readers in particular, to come away feeling empowered and inspired to seek out the stories of their foremothers. I think learning from our female ancestors can give us so much – it reminds us of how far we have come in the struggle for gender equality, and also inspires us to keep going.
Above all, though, I think writing and reading novels is fundamentally about two things: human connection, and entertainment! So if someone recognises their own experience reflected on the page, or just enjoys reading late into the night, then I’m happy.
5. The book received a glowing review on BBCs Between the Covers book list, with Sara Cox asking if they could imagine it being adapted for TV, and Sophie Duker responding that it felt ‘cinematic’ - how do you feel about this and who would be your dream cast?
That would be an absolute dream! It would be fascinating to see the novel interpreted on screen and obviously a huge privilege. I’d be delighted. As for my dream cast – I’d love Jessie Buckley for Altha, Millie Bobby Brown for Violet and Jodie Comer for Kate. A girl can dream…
6. What are your ‘go to’ book recommendations?
Where do I start?! Some of my favourite writers are Penelope Lively, Kate Atkinson and Daphne Du Maurier. The latter especially was such a versatile novelist: I love ‘Rebecca’ but also adore her historical fiction, like ‘Jamaica Inn’ and ‘Frenchman’s Creek.’ Her time travel novel, ‘The House on the Strand,’ is wonderfully original.
At the moment I’m constantly recommending ‘The Bee Sting’ by Paul Murray, a modern-day saga about a troubled Irish family. The characters are so real that they seem to burst off the page. I thought about it for weeks afterwards.
7. What does your writing style / creative process look like?
So far, the process has been different for each novel! While I was working on ‘Weyward’, I wrote every day until I had a first draft. I was quite superstitious about that, believing that I’d be unable to finish a novel any other way, but as it turned out my second novel was a very different beast. I rewrote the beginning about ten times before I felt ready to continue!
I’m now at the very early stages of writing my third novel and so far that’s different again. I’ve been doing a lot of long form writing; I find that literally putting pen to paper really helps to tease the story from my brain.
8. What advice would you give to new writers / our book club members who want to write a book?
Read as much fiction as you can – that’s your apprenticeship. Try to immerse yourself in the world of your story every day; whether that’s writing a thousand words, a sentence, or simply daydreaming about a scene or character. Every bit helps!
And lastly, be brave and show people your writing. That’s the hardest thing of all, I think!
9. Can you give us an insight into what is next for Emilia Hart?
My next novel ’The Sirens’, comes out in January 2025. It’s about two sets of sisters separated by centuries but bound together by the power of the sea. Expect secrets, shipwrecks, and a touch of folkloric magic.
Thank you Emilia!
You can find out more about' ‘Weyward’ here or if you are a publisher and would like us to interview one of your authors, please email us.