Stealing Memories

I’m going to be doing a library talk in June (Looe Library in Cornwall) and I’ve decided to pontificate on the theme of Authors as Magpies.

I’ve realised over the course of writing four novels (and a fifth in progress) that picking up shiny bits from my life and other people’s is inevitable. I have set one novel in California where I grew up and have mined my memory for descriptive details. The book I am currently working on is set in both Cornwall and California and again I have used pictures from my own past. Guiltily, I have stolen moments from other people’s history. I can only hope that if they come across my scribblings, they will not be offended. I imagine some people would be flattered to find that a piece of their life story was so interesting that it was included in the plot of a novel. Others may feel that I have stolen something from them. I believe there are aboriginal populations that will not allow their photo to be taken as they feel a part of their soul will be torn away from them.

There are those that dine out on ridiculous or terrifying events from their past and those that tuck bygone days away in a chest, locking it and throwing away the key. Which are you?