Clare Whitfield Discusses her Gripping Debut Novel, People of Abandoned Character

Briefly tell us about your book

My book is called People of Abandoned Character and its about a nurse called Susannah, who hits 30 and decides to leap into a marriage after a whirlwind courtship to a wealthy young surgeon. Pretty soon after his attention wains and she must live in a new kind of captivity. Then the Whitechapel murders start and she begins to think her new husband has the opportunity and temperament to be the monster they call Jack the Ripper.

What was the research process like for the book?

I read so much and took so many notes and had files and files of research – about every aspect of the era. Nursing, the health system, politics, lunacy and obviously the murders. I read about Victorian houses and studied guide books for housewives. I read books on fashion, underground societies and I also drifted around Whitechapel a few times and went on a Jack the Ripper tour. Truth be told researching the murders was the easiest bit as I’ve been a true crime fanatic since about the age of 12 so I knew most about them already. But what paint would Victorians have on the walls or what were their bathrooms like? That was the odious part. Did they commute? (yes) and what was the travel system like? So please, invite me to a party and I’ll bring the house down (obviously not) but it is quite handy when people spout falsehoods – especially about our history and politics of the time and I can correct them with an air of smug satisfaction because I’ve read up on it!

How does it feel to hold your book in your hands?

It is the weirdest most surreal feeling and it’s never getting old. I can just stare at it. I’m from a very average normal working-class background and such aspirations were considered out of reach. I didn’t really speak to people much about my writing because the immediate reaction was one of pity from most people. I kept it secret because the comments could range from ‘are you still doing that?’ to ‘Do you think you’re not very good?’ when trying to get published.

What’s some great advice you’ve received that has helped you as a writer?

I’d say the most often repeated advice I use myself was from a lecturer at the University of Winchester called Stephen Thompson who wrote Sitting in Limbo for the BBC (after I took his class!). He gave the non-fiction class on the MA which I really enjoyed. He said when you write the story you must keep going and finish the first draft – then you can step back and see what themes are there to develop – what the story is really about. When writing a first draft (which is hell) its easy to get lost in a complete organic mess. When I’m panicking, I think of that advice!

If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring writers, what would it be?

There will be a steady stream of a million people who will tell you to give up – it says more about them than it does about you. Keep going!