The Kindness of Strangers

It seems that The Secret Children has resonated with readers in a way that I had dared not hope. To tell such a difficult story is always a delicate business, particularly one that involves the innocence of children caught in a web of deceit. I was particularly moved by the woman who took me aside at one of the literary festivals and told me that she had suffered a similar fate. These things were never talked about. She was an old lady, and she spoke to me in whispers and squeezed my hand.

I am also grateful to all those who have taken the time to post their personal reviews on Amazon. It can be a very dangerous forum, and a terrifying experience for writers. There is nothing like a bad review to make one want to run for the hills and hide in a cave. The wise writer is the one who never looks. I have yet to meet one of those.

Incidentally – huge thanks to the lovely bookshop in Truro for featuring The Secret Children in their Favourite Staff Picks (above).

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