A Sense of Place…

One of the many sessions I am looking forward to at the FCBG Conference on Saturday is the ‘A Sense of Place’ panel with Eloise Williams, Roderick O’Grady and Jess Butterworth, chaired by Annie Everall.

Jess Butterworth’s books have the most incredible settings, drawing on her travels and experiences. Her first book, ‘Running on the Roof of the World’, is set in the Himalayan landscape of Tibet and India. The ‘sense of place’ conveyed here is not just through the vivid landscapes, but also through the tension of living under an occupying force. ‘Into the Volcano’, her most recent stand alone adventure, is set in both England and America, but with a focus on Yellowstone National Park. The wildness of the park is vividly portrayed as the children, Vivi and Seb, try to find the ‘Rainbow Pool’.

‘Bigfoot Mountain’ by Roderick O’Grady is set in the remote mountains of North America. Full of wonderful descriptions, the story is full of the joy of nature and the wild - and the impact humans have on this.

In ‘Seaglass’, Eloise Williams has created a story which is enhanced by vivid descriptions of the countryside and seashore and the mood of the plot is frequently echoed in by the weather- the drifting fog hiding mysterious figures, the squall at sea. Victorian Cardiff is the perfect setting for ‘Gaslight’, atmospheric and rich in detail of the theatre and life.

However, each of these authors also draws on the myths, legends and traditions of their setting, rooting their stories in that place. Whether the loup-garou, Bigfoot or 'tide singers, these tales, in my opinion, add a real ‘sense of place’ to the writing of each.

Really looking forward to this session!