Guildford Book Festival hosted the great great-granddaughter of Charles Darwin for a workshop at the Electric Theatre.
Novelist Emma Darwin, who is in the process of publishing self-help book Get Started in Writing Historical Fiction, held a workshop with 25 budding writers on how to tackle the genre on Monday evening (October 12).
Darwin, who has written two historical novels, The Mathematics Of Love and A Secret Alchemy, spoke of her love for teaching.
She said: “I definitely get a kick out of it. I find thinking about writing and reading fascinating, that is why I have blogged about it, in a bid to arrange my thoughts on it.
“I love helping writers and getting to know someone’s work and trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t. It is a collaborative effort.”
Darwin, who is one in a long line of creative people from the family, tours the country helping both experienced writers and complete novices learn how to research and capture moments in history and bring them to life with interesting plots and believable characters in novels.
Her latest book, which is due out in March next year, came about after publishers Teach Yourself approached the author about writing a self-help book on historical fiction.
She said: “It is a difficult thing to master. We actually have a lot in common with science fiction writers.
“You have to write about a place that you have never been and it is a challenge to make that come alive. It takes a lot of imagination and a lot of research and information.”
Darwin, who has previously taught with the Open University, has been an author for nine years.
So has being related to the famous naturalist and father of evolutionary theory Charles Darwin been a blessing or a hindrance as a writer?
She said: “I did not find it annoying, but it was a bit odd when I was first starting out.
“However, in terms of publicity it was a big help, it certainly made be more visible. But now that I am further into my career it is more about my work than my family history.”
The author believes that Surrey has much to inspire writers, saying: “Gosh, I could definitely see fiction being written about Vaughan Williams, the composer, and his time in Leith Hill, which is just a beautiful setting. Of course Charles Darwin was his great uncle.”
