There is something a little bit magical about the stories that we’re getting to hear at The Fairground (and various nearby locations) as part of our little Bookshop. For our latest event we were, quite literally, transported through time and across oceans – into stories quite far removed from our own in some ways, but close to home in many others. We hosted an intimate literary gathering featuring Susanna Kearsley & Linda Wilgus – and celebrated storytelling through the ages, connection, and the enduring pull of place.
Held in a warm and welcoming setting, the event brought together readers, a few writers, and lovers of historical fiction to mark a special moment for both Authors. For Linda Wilgus, it was the debut of her novel The Sea Child, a work that feels much more advanced than a first novel, envoking an atmosphere and emotional depth that promises a lasting impression. For Susanna Kearsley, visiting from Canada, it marked the reissue of one of her beloved earlier novels, The Rose Garden, a story that continues to resonate with readers years after its original publication. Both Authors take us to beloved Cornwall with their writing and it felt like they even brought some with them fresh from their Cornwall events tour with Author, Liz Fenwick.
The most important question of the evening was posed right at the start and explored why the Authors feel that place is important. For Linda, ‘When you move around so much, you’re always trying to find where you belong.’ And for Susanna, ‘For me there are stories that can only happen in certain places – almost never Canada – inconveniently.’
We heard about the ‘Outsider’s Eye’ and why Susanna and Linda, despite not being native to Cornwall, felt compelled to centre their stories in the rugged and beautiful landscape and how they ensure accuracy – or not. Susanna explained, ‘My heroines are nearly always outsiders, which allows me to give the outsiders eye to the reader.’
The evening unfolded as both a conversation and a celebration. Linda spoke candidly about the journey to her first novel, the persistence required, the shaping of voice, and the deep personal currents that feed into fiction when you’re trying to find out where your characters belong. There was a palpable sense of arrival, not just of a book, but of a writer stepping fully into her craft, and delighting in it too.
Susanna, a seasoned yet refreshingly grounded Author, brought a different perspective: one of longevity and reflection. She shared insights into revisiting The Rose Garden, discussing how it feels to return to earlier work and see it find new life with readers. Her presence carried the quiet authority of someone who has long understood the power of stories rooted in history and place, yet her warmth made the conversation feel like a dialogue among friends.
As the evening drew to a close, books were signed, conversations were had and stories were shared. New journeys began as readers chose their titles from the book table, inspired by tales of smugglers (The Sea Child) or fictional Avebury (Mariana). The warmth that had begun at the very start of the event was extended through the signing queue and beyond. Stories from Afar was, in every sense of the word, a celebration – not only of two books but of storytelling itself. We delighted in the reminder of why we read, to learn histories, to travel to different times and places, and to ultimately continue that never-ending search for our ‘place.’
She is a daughter of the sea. He is a man of the land. Can they overcome the odds to be together? A love story with a touch of magic and folklore, The Sea Child is a stunning debut set against the wilderness of the Cornish Coast.
A thrilling, haunting and deeply romantic story powerfully told by an engaging heroine. The Cornish background is enchanting and beautifully evoked.
Purchase the Books
Choose to purchase the books alone or in a cosy book box of treats. Pop into our Bookshop to browse in the peaceful setting of The Fairground or shop online.
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