Sarah Marsh, author of 'A Sign of Her Own' - Debut writer discusses finding the truth in history, taking 12 years to write a debut, and thorough research
Writer's Routine
Dan Simpson
4.9 • 599 Ratings
🗓️ 2 February 2024
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This week, we're joined by Sarah Marsh. Her debut is 'A Sign of Her Own'. It tells the story of Ellen Lark, who discovers a side to Alexander Graham Bell, one of history's most famous figures, that few other people know.
Sarah was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavenish Prize in 2019, selected for the London Library Emerging Writer's Programme, and has a Masters in Creative Writing. She is also deaf, as is her protagonist Ellen, and we discuss why this story was so important to write.
You can hear why it took 12 years to get published, whether you ever really know the story is finished, and how she went about researching real figures from the past.
This episode is sponsored by 'Who is the Cheese Wire Killer?', a brand new true crime podcast you can find wherever you get your shows.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, welcome along to a brand new episode of writers' routine where this week we are chatting to Sarah Marsh. |
| 0:14.5 | Her new novel is a sign of her own, telling aside of one of history's most famous figures that you've probably never |
| 0:22.7 | heard before. We chat to Sarah about thoroughly researching real figures from the past, |
| 0:28.5 | also why it took a long 12 years for her to get it done, and with that, how you ever really |
| 0:35.2 | know whether a story is actually told? |
| 0:38.1 | The book has only finished when someone comes and actually physically takes it off you and says, |
| 0:44.7 | you know, no more. And I think it does feel a bit like that. You know, you will always think |
| 0:50.7 | that there's one more draft to do or something can be tweaked. |
| 0:56.5 | And, you know, and of course, when readers start reading it and they have their own |
| 0:59.4 | thoughts and then you start wondering, oh, maybe I should have changed that and maybe, you know, |
| 1:03.3 | so they're the point when it's done because of you, you know, that getting published it, |
| 1:07.2 | but I think they're a slower process of sort of letting go of it and recognising |
| 1:12.2 | that now a second thing from you. |
| 1:14.1 | There is more with Sarah Marsh in this week's writer's routine. |
| 1:24.7 | Yes, welcome along to the show. My name is Dan Simpson. |
| 1:30.3 | Thank you for being there for following, subscribing and listening. |
| 1:33.2 | This is where we take a look through an author's working day. |
| 1:44.6 | We see how they get stuff done, how they plan their life and other work and their space and their day around giving themselves the best chance of getting words on the page. |
| 1:49.2 | And this week's episode of writer's routine is brought to you by the new true crime podcast, |
| 1:51.6 | Who is the Cheese Wire Killer? |
| 1:56.9 | And I think it's perfect for you, because if you love crime writing and storytelling, |
| 2:01.9 | which I think you probably do, and if you love podcasts, which, well, I hope you do, |
... |
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