Writing Star’s story has been an absolute pleasure, as I have been able to do so from the comfort of my own home for once, with the support of my family. They have learnt to ignore me as I wander around the house like a wraith at all times of day and night, talking into my dictaphone and weaving the threads of The Shadow Sister together. Harry, Bella, Leonora and Kit – you all know what you mean to me – and thank you to Stephen, my husband/agent who keeps me on the straight and narrow in all sorts of ways! What would I do without you? A special thank you to Jacquelyn Heslop, who holds the Riley fort so capably and looks after all of us. To my sister, Georgia, and Janet, my mother. And to Flo, to whom this book is dedicated. I miss you.
And lastly, to my readers. Writing a seven-book series seemed like such a mad idea in 2012 – I never guessed that the stories of my sisters would touch so many people around the world. I have been honoured and deeply humbled to receive all your emails, letters and words of support, and to have been lucky enough to meet some of you on my tours around the world. Thank you.
Bibliography
The Shadow Sister is a work of fiction set against an historical background. The sources I’ve used to research the time period and detail of my characters’ lives are listed below: Munya Andrews, The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades (North Melbourne, Victoria: Spinifex Press, 2004) Susan Denyer, Beatrix Potter at Home in the Lake District (London: Frances Lincoln, 2000) Roy Hattersley, The Edwardians (London: Abacus, 2014)
Philippe Jullian and John Phillips, Violet Trefusis: Life and Letters (Bristol: Hamish Hamilton, 1976) Sonia Keppel, Edwardian Daughter (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1958)
Raymond Lamont-Brown, Edward VII’s Last Loves: Alice Keppel and Agnes Keyser (London: Sutton Publishing, 2005) Linda Lear, Beatrix Potter: The extraordinary life of a Victorian genius (London: Penguin, 2008) Leslie Linder, A History of the Writings of Beatrix Potter (London: Frederick Warne, 1971) Tim Longville, Gardens of the Lake District (London: Frances Lincoln, 2007) Peter Marren, Britain’s Rare Flowers (London: Academic Press, 1999)
Marta McDowell, Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life (London: Timber Press, 2013) George Plumptre, The English Country House Garden (London: Frances Lincoln, 2014) J. B. Priestley, The Edwardians (London: Penguin, 2000)
Jane Ridley, Bertie: A Life of Edward VII (London: Chatto & Windus, 2012) Vita Sackville-West, The Edwardians (London: Virago, 2004)
Diana Souhami, Mrs Keppel and her Daughter (London: HarperCollins, 1996) Judy Taylor, Beatrix Potter: Artist, Storyteller and Countrywoman (London: Frederick Warne, 1986) Violet Trefusis, Don’t Look Round (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1989)
Author’s Note
When I first had the idea of writing a series of books based on the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades, I had no idea where it would lead me. I was very attracted to the fact that each one of the mythological sisters was, according to their legends, a unique and strong female. Some say they were the Seven Mothers who seeded our earth – there is no doubt that, in their stories, they were all highly fertile! – and had many children with the various gods who were fascinated by their strength, beauty and ethereal air of mysticism.
And I wanted to celebrate the achievements of women, especially in the past, where so often their contribution to making our world the place it is today has been overshadowed by the more frequently documented achievements of men.
However, the definition of feminism is equality, not domination, and the women I write about, both in the past and the present, accept that they want and need men in their lives. Perhaps the masculine and feminine are the true yin and yang of nature and must strive for balance; in essence, to accept the individual strengths and weaknesses of each other.
And of course, we all need love; not necessarily in the traditional form of marriage and children, but I believe it to be the life source without which we humans wither and die. The Seven Sisters series unashamedly celebrates the endless search for love, and explores the devastating consequences when it is lost to us.
As I travel round the world, following in the footsteps of my factual and fictional female characters to research their stories, I am constantly humbled and awed by the tenacity and courage of the generations of women who came before me. Whether fighting the sexual and racial prejudices of times gone by, losing their loved ones to the devastation of war or disease, or making a new life on the other side of the world, these women paved the way for us to have the freedom of thought and deed that we enjoy today. And so often take for granted.
The world is sadly still not a perfect place and I doubt it ever will be, because there will always be a new challenge ahead. Yet I truly believe that humans – especially women – thrive on this challenge. We are, after all, the goddesses of multi-tasking! And every day – with one hand holding a child and the other a manuscript – I celebrate the fact that my freedom to be who I am was won by thousands of generations of remarkable women, perhaps leading right back to the Seven Sisters themselves . . .
I so hope you have enjoyed Star’s journey. Often, everyday quiet courage, kindness and inner strength go unacknowledged. Star has not changed the world, but has touched the lives of those around her and made them better. And through the process, she has found herself.