Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Dawn Harris

What inspired you to write “The Fat Badger Society”?

Harris: Well, this is the second book in my Drusilla Davanish Series, and I did a lot of research into what was happening in the 1790s in the UK, as I wanted to find something I could involve my main characters in. I soon discovered there were a number of things that I’d had no idea about at all, and that truly inspired me. I settled on the most important crisis of that time – the one that was causing an absolute uproar in Britain- and thoroughly enjoyed writing about it.

How did you come up with the names of your main characters?

Harris: I spent quite a long time trying to find distinctive names for the two main characters. I hope I succeeded! I wanted Christian names that were not too well known, and ones that fitted just right with their surnames.

Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?

Harris: I’ve always loved reading. As a child I loved books that were full of adventure, and when I was about eight or nine, my school teacher read out a story I had written in the class. I was so thrilled, but I didn’t actually give any serious thought to becoming a writer until my youngest child started school. When I began I was very lucky – I won a competition in the Yorkshire Post (a highly thought of UK newspaper), for a humorous political poem. (The prize was £5!), I continued to have poems printed, and also humorous articles about ordinary family life. Next I tried fiction and eventually had over 100 short stories published in UK women’s magazines and in other countries. I also won two writing competitions in UK magazines. After that I started on novels, and I really love writing them.

Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?

Harris: Well, for authors writing historical fiction, it needs a lot of research to get all the details right. To me that is very important. I enjoy that kind of research, it is utterly fascinating. Times change so much don’t they! Back in the 18th century, unmarried aristocratic women always had to be chaperoned, as I’m sure you know. That didn’t make it too easy for an unmarried Lady to solve a murder mystery or crime. And also in that time, class was something that everyone had to accept, and lives had to be lived according to the class they were in.

What is your favorite book, genre, and/or author?

Harris: Historical fiction. But I like it to include some humour. After all, that is life. I’m not so keen if the whole book is downcast. People, even in the most horrendous circumstances, were known to make a joke about it. As some people in France did about the guillotine. If I must pick one favourite author, then it is Georgette Heyer. I love her wit, humour, and detail, and her feel-good books, which I read over and over again. Difficult to pick one single book. “Venetia,” or “A Civil Contract,” or “Arabella,” or several others!

What are you working on next?

Harris: I am currently writing the fourth, and last, book in my Drusilla Davanish series. Then I hope to write another book following on from “The Ebenezer Papers,” which is set in the 1930s.

Learn More About the Author and The Fat Badger Society here:

Instagram: historicalfictiondawn

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1124751.Dawn_Harris
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawn.harris.9041/

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