Haven’t had a guest on for ages so it’s a pleasure to welcome Jan Baynham back, especially as she’s brought with her pictures of sunny Kefalonia and an insight into her research. I’m a real Greekophile and love Jan’s books. Double delight! Over to you, Jan. Tell us all about your latest release …

Thank you, Georgia, for welcoming me onto your lovely blog to talk about the research I did for The Silent Sister.

As an historical fiction writer, research into the time, events and places in my novels plays a very important part in the writing process. It was especially so in my most recent novel because it centred around a particular event, the devastating earthquake in Kefalonia in 1953. Before starting to write, I read as much as I could to learn about the disaster that decimated most of the island apart from a small area in the north. It was very important for me to get my facts correct but not allow them to dominate the story. They would form the background to a very human fictional story about a three-year-old little girl, Eléni, who was pulled barely alive from the rubble while her parents and grandparents had perished alongside her. I also researched what first names and surnames were common in Kefalonia at the time. As I wrote the first draft, I made notes of things to check at the editing stage. For me, one of the best ways to add authenticity and a sense of place to your writing is to try to walk in your characters’ footsteps, eat and drink what they do, imagine what they would think and feel. With this in mind afterfinishing the first complete draft of the story, I travelled with my daughter to the island with a list of things to find out and places to visit. 

Kefalonia is a beautiful island and although I had visited the island on holiday before, this visit was specific to the novel. I checked out the vibrant colours of the sea and my favourite bougainvillea, smelt the wild thyme, heard the cicadas and sampled the delicious food and drink.

On the first day, we visited the excellent museum in Argostoliwhere a huge collection of photographs showed us what the town was like before and after the earthquake. A member of staff, Theo, gave us so much helpful information not only about the earthquake but also about what life on the island was like in the fifities.

Eléni’s birth mother was a lace-maker and embroiderer. The stunning displays of handmade baby clothes in the museum provided me with details I was able to write about in the book.

The church of Agios Nikolaos is known for its bell tower surviving the earthquake while the main structure of the church was destroyed and later rebuilt. It was in here that I imagined Eléni lighting candles to remember her mamá, baba, yiayiá and pappoú.  Later in the story, she is taken to see where they are buried and to pay her respects. By visiting the town’s cemetery myself, I could see that a Greek cemetery is so different from the ones in Wales.

As well as the emotional and poignant aspects of the novel, there are two love stories running through the book. What better than to write love scenes with the beautiful setting of secluded coves, candlelit dinners and amazing sunsets.

On my return from the trip, I had a bank of photographs and experiences to which I could refer when writing further drafts of the novel. I hope that readers will enjoy reading The Silent Sister and feel they have been on a virtual visit to a spectacular Greek island with my characters.  

Here’s a little background info on Jan:

Originally from mid-Wales, Jan lives in Radyr, on the outskirts of Cardiff. We have three

grown up children and five grandchildren. After retiring from a career in teaching and

advisory education, she joined a small writing group in a local library where she wrote her

first piece of fiction. Her first collection of stories was published by Black Pear Press.

Fascinated by family secrets and ‘skeletons lurking in cupboards’, Jan writes dual narrative,

dual timeline historical novels that explore how decisions and actions made by family

members from one generation, usually in or just after WW2, impact on the lives of the next.

Setting and a sense of place play an important part in all of Jan’s stories and as well as her

native mid-Wales, there is always a contrasting location in sunnier climes. She is published

by Joffe Books/Choc Lit. She enjoys meeting up with other writers, especially members of

our local Cariad RNA Chapter as well as when attending talks and workshops. When not

writing, her time is taken up with reading, family history, Pilates and looking after her

grandchildren.

You can buy Jan’s lovely book here:

And, if you’d like to find out more about Jan and her books, here are the social media linky things:

https://www.facebook.com/JanBayLit

https://twitter.com/janbaynham?

https://www.instagram.com/janbaynham/reels

Wow, Kefalonia looks gorgeous. Thanks so much for coming on, Jan. Can’t wait to read The Silent Sister. Wishing you many sales!

Love,

Georgia x