Yorkshire, 1845.
Folklore whispers that they used to burn witches at the standing stone on the moor. When the wind is easterly, it wails a strange lament. History declares it was placed as a marker, visible for miles—a signpost for the lost, directing them towards home.
Forced from their homeland by the potato famine, a group of itinerant Irish refugees sets up camp by the stone. They are met with suspicion by the locals, branded as ‘thieves and ne’er-do-wells.’ Only Beth Harlish takes pity on them, and finds herself instantly attracted to Ruairi, their charismatic leader.
Beth is the steward of nearby manor Tall Chimneys—a thankless task as the owners never visit. An educated young woman, Beth feels restless, like she doesn’t belong. But somehow ‘home’—the old house, the moor and the standing stone—exerts an uncanny magnetism. Thus Ruairi’s great sacrifice—deserting his beloved Irish homestead to save his family—resonates strongly with her.
Could she leave her home to be with him? Will he even ask her to?
As she struggles with her feelings, things take a sinister turn. The peaceable village is threatened by shrouded men crossing the moor at night, smuggling contraband from the coast. Worse, the exotic dancing of a sultry-eyed Irishwoman has local men in a feverish grip. Their womenfolk begin to mutter about spells and witchcraft. And burning.
The Irish refugees must move on, and quickly. Will Beth choose an itinerant life with Ruairi? Or will the power of ‘home’ be too strong?
Writing Interview Questions.
Why did you choose to write your book in this era?
The Standing Stone on the Moor is set in 1845. The time period was dictated by the fact that this book is part of a saga, although each book can be read as a standalone. I wrote the books out of time order. Tall Chimneys, the final book in the series, was written first, and covers the century 1910 – 2010. The House in the Hollow followed, set in the Napoleonic era, and The Lady in the Veil came next, set in 1835. So, I needed to fill the gap between The Lady in the Veil and Tall Chimneys.
Did you find researching this era particularly difficult? What was the hardest thing to find out, and did you come across anything particularly surprising?
I read widely and enjoy historical fiction, so I am fairly familiar with the manners, idiom and culture of the times, but I knew nothing about how coal mines were constructed or operated, and so I had to do a lot of research about that, which was surprisingly hard.
Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?
The theme of the book is displacement, and how it feels to be out of your natural place or to feel that you don’t quite belong. There is a sub-plot in the book which isn’t mentioned in the blurb, but which very much contributes to this theme. Herbert is the son of a newly rich colliery owner, educated as a gentleman and set to inherit great wealth, but he hasn’t the family history or traditions that go with his position; he is a fish out of water. He meets Rose, the daughter of the local vicar, who is Indian, though he has lived in England for thirty years. Like Herbert, Rose’s ethnicity sets her slightly apart. Their differences draw them together, though their love story isn’t necessarily a smooth path.
If you had to describe your protagonist(s), in three words, what would those three words be and why?
Beth (also known as Betsey) is conflicted—about her place in the world and her feelings for two potential love-interests.
She is courageous—facing storms, the mounted guard and a mutinous mob.
She is an empath—by which I mean she connects deeply on an emotional, physical and spiritual level with others and with the past.
What was the most challenging part about writing your book?
The same thing it always is—starting! Because I don’t plan out my plots and never know the end from the beginning, just setting out is a huge challenge. It’s like beginning a hike in an unfamiliar landscape with a bunch of strangers (my characters) who may—or may not—turn out to be reliable.
Was there anything that you edited out of this book that would have drastically affected the story, should it be left in?
Not this time. There have been occasions when I have been working on other books that I have written scenes or episodes that I realise contribute nothing to the plot or to the characters’ development, or that I have written just for fun as a self-indulgence. They have to come out. But I didn’t stray into that territory this time.
What are you currently working on?
I generally spend the summer reading, and supporting other Indies with beta-reads and on ARC launch teams. We have a large veggie patch so there is lots of harvesting, pickling and jamming to be done too! But my mind is already planning my next book, which will be another in the Talbot saga, this time going back to the beginning …
What would you tell an aspiring author who had some doubts about their writing abilities?
Practice makes perfect! Write! Write! Write! And read! Read classics. Read the best-sellers in your genre, and in other genres. Make a conscious decision to evaluate why they’re great—or not. Then apply that to your own work.
Personal Interview Questions.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I read. And I garden. We converted an unloved apron of lawn into a cottage garden last year, and I love pottering it that. I have five grandchildren, who are a joy to spend time with. I knit, usually things for babies. Unlike many women, I really enjoy the company of my husband.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
An actor. That took me to a drama degree where I discovered within about two weeks that acting was not for me.
What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?
Polyphenol ruby-red coleslaw with baked sweet potatoes topped with cheesy labneh! Didn’t expect that, did you? My cooking and eating regimes have been revolutionized recently by a cookery book by a lady GP who won Masterchef a few years ago. From dreary shepherd’s pies and lacklustre lasagnes, every day is now a thrill with new recipes with spices and ingredients I hadn’t even heard of. We hardly eat any meat, and use our own veggies from the garden where we can.
What would be a perfect day?
It would be autumn. Blustery, with rain in the air that doesn’t fall. Fast-scudding clouds. A lazy start with tea. A shower. A cup of proper coffee made from grounds with hot, frothy milk. A video chat with my daughter and/or my son and their kids. A walk on the beach with the dogs. An afternoon by the fire with a book and more tea, perhaps with crumpets. A good gin and tonic at 5.30pm. Then a quick change and an evening at our favourite restaurant, which is a tapas bar, with friends.
What is the best part of your day?
I’m not a morning person really, but getting up and opening the kitchen door to be greeted by the dogs is just the best. They are always so pleased to see me!
Either or!
Tea or coffee: Oh dear. Tea, I suppose.
Hot or cold: Cold.
Movie or book: Book.
Morning person or Night owl: I’m an afternoon animal.
City or country: Country.
Social Media or book: Book.
Paperback or ebook: Ebook, but only because it’s more portable.
Allie has been writing fiction since she could hold a pencil. She has a BA and an MA in English Literature, specialising in the classics of the nineteenth century.
She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a bookkeeper and the owner of a group of boutique holiday cottage but nowadays she writes full time.
She has two grownup children, five grandchildren and two cockapoos but just one husband, Tim. They live in the remote northwest of the UK.
The Standing Stone on the Moor is her sixteenth novel.
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