The Thin Places by Margaret Kirk Writing as Taylor Duncan
Margaret Kirk (writing as Taylor Duncan)
After a couple of detours via Bournemouth, Germany and the Lake District, Margaret finally made it home to the Scottish Highlands a few years ago. Often to be found pinned under a demanding cat, she’s easily tempted by an occasional espresso martini (but no whisky, please!). Margaret’s first foray into writing was in the field of crime fiction, but she is also the writer of several short stories, one of which was broadcast on Radio 4 in its ‘Scottish Shorts season’. Two others have been published in translation in Germany and Switzerland.
Now writing in a very different genre, she’s excited but trepidatious to see where her new incarnation as Taylor Duncan (a name chosen in homage to a formidable great-grandmother) takes her.
What made you enter the Cheshire Novel Prize?
I was hugely impressed by the fact that all entrants were offered professional feedback on their entries. This is truly invaluable! I had entered the previous year and just missed out on the longlist, but received some very encouraging comments, so I took note of them, entered again, and it really paid off!
What did it feel like when you were LL and then SL?
I was absolutely delighted to have made the longlist, and was feeling very happy with that. The shortlisting was a massive shock, because I genuinely never expected it.
What was the reaction from those around you/family and friends?
Very pleased for me, because they knew I’d gone through a period of real self-doubt with my writing.
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
I actually came across an old newspaper article about a ruined castle nearby with a disturbing legend attached to it (Though given where I live, they’re not exactly thin on the ground … 😉)
What’s it about?
My elevator pitch would be: Department Q meets Outlander, with a dash of Discovery of Witches. It’s set in my home town of Inverness and the north-east coast of Scotland.
What’s your writing routine?
I’ve only recently evolved a proper routine recently (after making the shortlist, to be honest!). I write every day, take breaks when I feel my concentration flagging, drink lots of coffee and try to go out for a walk every day. It really does help.
What’s next for you?
The Thin Places is book 1 of a planned series, so I need to start thinking seriously about book 2!
What are your favourite books and why?
I love Hilary Mantel’s ability to make historical figures come to life in the Wolf Hall trilogy, Sarah J Maas’s worldbuilding in ACOTAR is incredibly rich, Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books are sharply witty – so many more I could mention! And Yellowface was a hugely compelling read.
Any tips for writers intending on entering the competition?
Firstly, take a look at the hints and tips on the website. Don’t submit too early – take the time to polish your work until you’re as happy with it as you can reasonably be, then go for it. If you’ve entered in a previous year and didn’t make it to the longlist, read over your feedback again – if it chimes with you and your vision of your book, then revise and resubmit. It worked for me!