Caroline McGhie

@carolinemcghie.bsky.social

Novelist The Sitter published by Waterland Books www.waterlandbooks.com #historical novel #Norfolk novel

Big thank you to Norfolk Living Magazine for this lovely review. Also many thanks to Cromer Museum for an interesting Friday afternoon discussing the historical background of The Sitter. And hurrah for all those who came to Holkham Hall Courtyard Gift Shop on Sunday to buy signed copies!

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Come out of the wind, leave the deer behind and browse among the books in Holkham gift shop. My local novel The Sitter (published by Waterland) is set in 1900-1901, in the age of steam and the opening of Cromer Pier. I’ll be there signing copies tomorrow, Sunday October 5th. #holkhamhall

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“It lies below us, stretching far out into the waves wrapped in railings, painted white like the icing on Mother’s wedding cakes,with domes and lamp-posts instead of candles.” Jack Stamp’s view of Cromer Pier in 1901 in my novel The Sitter, published by Waterland Books

The Tin House in Norfolk where Rough Jimmy hangs out in my novel The Sitter (Waterland Books) set in 1900-1901. The owner, who has seven children, gives him leftover porridge with a little honey from her bees. Made of corrugated iron, it is now beautifully restored as a quirky two-bedroom home.

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The church at Burgh Parva on the fringe of Melton Constable is so like the church that Rosie found at Swanton Stoke in my new novel The Sitter. Before her was the Tin Church “made of corrugated iron” painted bright red and yellow. This was built in 1903 for £270. Inside is a luxurious surprise.

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“I can almost touch the homes of Boney Craske, Jockey Skillings, Toby Girling…In winter when the lamps are lit I can see inside if I want to. Since I was born they have all been there, going out and coming in like the trains do.” So says Jack Stamp in my novel The Sitter. Was this where he lived?

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I went back to Melton Constable this morning, the village which inspired Swanton Stoke in my novel THE SITTER (Waterland Books). I sat on the steps into The Works, still there after almost a century of neglect. I imagined I heard steam and the screech of metal on tracks. And then I wept.

Feel rather excited to be on Bluesky for the first time. Also thrilled to have my first novel The Sitter published by brave indie Waterland. I’ve spent more than 30 years living, walking and loving Norfolk so the fact they’re focused on East Anglia makes it a great honour.