The Girl in the Photograph - Read My Story in The People's Friend

 

 

 

 
Another in my series of inspiration behind the stories. This week, I have a story published in The People's Friend called 'The Girl in the Photograph'.

The inspiration was easy - it was the lovely illustration, by Andre Leonard, that accompanies my story in the magazine. One of the editors at The Friend asked me whether I might be able to write a story to go with it. The challenge to write a story, that would do justice to the illustration, was a challenge I couldn't refuse.

The setting was my starting point. The scenery behind the young couple in the picture, conjured up memories of holidays spent in the Lake District. I decided that the story would be based in the beautiful area around the village of Chapel Stile near Ambleside (you can see it in the photograph above).

The cottage I describe in my story is a small miner's cottage on the outskirts of the village where I have stayed twice. It has the most stunning view, over Lingmoor Fell, from the bedroom window. I decided this would be the cottage that my heroine Cassie would inherit (you see you can have a story published with an inherited cottage in it!)

Once I had my setting clear in my head, I looked at the girl in the illustration - at the look in her eyes. What was she thinking? Why did she look unhappy? I worked back from that and the rest was easy.

I was thrilled when my story was accepted and hope that if the illustrator reads my story, he will be happy with our partnership.