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'There was a lot to
pack into this one and many threads to tie up. Poor
Miss Boston is crippled, yet still has to face the
deadliest threat of all - The Lords of the Deep and
Dark. It was a great challenge but I wanted to pit
her against even more dangers and so the brides of
Crozier arrived.
I can't lay claim
to the idea of the fishmonkey.
I saw him in the Science Museum and knew at once I
had to use him. He's actually a fake mermaid, the
sort that sailors used to bring back from the Far
East over a century ago. They were made from all kinds
of things, sometimes simply carved from wood, but
this one was the top half of a monkey that had been
attached to a fish's body.
I have often been
asked to write another book about Whitby but, as most
of the main characters are either dead or vanished,
it would have to be a completely different concept
and not involve the aufwaders at all. I did have the
germ of an idea but it needs working on, perhaps one
day.
The character of Sister
Frances is based on the superb actress and comedienne,
Joyce Grenfell, in one of her galumphing roles.'
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