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Every author has one book that begins the journey. The novel that first introduced readers to their characters, their world, and the stories they felt compelled to tell. For Marcia Clayton, that book was The Mazzard Tree, the first instalment in her much-loved Hartford Manor Series.
Set in Victorian North Devon, The Mazzard Tree combines family saga, romance, and social history to tell the story of Annie Carter, a young woman determined to rise above the circumstances of her birth. Inspired by Marcia's fascination with family history and the lives of ordinary people in the past, the novel marked the beginning of a writing career that has since produced a series beloved by readers of historical fiction.
Today, Marcia joins us for Throwback Thursday to look back at the novel that started it all, sharing the inspiration behind the story, the challenges of writing her debut, and how The Mazzard Tree helped shape her journey as an author.
Publication Date: 21st December 2020
What first sparked the idea for The Mazzard Tree, and why did you choose a Victorian Devon village as its setting?
I’ve always loved history, and it was my interest in researching my family tree that first gave me the idea for writing The Mazzard Tree. My mother’s early life always intrigued me, but it wasn’t until my three sons were at school and I was a stay-at-home mum that I had the opportunity to investigate.
My maternal grandmother left her husband and four children when my mum was just eighteen months old – and my mum never met her. The two eldest children were taken in by their paternal grandparents, but my mum and her brother were put into care and eventually adopted. I discovered that when my granny left her husband, she was carrying a fifth child, my Uncle Bill, and he was brought up believing another man to be his father. It wasn’t until my wedding, when my mum and Uncle Bill were in their sixties, that they met each other for the first time – and were the spitting image of each other!
Although I’ve never used my own family history in my books, my genealogical research piqued my interest in the past and made me want to become a writer. My ancestors on both sides of my family lived in Devon villages for centuries, and the Victorian era has always been my favourite period in history, so Hartford became an imaginary Victorian Devon village.
This story blends rural hardship with romance — what drew you to explore life in that particular time and place?
Again, it was my love of researching my family tree that made me want to explore life in Victorian Devon. In the eighties, when I carried out my research, there was no internet, Ancestry, or Find My Past, so I did it the hard way, poring over census returns and parish registers and dragging my poor husband around many graveyards! In a way, I’m glad there was no internet to help me, as it was far more satisfying to discover the truth through my own efforts and, I suspect, more accurate. In carrying out all this research and trying to decide which names belonged to my family, I was drawn down many rabbit holes, intrigued by the stories I discovered, and I remember thinking, "This would make a good book!" The social divide between the well-to-do and the poor was evident, and I decided to base my story on a village where both classes lived side by side.
The relationship between Annie and Robert evolves from very unexpected beginnings. How did you develop their dynamic as the story progressed?
As a young woman, I read a lot of Catherine Cookson novels, and I still love her books today. They are set in the north of England, and many are about poverty-stricken families and their interaction with the gentry. I often thought I would like to write a book in the same vein, but set in North Devon. I put a lot of thought into how Annie and Robert should meet, and, as I wanted to contrast the lives of the poor villagers with those of the well-to-do Fellwood family, I thought it would be an interesting idea for them to fall in love. I knew their families would not approve of their relationship, and that the couple would meet many hurdles along the way, and I felt this would help to develop their love for each other.
Which part of writing this novel challenged you the most, whether in research, character development, or plot?
When I started writing The Mazzard Tree, I was a busy mum of three boys and working full-time, so I had little time to write, and consequently, the book took me several years to complete. I didn’t plan the whole book before I started writing – I just started writing and let the story develop as I went along. Because of this, the part of writing that challenged me the most was finalising the plot, which changed many times before completion and required several rewrites.
What was one surprising discovery you made during your research into Victorian rural life that influenced the book’s tone or detail?
Before carrying out my research for The Mazzard Tree, I had always thought of the Victorians as mostly prim and proper and well-behaved. However, it soon became clear that they were no better than the rest of us and in some cases, much worse! This led me to involve some aristocratic characters in nefarious deeds and to show that there was good and bad in both the upper and lower classes.
Looking back now, how do you feel your writing approach has changed since you first completed this book?
Since writing The Mazzard Tree, my approach to writing has changed considerably, as I now plan each chapter carefully before I start writing a book. This is the part I find the most challenging and the part I procrastinate over. However, once I have made bullet points for each chapter, I can’t wait to start writing. The Mazzard Tree is the first book in The Hartford Manor Series, and because of this, I need to be careful to remember details about the characters and events that have happened in earlier novels when I write the next book in the series. So, in short, I’m much better prepared these days before I even start to write the first chapter.
Are there any themes in The Mazzard Tree that you find yourself returning to in your later work?
Yes, there are themes in The Mazzard Tree that I return to in each of the other books in The Hartford Manor Series. The book is set in the village of Hartford, and as it is set in Victorian times, the families are large, though not all children survive. The main theme across all the books is the contrast between the lives of the poverty-stricken working class and the wealthy Fellwood family. Annie and Robert are the main characters in The Mazzard Tree, and their relationship crosses the class division of the time. This theme is continued throughout the series.
What’s one piece of feedback from readers that has stayed with you or influenced your perspective on your writing?
I appreciate the positive feedback that I get from readers, and this has helped my self-confidence enormously. A glowing review or a few kind words from someone who has enjoyed one of my books is such a pleasure to receive. I never intended to write more than one novel, and yet here I am halfway through writing my eighth book. I would probably not have continued to write but for the encouragement I have received from readers and other authors over the years.
If you could go back to the day you started writing The Mazzard Tree, what advice would you give your earlier author self?
As mentioned in an earlier question, I would plan the whole book before I started writing. I would also conduct further research into the self-publishing process. I was very naive when I published my first book, and I wish I had been better informed. However, I have learned from my mistakes – and continue to do so.
As you look at your journey since this book was published, how do you think The Mazzard Tree helped shape your path as a writer?
I learned a lot from writing The Mazzard Tree. When I had the book edited, I realised it was far too wordy, and that, despite achieving a Grade A in A-level English Language and Literature, my grammar and punctuation needed attention. I also found that I tended to repeat certain words, so I now keep a checklist and search my document for those words to avoid repeating them. I’ve learned a lot about self-publishing and can now format and upload my books to Amazon as e-books and paperbacks myself. Fortunately, my daughter-in-law is a graphic designer, and with a little input from me, she has produced all my covers.
Thank you, Marcia, for taking us back to where the Hartford Manor story began.
It is fascinating to see how a passion for family history, years of dedicated research, and a love of Victorian Devon combined to create The Mazzard Tree. What began as a single novel has grown into a successful and much-loved series, proving that sometimes the stories that stay with us the longest are those rooted in the lives of ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges.
Marcia's reflections offer a wonderful reminder that every author's journey begins with a single book and that experience, perseverance, and the encouragement of readers can help transform a first novel into the foundation of a lasting writing career.
If you have not yet discovered The Mazzard Tree, there has never been a better time to visit Hartford and meet the characters who started it all.
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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx