Today, I am delighted to welcome Marcia Clayton back to Yarde Book Promotions to discuss Betsey, the captivating prequel to her much-loved Hartford Manor series. In this interview, Marcia shares the inspiration behind returning to one of her most cherished characters, the influence of her own family history, and the enduring appeal of writing about resilience, family, and the beautiful Devon countryside.
But first, let's take a look at Betsey.
Betsey serves as a prequel to the much-loved Hartford Manor series. What inspired you to go back and explore the earlier events and characters that helped shape the world readers have come to know?
My debut book was The Mazzard Tree, set in a Devon village in 1880, and followed a couple of years later by The Angel Maker. I had not considered writing a prequel until I was writing The Rabbit’s Foot, the third book in the series, and I penned a conversation between a little girl called Selina and her Great Granny, Betsey. The conversation went like this:
Selina pulled at Betsey’s skirt. “Granny, did you bake with your granny when you were a little girl?”
A sad expression briefly clouded the old lady’s wrinkled face, but she quickly smiled at the child. “No, Selina, do you know, I never did. My childhood was a bit different from yours, but I’m so glad we can bake together, just like I used to do with your mummy.”
“I’ve never heard you talk about your childhood, Gran. Did you have many brothers and sisters, and where did you live?”
“We’ll keep that tale for another day, Annie. It’s a long story, and little of it is good.”
Betsey is a main character throughout The Hartford Manor Series, and that snippet of conversation sparked my imagination to write about Betsey’s childhood, which is set in the 1820s. As The Mazzard Tree was already Book 1 of the series, it made sense for this to be the prequel.
Betsey is forced to shoulder responsibilities far beyond her years while caring for her younger brother. What drew you to telling the story through the eyes of such a young yet resilient character?
The idea for this character came from my research into my family history. In doing my initial research, I explored other branches of our large family, and one man cropped up time and again and for all the wrong reasons. William, born in 1862, was married to Ellen, and they had eight children. Sadly, he was a poor father, unable to hold down a job, an abusive alcoholic, and it appeared his wife and children suffered a terrible life; several of the children died as infants. When William absconded and Ellen died young, some children were taken in by relatives, and two were sent to a children's home in London. It would have been nice if that had been a happy ending for them, but sadly, William remarried a widow with children of her own, and Ernest and Norman, two sons from his first marriage, were returned to him. Before long, having fathered another three children, William again went missing, this time for good, and his wife badly neglected Ernest and Norman, preferring to feed and clothe her own children. A newspaper story at the time reported how she was imprisoned for child neglect.
This story piqued my imagination as I wondered how the two boys might have supported one another and how resilient they must have been to survive. Betsey’s story differs from my own family history, but it provided me with the initial idea.
The relationship between Betsey and the gypsy family, particularly Freda and Jane, forms an important part of the novel. What role do these friendships play in Betsey's journey?
Betsey faced many challenges as a young child, and but for the kindness of others, she may not have survived. The gypsies, Freda and Jane, were important characters in both this book and the subsequent books. Freda taught Betsey things that would stand her in good stead for many years to come, and her friendship with Jane significantly impacted what happened to her during the rest of her life.
Jane finds herself at the centre of a rivalry between Thomas Fellwood and Jasper Morris. What interested you most about exploring these very different men and their motivations?
Thomas Fellwood was the second son of the Lord of Hartford Manor, a well-to-do man from an aristocratic family, while Jasper Morris was a poor miller from the village. However, both men were smitten with the young gypsy girl. It was unlikely either would be a suitable match: Jasper because Jane didn’t like him, and Thomas because he was from a different walk of life. I found it interesting to develop the story between these two men from such contrasting backgrounds, while examining the one thing they had in common – their attraction to Jane.
Secrets have always played a significant role in the Hartford Manor novels. Without revealing too much, how important is the dangerous secret Betsey agrees to keep, and what impact does it have on the story that follows?
Due to the hardships she has endured in her short life, Betsey is old beyond her years, and the secret she harbours is an important part of the story. Despite her tender years, the little girl knows that to tell anyone what she knows will put those dear to her in terrible danger. Many years pass before Betsey feels able to share this secret, and only then because of its impact on her later life.
North Devon provides a beautiful and atmospheric backdrop for your novels. How has your own connection to the area influenced the settings and characters you create?
I have always lived in North Devon and would never want to live anywhere else. I am a farmer’s daughter and was brought up to love and respect the beautiful scenery around me. Much of my childhood was spent working on the family farm, and I draw on my knowledge of the countryside, plants, and animals to shape the settings and characters in my books. I’ve often heard it said that you should write about what you know – and for me, this is the Devon countryside and way of life.
Family relationships, both loving and difficult, are at the heart of many historical family sagas. Why do you think these themes continue to resonate so strongly with readers?
All families have their happy memories and sad times, and I try to write my stories about everyday life in Victorian Devon. However, regardless of the era, family relationships sometimes become strained, and I think my readers enjoy that element in my books, maybe because they can relate it to their own experiences. A few readers have contacted me saying they want to scream at one of my characters or give him or her a good shake, and I take that as a compliment, knowing I have portrayed that character’s actions in a way that has provoked such a feeling.
Your interest in family history has inspired some of your characters and stories. Did any real historical discoveries influence Betsey in particular?
I mentioned in an earlier question that real events from the past gave me ideas for characters and storylines. However, much of this is my interpretation of historical facts. The example I gave was of a father of eight, who absconded, leaving his family in dire straits, only to remarry and do the same thing again after the death of his first wife. I discovered this mainly from studying census returns, which showed where people lived, and parish registers, which record baptisms, marriages and deaths. Often, that is all there is to go on, but in this case, I found a couple of newspaper articles to back up my suspicions. This discovery significantly influenced Betsey's story.
Having written several books in the Hartford Manor series, how has your understanding of the characters evolved as you've continued to expand their world?
I find my characters evolve as I continue to write. Sometimes I think they have a mind of their own, for although I plan all the chapters of a book before I start to write, I frequently have to change it when a conversation between two characters takes the story down a different path than the one I had planned. With each chapter and each book, the characters continue to develop and give me new ideas. It’s what I love about writing.
For both longtime fans of Hartford Manor and readers discovering the series for the first time, what do you hope they will take away from Betsey's story?
For first-time readers, I hope Betsey’s story will encourage them to want to read the rest of the series. For longtime fans, I hope they enjoy hearing more about Betsey’s background and childhood. For all readers, I’d like to think that Betsey’s story highlights that even from the saddest times and terrible hardships, happiness can be just around the corner and arrive from the most unexpected sources.
My thanks to Marcia Clayton for taking the time to share the story behind Betsey and the inspirations that continue to shape the Hartford Manor series. Whether you are discovering these novels for the first time or returning to familiar characters, Betsey promises a heartfelt and compelling journey into the past. We wish Marcia every success with the novel and look forward to seeing where her storytelling takes readers next.
Betsey by Marcia Clayton is available to read on #Kindle, in paperback and hardback, and can also be read with #KindleUnlimited. Pick up your copy HERE.
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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx