Today, I am chatting with author Susan Gray about her novel, Then There’s Trust, the third book in her Blossoming of Truth series.
But first, let's check out Then There's Trust
Publisher: UK Book Publishing
Print Length: 322 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Historical Romance
Then There’s Trust continues The Blossoming of Truth series, exploring the lives of characters readers have come to know and care about. What inspired this latest instalment, and why did trust become its central theme?
At the end of Book Two, Hope on Hope, the characters were under my skin! They were so real to me, I felt compelled to continue their story. After exploring the importance of truth in Book One, the emotional journey of hope in Book Two, the theme of trust seemed a natural direction to adopt for Book Three…in particular, the testing of trust in relationships.
Darcy Dukas embarks on an exciting new chapter by joining Marcel Duval’s detective agency, but her decision places both her safety and her marriage at risk. What interested you most about taking Darcy in this new direction?
Darcy is a force of nature. She was an unpredictable and exciting character to write. In the previous book, she sees the world in black and white, until challenging events alter her viewpoint. Then There’s Trust begins when she experiences a personal disappointment laying bare her vulnerabilities. This aspect opened a new pathway for her… physical danger and temptation, as she steps out into the wider world. I was drawn to develop the theme of trust through her subsequent actions.
Josh Smallwood’s growing relationship with Judy is complicated by a family determined to keep them apart. Without giving too much away, what drew you to exploring forbidden love in 1950s Britain?
I loved researching the historical and social history of the 1950s. In post WW2 Britain, families were trying to rebuild their lives and regain their values after years of disruption. So much had changed and the young people of this decade were asking questions, not prepared to be bound with the restraints placed upon them by their elders. The concept of a relationship forbidden by Judy’s family, intrigued me. The reason must surely lie in the past, so I found myself peeling back the layers of their history.
Chantal Martin is burdened by guilt while trying to build a better future for herself and her twins. How important was it for you to explore themes of redemption, resilience and second chances through her story?
I developed great empathy for Chantal’s character. Book Two, Hope on Hope, tells her story exploring her tenacity, resilience and strong belief in hope. As we meet her again in Then There’s Trust, she has rebuilt her life. Although her marital status, as an unmarried mother is supposedly unknown in the village where she resides, she is unable to shake off the fragility of her situation and the guilt she carries. The concept of impossible situations endured in the post-war era, was ideal for further development of Chantal’s strengths and her ability to persevere against the social conventions of the day.
The novel carries several interconnected characters, each facing their own challenges. How do you balance multiple storylines while ensuring each character’s journey remains compelling?
My first draft is written in longhand. Each main character has their own journey centred around the theme of trust. To balance the storyline, I noted the plot lines and character threads in each chapter, creating a kind of map in a notebook. Then I colour coded each character’s appearance. It was important to give each one their ‘fair share’. The setting of a large extended family home in the narrative, helped to showcase this aspect.
The 1950s were a time of changing social attitudes, yet many expectations surrounding family, marriage, and reputation remained firmly in place. What aspects of the decade did you most want to capture in the novel?
The 1950s saw an older generation who had lived through two world wars, whereas the young people of the day were eager to ‘own’ this decade for themselves. Many wanted freedom from the expectations of their families, so their lifestyle, attitudes and fashion preferences pushed against the social traditions. Women wanted to work, have their own social lives and make their own decisions. These were the elements I tried to address through the lives of Darcy, Josh and Judy. Chantal straddled the generations, so her experience was different as she struggled with the social mores of the day.
Your books combine mystery with emotional family drama and romance. What is it about blending these genres that appeals to you as a storyteller?
My own reading preferences have always been mystery, family drama and romance…so I decided to write my own! I love the idea of delving into hidden family secrets, peeling back the tiers of former generational decisions and their impact. I find combing these elements satisfying.
You have said that your characters are often inspired by observing people in everyday life. Did any of the characters in Then There’s Trust begin with someone you noticed or a real-life situation that sparked your imagination?
All my characters are fictional. Tom, Darcy and Josh’s’ father, was originally created after I observed a young man in a coffee shop. I was drawn to the way he interacted with his companion and immediately knew he would be the basis for Tom’s character! Blossoming Of Truth tells Tom’s story. As a lifelong observer of people, facial expressions, gestures, mannerisms and temperaments, have found their way into my characters. The side character of Peg was created from an idealistic notion that every family should have a rock and a problem solver!
As the third book in the Blossoming of Truth series, how have the characters surprised you as their stories have developed? Have any of them taken the narrative in directions you hadn’t originally expected?
Yes…Rachel surprised me! I received ‘mixed comments’ about her character after Book One. So, I felt compelled to cause her to evolve as she matured. Looking back, I did not foresee her emotional potential when she first appeared in Blossoming of Truth. This aspect was a possibility when writing a series.
Whether readers are returning to the series or discovering it for the first time, what do you hope they take away from Then There’s Trust and its exploration of love, loyalty, and the fragile nature of trust?
My stories are character driven. Each person, whether a main or side character, is there for a reason and needs to be relatable. In a book series the characters are on a journey and life shapes them. I hope my readers can look back over each character’s development and reactions to the plotlines, recognising trust as a thread, which weaves its way throughout their fictional lives. It is both foundational and rooted in the experiences of life.. I would like to think my readers can identify with this facet!
A huge thank you to Susan Gray for joining us today and for sharing the inspiration and ideas behind Then There’s Trust.
It has been fascinating to discover more about the different journeys Darcy, Josh, Chantal and the wider cast of characters take in this third instalment, and how Gray has used the changing society of 1950s Britain to explore questions of family, reputation, love and personal freedom.
At the heart of it all is trust: how it is earned, how easily it can be tested and how important it can become when relationships are placed under pressure. For readers who enjoy character-driven historical fiction combining family drama, mystery and romance, Then There’s Trust promises another emotional visit to the world of the Blossoming of Truth series.
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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx