The Bloody Chamber

And I got the idea for this book then, I love reading historical fiction and I also love reading Gothic fiction and magical realism.

And I thought to myself, why am I not having a go at writing what I love to read? I love to read books like The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, or a perfume by Patrick Suskind.

And so I had this idea that I was going to try to write 11 stories set in 11 old towns or old cities around Europe.

And it would encompass and it would include all those elements that I love in fiction that I think will sort of revive the magic that you feel reading as a young reader.