Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

The Light Between Oceans was such a powerful story. I have reccommended it to several friends and we will be reading and discussing it in my women's book discussion group next fall! Are you working on another book? If so, would you share just a little bit about it?

I thoroughly enjoyed "Light Between The Oceans" you could feel the isolation. More books please.

Margo wrote: "Welcome to the group! M.L. Stedman will be answering questions throughout the day on Friday, May 10th in this thread only. In the meantime if you have a question for M.L. Stedman or just want to in..."

Good afternoon from London! Thanks so much to all of you who have read the book, especially those who have gone to the trouble of posting questions. I’ve never been on an online forum before, so I hope I don’t commit some grave technical/etiquette error. (Please bear with me if I do!). There are some great questions, and I’ll answer as many as I can.

As the saying goes, ‘great minds think alike�, and lots of you have asked about similar things. Rather than giving the same answer over and over, I’ll try to answer in detail once, and hope that you’ll see it applies to your question too. I hope that's ok.

Here goes...
M

Shirley wrote: "Hello M.L.,
This is Baltimore poet, Shirley Brewer. I can't recall when I last read a book that moved me as deeply as "The Light Between Oceans." Such beautiful language as well as a poignant stor..."
Hi Shirley,
Delighted to hear from you. It’s praise indeed to have a poet admire the language. I do write poetry from time to time � I find it a great writing discipline, and a wonderful way of focussing the mind. I have always been an avid poetry reader, and am inspired by many more than I could name, but off the top of my head I’d mention Shakespeare, John Donne, Sylvia Plath, Dante, Mary Oliver, Yeats, Keats, Michael Leunig, Judith Wright, A.D. Hope, T.S. Eliot, Rumi, Tagore, Baudelaire, Larkin, Rilke, Ted Hughes, Dylan Thomas � the list goes on and on (and on and on�).

Annie wrote: "Hi M.L.
I'm an amateur writer and I am in Junior High. I started writing my own book but just don't know how you made your book so moving. Honestly, I'm not a fan of crying during books or movies b..."

Hi Annie,
I’m so delighted you liked the book. And how great to hear from a budding writer! I’d say ‘a curious and wandering mind� was an essential tool for anyone who wants to write. And as for saying you could never write a book like mine - never say never: I’d never tried to write a novel before I wrote this one. I had no idea whether I could (in fact for many years, just like you, I assumed I couldn’t, and stuck to writing short fiction). I’m not sure I can give a simple answer about ‘what inspires me to write�. I just follow my instincts, and go with what interests me, so I think you’re on the right track in ‘noticing every little detail� and following the call of ‘random things that make you want to write�. Have fun exploring your writing world � I wish you all the very best with it.

Laurent wrote: "Hello M.L.
I was wondering if there was any significance in using "Janus" to name the island (Roman god of beginnings and endings, and of gates, doors, doorways, endings and time. He is usually a t..."

Thanks, Laurent.
Yes, Janus is chosen exactly for the significance and resonance of the name. It also underscores the idea that there is always more than one way of looking at things, and the idea of being unable to see eye to eye about something. The doors of the temple of Janus were closed in times of peace and open in times of war, and there’s something in that too that echoes the turmoil of events unfolding on Janus Rock.

Krista wrote: "Which comes first: your story idea or a theme you want to explore? Also, your writing is stunning...how do you write so consistently or does it "just come out" that way? Also have you grappled with..."
Hi Krista,
Several people have asked this or a similar question, so I’ll give a longer answer here which hopefully will answer the various aspects of it.

When I write, I don’t plan what I’m going to write about. Usually I just see a picture or hear a voice or a phrase, and follow where that leads. If my writing comes across to you as consistent, I think that’s a by-product of working from the inside out (writing what comes up and figuring out what it means later) rather than from the outside in (where people plan and frame and structure, and then work their way deeper in from that outside scaffolding).

I think everyone grapples with moral dilemmas in their life from time to time, usually just little things, though sometimes more significant. I think the specifics of the dilemma don’t matter - we have experience of being in that place, of struggling to do the right thing where there’s no clear-cut answer. It’s that experience that I tried to get across in the book. For the record, though, I’ve never found a baby washed up in a dinghy on a deserted island�

Marcia wrote: "Ms. Stedman,

I'm a writer, a teacher, and an historian. Your novel touched me with the beauty of place so well evoked and the development of characters which led to their moral dilemmas. I believ..."

Thanks for your question, Marcia.
Following on from my explanation to Krista above about where my ideas come from, for THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS I sat down to write a story one day, and closed my eyes. A lighthouse appeared in my mind’s eye, and there was a woman there. I could tell it was a long time ago, off the coast of Western Australia. Then a tall man walked into the scene and I knew it was the lightkeeper, and I sensed he was wounded in some way. I kept writing down what I saw, and the picture became clearer, like a negative developing in a darkroom. Then a boat washed up on the beach, and in the boat there was the body of a dead man and a crying baby. I had to keep writing to see who these people were and what they were doing. Tom wasn’t inspired by a real person. I never base characters on real people � it would feel too constricting, I think. I much prefer the freedom of letting them grow of their own accord.

Andrea wrote: "Hello M.L.,

I just wanted to commend you on writing an extraordinary novel that really touch many emotions within me. My daughter had recommended your book and I have since told others about it. My question is how did you develop your storyline? Was the topic one you had wondered about? I found myself with mixed feelings about what they did. What was your thought on them keeping the baby? Thanks and look forward to your next one. Andrea ..."

Hi Andrea,
Thanks for joining the Q&A. Hopefully my answer to Marcia will answer part of this question. As to my thoughts on keeping the baby � I leave it up to you and your fellow readers to reach your own conclusions about that. I feel it would shut down the discussion if I were to weigh in with a definitive answer. That’s the point, I think � there are so many different ways of looking at it. I think the interesting thing for each reader is to see how and why you reach the view you do.

Deirdre wrote: "Congratulations on a beautiful, thought provoking book. I read that it is going to be made into a film, will you be involved in that process???
I hope that it will translate into a brilliant film, ..."

Thanks, Deidre.
DreamWorks Studios have optioned the film and David Heyman from Heyday Films is set to produce it. They’ve now enlisted a fabulous screenwriter to adapt the book (I don’t think I can give details yet, but it’s very exciting). Between them, I think they know rather more about making a film than I do, so I’m not sure there’s that much I can contribute. I’ll look forward to watching the project take shape.

Marsha wrote: "Hello,
I was born and bred in Perth, Western Australia, so was thrilled to see this great book set in W.A.
As a mother of a 3 year old daughter, I felt very torn as to who should be Lucy-Grace's "rightful" mother. As the book progressed, I became more aligned with Hannah. Isabel did the wrong thing by keeping the baby to begin with.
I would like to know more about your life growing up in W.A. - whereabouts did you live and grow up, and when did you leave? (If you don't mind sharing!) Thanks. ..."

Hello to a fellow Sandgroper*, Marsha. I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the W.A. setting. You’re not alone in feeling torn about what was the ‘right thing� � many readers are. I grew up in Perth, and though I left a long time ago, I spend time there whenever I can, usually at least once a year.

*A term of endearment for Western Australians, in case anyone’s confused.

Judy wrote: "My book club selected your book and it was one of the best discussions we have had in quite a while. Most of the discussion was about the characters in the story and their moral dilemmas. What a ..."

Hi Judy,
I’m so glad your book group had a great discussion. As to the authors I enjoy � it’s a long list, and not at all definitive. Just off the top of my head, and in no particular order, here are a few: Dickens, Graham Greene, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Marilynne Robinson, Homer, Gide, Kazuo Ishiguro, Cormac McCarthy, Ian McEwan, Nancy Mitford, P.G.Wodehouse, Jane Gardam, Edith Wharton, Katherine Mansfield, George Eliot� and many, many more.

Bruce wrote: "Hello Bruce in Texas one question

when is your next book coming out?

don't make us suffer to long"

Hi Bruce-in-Texas (I was in Houston a couple of weeks go, reading at the Blue Willow Bookshop � it was a great visit). I’ll try not to make you suffer too long. Thanks for the encouragement to write another book � it’s much better than getting a response along the lines of ‘have you thought of taking up knitting instead?�

Patti wrote: "This has been one of the best books I have read! I simply couldn't put it down. I was wondering how historically accurate it is? Thanks and I Look
forward to your next book."


Hi Patti, I’m so glad the book gripped you. As to historical accuracy, hopefully it’s fairly faithful to the time, in terms of, for example, the language they use, the communications technology available to them, and the manners and attitudes they have. I very much enjoyed researching different points, frequently by reading newspapers of the time to see whether a phrase was used, or an invention was available in that remote part of W.A. then.

My book club is discussing The Light Between Oceans next month, and I'm sure there will be many questions. One question I can imagine group members asking is if you could have imagined a happy ending to this novel given the characters and the circumstances or is the ending the very best ending we can expect taking everything into consideration?

Hello ML...can't see if you answered my ? from a few days ago when this started...the thread is gettting long! I am a debut author of a novel titled: Entrusted. How long did it take for your novel to "get out there" I have had amazing reviews but sometimes get discouraged at the slow pace (my first royalty was $2.95) HA! Did you know this would novel would be such a hit? I loved it Bravo if you didn't see my first question a few days ago...

Lin wrote: "I chose your book for my book club because I found it to be such a wonderfully written classic yet modern example of what I taught my students about tragedy as a high school English teacher -- it's all there: harmatia, hubris, catharthis, and redemption. The reader understands each character's downfall and flaw. Your heart breaks for each, even when you disagree with the choices made. Several readers in my book club wanted a "happy" ending -- but I argued that it was a perfect mix of redemption and reconciliation -- much more hopeful and peaceful than Sophocles! I, too, can't wait for your next work. (No pressure! lol)

Were you influenced by Aristotle? Sophocles? Shakespeare? All of the above? Did you intend to pull out threads of classic tragedy? ..."

Hi Lin
I suppose that, having studied literature, I couldn’t help but be influenced by the concept of tragic flaws, and by the workings of classical tragic structure. It’s interesting that you mention Sophocles, because I did particularly think back to Antigone and the need for the ‘due libations� of burial � there are so many people in this book who aren’t buried in the proper way. I also had in mind, when writing Tom, that wonderful quote from The Agamemnon, by Aeschylus. The translation I’m most familiar with (the Bobby Kennedy speech famously renders ‘despair� as ‘despite�) is:

“He who learns must suffer
And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget
Falls drop by drop upon the heart,
And in our own despite, against our will,
Comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.�

I think this applies, too, to Isabel by the end of the book.

Bibliophella wrote: "Ms. Stedman,

How much research did you do about war veterans and time spent on the Western Front to develop Tom Sherbourne's character? Did you have any family members who fought in WWI?

Thank y..."

Hi Bibliophella,
I had visited some of the Australian war graves in France some years ago, and was deeply moved by that. I did quite a lot of research about the First World War, both in the British Library, reading battalion journals and letters and field diaries, as well as going through the records of the Australian War Memorial. I concentrated in particular on the Thirteenth Battalion (‘The Fighting Thirteenth�) which I had Tom join. And yes, like many Australians, I had family members who were killed in that war, and others who came back forever changed. Tom is not based on any of them, though.

Sherry wrote: "Sherry Rummler (SherryRummler) | 2 comments So excited for the opportunity to join this discussion on Light Between Oceans....my favorite read of the year thus far!! I am a debut author of a novel titled Entrusted that was released in January. I was so impressed because your novel incorporated impeccable writing, moral dilemma and intrigue. Bravo!! Thanks for a great read! I actually sent it to my Mom for Mother’s day and am recommending it to all my reader friends! So my question: Did you know the impact that your writing would have on readers before the novel was released AND how many edit’s did you go through before final manuscript? (Do you write until finish and then edit or do you edit as you go?) Blessings..."


Sherry, it’s great that you gave it to your mother for Mother’s Day!
When I was writing, I had no idea that anyone would even read the book, let alone be affected by it. As to your question of ‘how many edits� � it’s hard to say, as I edit a bit as I go along. I think in total there were four drafts before it went to publishers. There were some big structural changes from the first to the second draft, but after that it was more shaping and fine-tuning story and character detail.
Fingers crossed for great success for your book!

Diane wrote: "M.L. ~ Congrats on the success of your book. I have added it to my all-time favorites and, in fact, just recommended it to my sister-in-law to read last weekend! The storyline and characters were s..."

I’m honoured � thanks for letting me know, Diane.

Jane wrote: "I like the fact that you didn't take side which mother you favour, they both have lost and suffered. Readers can feel both of their grieves. Did you originally have it in mind that whom you'd like..."

Hi Jane. I didn’t write with an audience in mind, so no, I wasn’t trying to get more sympathy for one character than another.

Janice wrote: "Hi M. l.,

I love your book and read it because the title caught my interest. I had no idea it was going to be such an incredible and inspiring, and heartwretching book. I have recommended it to my..."

Hi Janice,
I’m so glad you enjoyed the book. You’ll find answers to your questions above, but in brief, the idea just turned up out of nowhere. As a writer, you’ll have your own version of how things work for you. I think it’s important to go with whatever is right for you, don’t you?

Cherie wrote: "I love being pulled into a story and trying to imagine what I would do in the same situation. Your story created doubt within me, would I send the baby back? Books like yours are the reason we keep reading, hoping to find a title that forces us to think beyond what we have experienced. What did/do you read, who are some contemporary authors that you enjoy? What was the drive for you, you want to write or you had a story to tell? ..."

Cherie, I’d say I was drawn to write the book, not driven. I write for the love of it, and for the fun of it. I write because I don’t have to � it’s a pleasure, not a duty. I imagine this is the same for lots of people who have had other careers before writing. When I wrote the book, I took the view that if it never got published, that was fine � there was simply no other way I’d rather have spent the days than going out to Janus Rock in my imagination and seeing what was going on. So the fact that it was published was extraordinary to me, and even more amazing is hearing how strongly readers like you have responded to it: to say I feel very fortunate is an understatement. (I hope I’ve answered your other questions via answers to some other readers.)

Angie wrote: "I enjoyed this book immensely and as a fellow antipodean, so much had a sense of familiarity for me.
Your book posed a deeply emotional and complex dilemma - did you know, from the beginning, how you would resolve it or was the solution played out by the characters? It is a book I treasure not only for the story but for the excellence of the prose. ..."

Thanks so much, Angie.
I had no idea how the story would end until it ended, and yes, the ending came through letting the characters be who they were, and be true to the time in which they were living.

M.L. wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Sherry Rummler (SherryRummler) | 2 comments So excited for the opportunity to join this discussion on Light Between Oceans....my favorite read of the year thus far!! I am a debut aut..."

M.L. wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Sherry Rummler (SherryRummler) | 2 comments So excited for the opportunity to join this discussion on Light Between Oceans....my favorite read of the year thus far!! I am a debut aut..."

Thank you so much! Let me know if you'd like me to send you a copy! :) All the best for you ML!! Much Blessings! :)

Kate wrote: "I literally held my breath chapter after chapter....anticipating how certain scenarios would unfold...in the final chapters I was so moved as the events began to show themselves and the moral issues integrated throughout the book... and, yes, I cried. How does an author construct such emotional prose...I know it comes from the heart and the mind (not to mention the talent) but what kind of mind-set does one enter into in order to paint such an emotional picture. (from a wanna-be-writer) Kate ..."


Hi Kate-the-Writer
(Maybe drop the ‘wanna-be� and just go for it :-))
I’m not sure I have any real answer to this because I just write how I write, without dwelling on an explanation for it. I think there’s something in it about following what comes up, recording it faithfully, and editing carefully afterwards. If you really let yourself feel what the characters are feeling, it opens up story, because you understand what they’re going to do and why, even if you disagree with it.

Kim wrote: "M.L.
Loved the book!!!! The themes within the book were great and the ending I did not see coming."

Thanks, Kim!

Leticia Garcia wrote: "Hi, I'm glad to join the book discussion. I usually share my books, but I was unwilling to send it to my daughter in Hawaii. I had to buy her a copy of her own. I've recommended it to two of my book groups and have designated it as a "my mother can read" book. Kudos on you success and I can't wait for the movie.
Smiles, Leticia ..."

Oh, Leticia thanks for boosting sales like that �. Thanks, too, for recommending it to your book groups. (‘Two of my book groups� gosh, sounds like you have a brace of them. I’m impressed�)

Melinda wrote: "I found that for me, it was not the message of who's side was right or wrong, but the life lesson of forgiveness - that you have to work to remember to stay mad at someone. What a waste of energy that is! Forgiveness is many times for the person doing the forgiving - to enable them to move beyond the hurt. ..."

Melinda, I agree that forgiveness is a key theme of the book. I’m not sure it’s always easy, but I suspect it’s always good for you. I like that saying that ‘bearing a grudge is like drinking poison and hoping the other person will die�.

Heidi wrote: "Hello! My name is Heidi and I am from West Virginia. I read your book while on a cruise this spring break (we were celebrating my graduation from grad school)!!! I loved it. But honestly, you just about killed me throughout the story and especially with the ending. Whyyyyyyy couldn't you have allowed Isabel to see Lucy? Thank you for your wonderful book. I can't wait to read your next novel!!
..."


Hi Heidi,
Thanks for dropping in. I’m taking your question as more of an exclamation, so all I can say is � sorry it didn’t go how you’d have liked it � Thanks for your kind comments though!
M

Gloria wrote: "I am a librarian and our book discussion group just finished discussing your awesome book. They have these provocative questions:
*Is there a Christian influence on your writing: light (Lucy) and blessing (Grace), issues of forgiveness, Tom's doing the right thing in the face of persecution, etc.

*Do you have a tragic view of the human condition?
..."

Hi Gloria,
It’s great to hear that your book discussion group chose THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS. Answering your second question first � definitely not! I’d say I’m an optimistic realist. I think by and large people want to be good. Difficult things happen in life, and so do good things � I think it’s important to keep both of them in focus. I’d say that my writing is influenced by all sorts of philosophies and cultural factors, and the concepts of ‘light� and ‘grace� are found in many of them.

I love books that don't always have a happy ending. Life isn't a tidy as we would wish it to be. It also makes for better discussions. What I enjoyed about the book is your setting. Not having been to Australia you helped paint a better picture other than kangaroos running around. Will your next venture also have great scenery? It really helped paint a picture.

Kristy wrote: "M.L.,

I was not expecting to like the book but came away pleasantly surprised; I loved it! Two questions: (1) Did you ever consider having Isabel not die before meeting the adult Lucy? If not, why did you choose this fate for her? I have to say, I really felt for Isabel, probably because you began the book with her and Tom's story. I can't say I would have chosen the same path that you had her choose, but being a mom, I totally understood why she couldn't let her go, even after she was forced to. When she died, especially a week before meeting adult Lucy, I sobbed and sobbed. What an incredibly sad twist of fate. (2) I am a not-yet-published fiction writer, and since this was your first book, I am wondering what you did in preparation to write it?..."

Hi Kristy,
I’ve answered questions about the ending elsewhere, so I’ll go straight to your second question. I’d spent many years doing the occasional writing course (for anyone in the UK, I thoroughly recommend those run by the Arvon Foundation). I have always written for the love of it, not with any goal in mind. I’d had some short stories published, and never even dreamed I could write a novel � it seemed much too big an undertaking. I didn’t do any preparation for this story at all � it started out just like all the others � something turning up from nowhere. When people encouraged me to write it as a novel, I did do one thing, which, again, I’d highly recommend to anyone. I put this story away safely, and enrolled in NaNoWriMo � the hilarious ‘National Novel Writing Month� . The idea is that you start out with a blank page on November 1st, and if you write a certain number of words each day, by the end of the month you have the first draft of a 50,000 word novel (usually a completely junky and unpublishable one). So, I took a character that I’d created in a different story, and used her as the basis of an extremely silly tale, just for my own amusement. The idea with NaNoWriMo is that you just keep writing, without editing: it's all about getting to that fifty thousandth word. It was the first time I’d ever tried writing long fiction, and it absolutely recalibrated my writing brain. It was great fun to do. I’ve never even looked at the ‘novel� I wrote there that wasn't the point of it. Just like you train for a field sport by working out in a gym, I explored things about writing in that exercise knowing that it didn’t matter at all what I wrote, as long as I noticed HOW I wrote. I’m not sure how well it would suit someone who likes to plan their writing in detail, but for me it was perfect.

Good luck with your writing!

Julia Rose wrote: "M.L. How did you come upon the idea for this excellent book? (Written well, evoked emotion, great characters, and I didn't see the twists and turns in the plot ahead of time. Bravo!)"

Thanks so much, Julia Rose. Glad you didn’t guess what was coming�

Ellen wrote: "I loved the lyrical nature of this debut novel. Truly haunting and beautiful.
Much here has been said about Isabel, but it is Tom who initially is stuck in the moral dilemma and continues to be torn apart by the "wrongness" of keeping the baby. Is it part of his true nature or is it a result of his WWI experience? I liked this complicated yet simple man and his desire for isolation. ..."

Hi Ellen,
That’s an interesting question. Towards the end of the book, the narrator says of Tom:
‘[H]e knows that the man who makes the journey has been shaped by every day and every person along the way. Scars are just another kind of memory.� Tom’s early family experience, where an inadvertent comment turned out to be a betrayal that deprived him of his mother, meant that very early on he was torn apart by the wish to do the right thing, without knowing what that was. His experience in the war carved that into him even more deeply. I suspect the interplay between nature and experience is two-way, not one-way.

Ingibjörg wrote: "Dear M.L.,
I absolutely loved your novel. It is beautifully written, very poetic, and very moving. I kept reading into the night because I wanted to know what would happen to the characters, and I could empathize with them all, understand both mothers' feelings, etc.
There have been so many questions asked of you already, but I guess I could ask you whether you realised you were writing a book that would appeal to so many people - that its themes are universal and timeless? I am also intrigued by the time setting, and especially Tom's background in the war. His strong moral sense seems to spring from his war experiences to a great extent. Was that a part of why you decided to give him this experience and background? ..."

Hi Ingibjorg,
I’ve answered some of your questions in other places here, but as to the one about whether I realised that I was writing a book that would appeal to so many people, the answer is no. I wrote it for myself, because it interested me, and it was a dilemma I could keep worrying away at like a sort of puzzle. I was completely amazed that publishers in places like Taiwan and Lithuania said it would appeal to their readers for precisely the reason you cite � themes that are universal and timeless. It hadn’t even crossed my mind.

Kimberly wrote: "Hello! I am excited that you will be participating in this online discussion because I had a huge question after I finished your extraordinary novel. If the book was set in modern times with the technology we now have available, do you believe that this would have affected Isabel's choice to keep the baby?..."

Kimberly, I think isolation plays a vital role in the decisions and behaviour of Tom and Isabel. There’s something very powerful about immediately seeing the effect of your actions on other people � Tom and Izzy don’t have the ‘moral mirrors� that community provides. As the narrator comments in the book, ‘On the Offshore Lights you can live any story you want to tell yourself, and no-one will say you’re wrong: not the seagulls, not the prisms, not the wind.�

Elizabeth wrote: "Your book was particularly inspiring to me, as a writer, because of the balance you so aptly achieved between character and setting and plot. It made for a complete story. My question for Friday: were you conscious of doing this and if so, what were your main steps in the process? ..."

Hi Elizabeth,
The answer to this one is, ‘no�. I didn’t consciously aim for balance, but the way I think of it, my writing process is like rolling out pastry, a bit in one direction, then evening it up by rolling it in another direction, and so on until it’s the right shape. So in writing a scene, I might start just with what happened and get that down. Then later, I might come back and notice the physical setting, filling out detail. As to character � the more time I spent with the characters, the better I got to know them, and the more faithfully I could put them on paper.

Cheryl wrote: "Something happened when I read this book, that had never happened to me before; I started crying. My gosh, what a story to have moved me so much. My only question is, what have you written before this, that perhaps never saw the light of day, and what do you have planned after this wonderful book? ..."

Hi Cheryl,
I’ve written various short stories over the years, some of which have appeared in anthologies, but this was my first try at a novel.
From what I’ve said about my writing process in answer to other questions, I’m sure you’ll understand that I don’t really talk about work in progress � I have to give it quiet, mysterious space in which to incubate, so I’m studiously avoiding all questions on that topic. But when there’s news, I’ll share it�

Lori wrote: "This was one of the most moving books I have read in a long while. I absolutely loved it. Here's my question:

"Why did you choose to have Isabel Sherbourne pass away days before Lucy-Grace comes looking for she and Tom? It was gut-wrenching and beautiful, but boy was I hoping for a second chance for Isabel."..."

Lori, I think Isabel did get a second chance � a second chance at life, but more the interior life. In my mind, she lived happily with Tom, not forgetting what she had lost, but not letting it rob her of the blessings she did have.

Regarding the movie adaptation of your novel, since it is nearly impossible to do a great book justice on the big screen, are there any portions of the book that you would insist on keeping, and what changes would you let slide if you had the option? I personally read the book as if it were a movie so I'm not surprised it is being turned into one, but I loved your novel so much I'm grimacing at all the potential changes they'll make. It is perfect the way or is!!

Dear Ms. Stedman, I fear I have only just discovered this forum on the way out the door to work, but I have just read your book for my book group which meets on Monday. Those of the group that I have talked to have said they greatly enjoyed the book! I find your writing very powerful and I was constantly moved by the emotions and difficult issues presented in this book. Something in particular that struck me and my aunt is your description of life on the lighthouse island. We were curious what inspired you to write about lighthouses and how you went about researching them? There are obviously many hardships involved with such a life style, but I must say, you made it rather appealing to me!

Thank you so much for your time and such a lovely book.

Best of wishes,
Madeleine

Linda wrote: "As a novelist (THE BLOODLETTER'S DAUGHTER, THE DROWNING GUARD, HOUSE OF BATHORY), I am keenly interested in how other writers set priorities on their time.

You choose to give very few interviews and rarely make appearances.Do you feel this keeps you centered and focused on your writing? Or are you a shy and/or private person who doesn't feel comfortable in the public eye?..."

Hi Linda,
Thanks for joining the discussion.
I think it’s very important to keep a lot of private space for creativity � that ‘negative capability� that Keats describes thrives in a state of unknowing. Rilke talks about ‘living the questions� � which of course is very different from providing sound bite answers in interviews. I’m very new to the whole idea of publicity anyway � until about five minutes ago, no-one had ever asked to interview me, and it’s still rather surreal to me that anyone might want to.

I enjoy meeting readers in person, and I’ve done a couple of US book tours where I’ve been fortunate enough to meet them and hear what they had to say about the book.
(By the way - you’ve written three times as many novels as I have! I doubt there’s anything I can say that you don't already know �.) All the best with your next project.

E.G. wrote: "Congratulations, Ms. Stedman, on an extraordinary work. Like you, I am an attorney trying to reinvent myself as a writer of fiction. Has the study and practice of law informed your literary work and, if so, how?..."

Thanks, E.G.
I’d say that law has been very helpful in lots of ways. For a start, it teaches you to marshal facts and express ideas clearly. I think lawyers are hard-wired for structure: information has to be presented in the right order so as to have persuasive impact, and that’s very helpful when it comes to fiction. For this book in particular, it was helpful to have had years of experience in seeing things from many different points of view. I wanted to put each character’s side across as powerfully and fairly as possible � to be their advocate, so to speak. It was also very helpful to have a legal background when researching the laws that applied at the time.

Good luck with making the transition from Law to Letters � I hope you enjoy the process as much as I have.

Sara wrote: "Hello M.L.

Question: Our book club enjoyed reading "The Light Between Oceans" very much!! At the end, why did you choose to have Isabel die without the opportunity of seeing Lucy and baby when when they came to visit Tom?..."

So glad your book club enjoyed the book, Sara. As to the end, I always had a sense that Tom would see Lucy again later in life, and I also had a sense that Isabel wouldn’t. As I said somewhere above, I just write what comes up, and that’s the ending that came up, and it felt right and real. I know there are some people who say that the ending is too sad, but my response to that is twofold. Sometimes, life is terribly sad, yet somehow, we usually survive that sadness, even though it changes us, not always for the worse. Secondly, I see the ending as uplifting. Isabel lived two more decades with the man she loved, and found peace with him and with herself. She found happiness in a way she never would have thought possible.

Illini01 wrote: "Great book! I loved it abd I loved that it wasn't predictable. I have two questions for you. 1 - Why did you choose this title? What does it signify for you? 2 - What are your favorite books..."

Thanks, Illini01,
The title turned up pretty early on, and stayed. For me, there’s the parallel between Lucy (meaning light) between two families, and two realities; there’s the idea of Lucy coming between Tom and Isabel, as well as being torn between two mothers. There’s also a lot in the state of ‘between� � it’s the space which is neither one thing nor the other, the grey moral area. ‘Between�, of course, also implies relationship, and the book is all about relationships of many kinds.
I’ve put a few authors� names earlier on, so you’ll find that part of your question answered above.

Shannon P. wrote: "I was drawn to this book because I love lighthouses. I selected it for my book club when it was my turn to host. It really took my breath away. I loved this book and was so surprised at how much it moved me, also at how much I was attached to each character. Well done. Congrats on a great first book!

Two things:

First, I made this PowerPoint to run in the background during our book club gathering. I thought others who read the book might like to look at it also.(...)

Second, my question for Ms. Stedman is about the points of view of the characters. While the book was in the third person, there were times in the book where you seemed to be focusing on one character's point of view. Did you find it difficult to write from Tom's point of view? Did that require more research? How did you move from one character's POV to the next? Did you write all the Hannah chapters at once, then the Isabel chapters, etc.? (Ok, that's more than one question.)..."

Wow, Shannon � that’s an extraordinary powerpoint. I hope your book group enjoyed all your hard work.
As to your questions � I found it easy to write from Tom’s point of view � I had a very clear sense of who he was and what he felt. I would often just ‘come alongside� a character, and see what was going on with them. I very much enjoyed that part of the process, really getting to understand what made them tick. I tend to write a scene at a time: I’ll see something happening, and start to write it down, and watch how it develops. I didn’t write in chronological order: it’s a bit like drops of water � a drop here and a drop there, and in the end they all join up and make a complete body.

Victoria wrote: "Hello M.L. I loved your debut novel. The plot, the characters and the scenery in my imagination was superb. When is your next book coming out? Good luck. Vicky"

Glad you enjoyed the book,Vicky!

Gail wrote: "Ms. Stedman,
Not only did I read your book once, but I insisted that my book club read it so I reread the novel! I am a voracious reader and, when I read your book, your prose became alive! I was r..."


Gail, thanks so much for your insightful comments. I’m afraid many readers are reduced to tears by the ending, and I’ve had reports of men and women sobbing in trains, planes and car parks. But that’s only fair, as I cried when I wrote it. I’m glad that you’re waiting impatiently for my next novel � I’d be even happier if I could persuade you to wait patiently! It takes a while, this writing thing�

Marge wrote: "I totally enjoyed your book and have recommended it for my book club next year. The humanity of your characters was so believable and beautifully described. The locale was new for me and I wonder is it a real place or is it imagined? Thanks. I look forward to reading more of your works. ..."

Hi Marge. Thanks for recommending the book. Janus Rock exists only in my imagination (and yours too, now). Point Partageuse is situated roughly where the town of Augusta is in Western Australia, but the location is about the only thing it has in common with it.