Event SW28: Celebratory launch and reading of new novel Hartisborne by Stephanie Norgate

Stephanie Norgate will read from and discuss her new novel Hartisborne. Eighteenth century ecologist Gil’s The Natural History of Hartisborne has saved 1960s Georgie’s life and led her to Hartisborne, her dream village. But is any place truly idyllic? What happens when dramas clash in the time-trapping woodland of Hartisborne?

Hartisborne, shortlisted for the Cinnamon Literature Award 2024, is a love-letter to reading and to nature. Stephanie grew up in Selborne, which inspired the creation of Hartisborne, a fictitious village. The novel is set in both 1763 and 1963 and weaves a relationship between an eighteenth-century naturalist and a nineteen sixties young woman.  Early ecologist Gil strives to understand the habitat of animals and birds, but shouldn’t he learn about his own habitat? Georgie has no idea who her family is or where she fits in, only that Gil’s The Natural History of Hartisborne has led her to freedom. How will they confront their own natural histories in Hartisborne’s time-trapping woodland?

Stephanie taught on and ran the MA in Creative Writing at Chichester University for many years, where she was Reader in Creative Writing. She would love to discuss her process, historical research, transforming a place into fiction and dealing with a dual time-frame narrative. Stephanie is usually a poet – with three collections published by Bloodaxe Books. How does novel-writing differ from writing poetry? Can you be more than one kind of writer? Questions about writing are very welcome.

Tickets £6 (concessions £4).

Photo credit: Hannah Burton