Deborah Swift
Deborah Swift (born 1955), also writing as Davina Blake, is an English writer of historical fiction based in north west Lancashire.
Her first published novel was The Lady's Slipper (2010, Macmillan, ISBN 9780230746862), which alludes to the lady's slipper orchid found in the Silverdale area near her home. Levens Hall features as one of the locations of the book, which is set in 1660 and involves the persecution of local Quakers.[1]
The Gilded Lily (2012, Pan, ISBN 9780330543439) follows some of the same characters but moves the location to London and considers aspects of beauty and cosmetics.
A Divided Inheritance (2013, Pan, ISBN 9780330543446) starts in London in 1609 but the action moves to Seville during the expulsion of the Moors and reflects this turbulent period of European history.[2]
Swift's Shadow on the Highway (2014, ISBN 978-1500549831) is the first of The Highway Trilogy of young adult novels, and is based on the life of highwaywoman Katherine Fanshawe, also known as Lady Katherine Ferrers.[3] The second in the trilogy, Spirit of the Highway (2015, ISBN 978-1517279486) is told in the voice of the ghost of a roundhead farmer's son who loved Katherine.[4]
Past Encounters, published under the name Davina Blake, (2014, ISBN 978-1499568257) is a story set in Carnforth which features the filming of Brief Encounter at Carnforth railway station in 1944 and uncovers a husband's wartime secrets.[5]
References
- ↑ "About me". Deborah Swift. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ↑ Norfolk, Pam (7 November 2013). "Book review: A Divided Inheritance by Deborah Swift". Lancashire Evening Post. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ↑ "Shadow on the Highway". Deborah Swift. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ↑ "The Highway Trilogy". Deborah Swift. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- ↑ Norfolk, Pam (23 October 2014). "Book review: Past Encounters by Davina Blake" (Blackpool Gazette). Retrieved 19 March 2015.
External links
- Official website As Deborah Swift
- Official website As Davina Blake