Emma has just lost her Mother, Liberty, the founder of Liberty Temple perfumes. Emma has taken over the enterprise with now ex Joe, who has been ensnared by the third business partner Lila. A novel with depth, that explores relationships, life and family both present day and issues of legacy from past generations. It also brings the horrors of the Spanish Civil War to life. The chapters alternate between The Civil War Years and the early 2000s as Emma abandons her life as a perfumer, and settles in Valencia to search out her roots and her history.Valencia is the "land of flowers, light and love" which is a perfect backdrop for a character like Emma to explore her story. The novel is very sensory, you can feel the flowery notes as she dabbles and combines natural fragrances... neroli.... orange blossom.. and more....
If you know the city well, this novel will transport you right back there, as the plot moves from Emma's newly restored finca, to the Torres de Quart or across the Plaza Mayor or the Plaza del Ayuntamento. Enjoy a chocolate con churros, roscón de reyes cake or let your taste buds savour the full flavours of paella as the characters enjoy the cripsy layer of socarrat at the bottom of the pan; perhaps go on to enjoy a natillas pudding.
The ending was perhaps the weakest part of the novel - a fireworks ending that somehow jarred with the thoughtful writing in the rest of the book.
See the city beautifully captured through the author's eyes as Emma begins to explore: "There was a voluptuousness to the city, a softness in the light that had entranced her immediately. A little further up the street she saw a young woman sluicing the pavement with a tin bucket outside a café as a man set out tables and chairs ready for the morning rush. Emma wandered along the square, taking in the baroque architecture and the virile bushy palms. She paused outside a religious icons shop. Serried ranks of identical madonnas gazed out at her, eyes full of melancholy understanding." As a reader you can almost visualise this in your mind's eye.
The art of perfumery features fairly prominently in this novel, and this has inspired us to bring together several novels that are strong on perfume - look out for the post in the coming weeks.
And if you would like to read more books set in your chosen part of Spain, click here for the full list and drill down by town or area. We will now hand over to author Kate Lord Brown, who has agreed to answer our questions. Enjoy!
TF How did you first come to writing?
KLB Like
a lot of writers, I've always written - diaries, short stories and plays as a
child, and then a lot of editorial and travel writing as an adult. I started
writing novels over ten years ago, and my debut was published in 2011. I've
just finished a MA in Creative Writing, which has been a great experience, and
now 'The Perfume Garden' is being published in eight countries this year.
TF How did the idea of combining a love triangle, perfume and a great location
come about?
KLB The
book was inspired by living in Valencia for three years. I was so curious about
Spanish history, and fragrance is tied up with my memories of living there
(orange blossom in the groves where we lived, incense in the churches, saffron
and sea food cooking over open fires ...). We were living there, and I was
expecting my first child, when 9/11 happened so that side of the story has
personal resonance too. All the elements of the story - and the idea of
creating something redemptive from such sadness - came together organically.
TF You clearly know Valencia really well and the city just comes to life in your
writing. We understand that your family moved there - what lay behind that
choice of destination for the family and how did it pan out for you?
KLB Well,
I was living happily in London, helping to run an art gallery in Chelsea
- we'd just got married, and had renovated our dream home ourselves. Then
one day my husband announced he wanted to leave his job in the city, and follow
his dream of being a pilot. Much soul searching followed, but let's face it -
you want the person you love to be happy! We sold up, travelled around the
world for several months, and then he learnt to fly in Spain. They were
three very happy years - our daughter was born there, and I did a lot of
writing (there were few distractions living in the orange groves with no TV or
internet and a radio phone!).
TF Do you have any top tips for visitors to Valencia?
KLB If
you love drama and fireworks, go during the March Fallas festival. If you love
contemporary architecture, head out to Calatrava's futuristic City of Arts and
Sciences. One of the most beautiful parts of the city is El Carmen - and don't
miss the great IVAM contemporary art museum there, a real treat. For paella,
take a drive out to the Albufera - the little coastal villages sell the
absolute best (and try the black Arroz Negro - delicious). In town, don't miss
seeing the Holy Grail in the cathedral - and the Mercado Central is an absolute
must. One of my favourite parks is the tucked away Monforte Gardens - the
perfect place to take a picnic from the market. Valencia is still seen as
Spain's third city, but it's the perfect destination for a city break.
TF The character of Emma is that of a particularly feisty and independent minded
woman. Where did you find your inspiration for her?
KLB I
like strong independent female characters! (My debut novel 'The Beauty Chorus'
was about the Spitfire girls - women pilots in WW2). When you're writing a lead
character, it's like gradually bringing a camera into focus. To begin with, you
have a vague idea about them - how they look, talk, their goals. Then all the
details come together. My heart just went out to all the families involved with
9/11 - and Emma's character was really inspired by that feeling of
empathy. I knew Emma was having a tough time at the start of the
book - she's just lost her Mum, her partner's having an affair, and she's
pregnant, and working hard ... but as her character defined itself, she showed
her strength and warmth. I like her - and hope other people will too.
TF How does your typical writing day pan out?
KLB We
live in the Middle East, so I'm up at 5.30am each day for the school run. I'm
normally back at my desk by 7.30am and write until 12.00. Then the afternoon is
taken up with family, and I'll work again in the evening, reading through the
morning's work.
TF What are you working on at the moment and will location feature heavily?
KLB I'm
working on a new story, about a forgotten American hero - it's set in Flying
Point (my favourite beach in the Hamptons), and the South of France. Again,
I've chosen locations I love and I hope that really brings the story to life.
TF What do you do to celebrate completion of a book?
It
depends - finishing the first draft is all 'woohoo', so exhilarating that
you've finally pinned down the story. I always liked Annie Dillard's comment
that walking into a room with a raw manuscript is a bit like being a lion tamer
- you go in waving a chair in front of you saying 'Down Simba!' After all that
adrenalin, I usually take a couple of weeks just catching up on real life, and
reading, or take a trip somewhere (I'm married to an airline pilot, and we
travel a lot). The second, third and other drafts are different - editing is
when you put your creative head aside and get tough with the manuscript. When
you send back the final copy edited version to your publisher ready for
printing, that's always a champagne moment - it's a huge relief. Then of course
you are satisfied for - oh - about a day, and you find yourself thinking about
the next story ...
Thanks
for having me on Trip Fiction!
And thank you to Kate for appearing on the
TripFiction blog! We are already looking forward to reading her next book!
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