Resurrecting ancient myths in Georgian London - Susan Stokes-Chapman

Writing The Past

Meet Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of the Sunday Times bestselling novel, Pandora. The story reimagines the Greek myth of Pandora’s Box against the backdrop of Georgian London, as an aspiring jewellery artist encounters an ancient vase that her villainous uncle is desperate to keep secret. The novel was previously shortlisted for the 2020 Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize and longlisted for the Bath Novel Award that same year.

In this episode, Susan shares her journey towards becoming a published author, querying advice for writers who are currently seeking representation, the inspiration behind her novel, Pandora, and more!

To keep in touch with Susan, you can visit her website at https://www.susanstokeschapman.com/ and sign up to join her mailing list. She also has a blog, including a helpful guide to the agent submission process. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

Timestamps

(00:16) - Introduction to Susan and her novel, Pandora
(00:50) - What led Susan into writing, and historical fiction in particular
(02:40) - The premise for Pandora, and what inspired Susan to write it
(04:05) - Integrating research into the story in a way that feels natural
(06:11) - The characters from Pandora which Susan relates the most to
(11:25) - Susan's querying journey and route to publication
(16:27) - The power of writing competitions
(17:25) - Advice for authors who are seeking representation (featuring Susan’s article on the agent submission process)
(20:25) - "Plotting" vs. "Pantsing"
(21:52) - A typical writing day
(23:50) - Susan's upcoming writing projects
(25:50) - Susan's current book recommendations
(27:30) - Where to stay in touch with Susan