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The first of The Undercliff Novels portrays the area as a character in its own right. I see it through the present day eyes of Jane as she explores. And as she experiences the shift and sigh of land and sea, her perception of herself starts to tremor and quake. I see it also through the eyes of Lillian and how her life, fifty years ago, depended on the isolation of a small Undercliff bay to keep her safe. And Emmeline – now at the end of her life, the one who knows ...
Quotes:
(Jane) I started to pick my way through the trees and bracken. I’d only gone a few feet and realised I was at the edge of the land. I froze. I was being very stupid. I could fall here and nobody would find me for ages. I looked down the rocky slope of cliff. I could see a patch of yellow sand sprinkled with boulders. It looked sunny and inviting. I knew I shouldn’t risk it but this adventure had caught hold of me. I started to inch my way down . . .
(Lillian) Spring always comes early to The Undercliff. Green woodpeckers yaffle through the woods: jackdaws, crows and rooks rise in clattering mobs from the tops of the elms and poplars. Gulls fight over the choicest nesting places on the cliffs and so many small birds flutter in the blackthorn that the bushes seem alive . . . falls from the cliffs have been minor this year. And the rainfall light, preventing the treacherous slither of soil over the slippery blue gault clay. My beloved Wraith Cottage is still safely perched many yards back from the edge . . . I wander off, picking around like a sea bird amongst the debris, looking for shells and treasure . . Emmeline stood at the edge of the cliff, looking out to sea. She had come out to watch the full moon but heavy clouds were blanketing most of its shine. She must remember not to venture too far. A chunk of land had fallen recently, taking a bite out of the overgrown end of the vegetable garden. She peered down to the beach below. She felt momentarily giddy and steadied herself with her stick. Silver streaks of moonlight flickered on the shore mingling with the beam from St Catherine’s lighthouse. She imagined she could see Lilly running barefoot along the edge of the waves, her blonde hair streaming out behind her in the wind, sand sticking to her brown arms and legs, laughing, she was always laughing . . .
 The Sorrow of Sisters has been translated into German for Random House and Dutch for The House of Books. It has been licensed to Der Club Bertelsmann in Germany and has just been bought by Damm - a Norwegian publisher.
It is now available on audio cassette and can be ordered from Isis on 0800 7315637 or 01865 250333
 The large print edition is now available from www.wfhowes.co.uk.
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