About the author… Fiona Mozley

She began writing her first novel Elmet on her phone during a long train journey.

She was working part-time in a bookshop and studying for a PhD in medieval studies when it was short-listed for the prestigious Booker Prize. She now lives in Edinburgh and this is her second novel.

This novel was inspired by… Living in Soho in central London in the summer of 2013. I spent a glorious few months getting to know the neighbourhood properly, hanging out in bars, clubs and coffee shops. That’s when I first decided I wanted to write a multi-character novel set in the area. Beyond that, I was inspired by a lot of big 19th-century novels, particularly late Dickens. I knew that I wanted Hot Stew to be surreal, larger than life, eccentric, and Dickens does that so well. The most challenging thing about writing it was… Balancing the ideas I want to express with the complexity and unpredictability of individual characters. It was also difficult to edit.

I produced so much material that I eventually had to jettison, and that’s always a wrench, even if it’s a very important thing to do. My writing habits are…

I start the day with coffee (doesn’t everyone?). I then go for a walk with my partner and our dog, either in Holyrood Park or the Edinburgh Meadows.

After that, I have several productive hours before lunch. After lunch, I’m less productive, but I find ideas beginning to emerge once again in the evening.