Derek Farmer Author Interview
1. What first sparked the idea for your book, and did the story change much from that first idea to the finished version?
I’m very interested in steam locomotives, particularly as a child, as we lived close to the east coast mainline and the express trains thundered past every day. I was reading an article on the worst UK train disaster and the macabre story of the 1915 Quintinshill catastrophe stayed with me. I felt compelled to dramatise the scene and that gem of an idea became the nub of my novel.
Having drafted the book, my wife read it and her first comment was “WOW! It’s brilliant, BUT there’s too much going on here, why don’t you make it into a trilogy.” Having just finished my masterpiece it was rewarding that she loved the book, but the thought of dismantling it and expanding it into a trilogy was daunting.
It took ages to grasp the nettle, but on looking at the amount of material I had, I was eventually persuaded to accept the challenge.
2. Which character, scene or moment in your book stayed with you the most while writing it, and why?
I went to the scene of the Quintinshill train crash near Gretna Green on the Anglo-Scottish border and the visit was really poignant. I had to do justice to the 256 young Scottish soldiers who died by explaining the circumstances and errors that led to such a tragic accident.
I couldn’t just describe the events like a newspaper reel, so I chose to see them through the eyes of fictitious bystanders who might have been working nearby, a woodcutter, two farmers and a GPO engineer working on the telegraph poles. All contribute to the horrific events and allow the reader to be amongst the mayhem rather than just reporting what happened.
The aftermath and funerals of those who died was played down in the press, probably because of the burgeoning war losses on the Western Front, but days later Edinburgh came to standstill as it buried its own. This part of the saga belongs to my second book, Whispers of Change.
3. What do you hope readers will feel, think about, or remember after they finish your book?
I hope readers close one of my books feeling that they've lived alongside the characters rather than simply read about them. If they find themselves still thinking about the people, their choices, and the emotional journeys they have taken long after they've turned the final page, then I've succeeded.
My novels explore family, love, loyalty, resilience, and the way ordinary people are shaped by extraordinary times. I hope readers are reminded that history is not just a sequence of events but the story of real people facing difficult decisions, making sacrifices, and finding the strength to endure. Above all, I want my books to leave readers with a sense of hope. Even in the darkest moments, there is always the possibility of redemption, reconciliation, and new beginnings.
If readers come away feeling they have been entertained, moved, and transported to another time and place, while perhaps reflecting a little on their own lives and relationships, then I couldn't ask for more.
4. Every author faces challenges along the way. What was the hardest part of writing this book, and how did you push through it?
The most difficult part of writing my trilogy was looking at the original book I had drafted and realising that it had to be dissected, with bits of it spread all over the place. I decided on a family saga spanning about 100 years, so I had to plot a geneology with new characters that fitted the exact timeline of the three books.
The characters ages and historical events interwoven into the fabric of the books had to be accurate, and that was difficult, because there were often huge gaps to infill where one part of the story had been exploded and I had to stitch in new storylines.
I actually found the challenge very rewarding as I loved to research every tiny detail of the historical elements of the story. It was the satisfaction that all the threads of the saga made sense, holding the trilogy together, that kept me motivated.
5. For readers who are discovering you for the first time, what would you say to make them want to pick up your book and begin reading?
If you enjoy historical fiction that combines compelling characters, family drama, romance, and authentic history, I think you'll feel at home in my books. I write about ordinary people living through extraordinary times, where every choice has consequences and every character has a story worth telling.
My aim is to transport readers to another place and time, whether it's the Scottish Highlands at the turn of the twentieth century or the turbulent years leading to the First World War. I want you to become so invested in the characters that you'll find yourself saying, "Just one more chapter."
If you're looking for stories that are rich in emotion, grounded in history, and filled with hope, heartbreak, resilience, and unforgettable family relationships, I'd be delighted to welcome you into my world.