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Fellow Author / Journalist Lydia Dean Book Review

Writer's picture: Juliet SidneyJuliet Sidney

Updated: Nov 13, 2024



Hi Nick, 


Great to meet you.


You too Lydia . 


I really enjoyed the book.

Thank you


Skerrid Mawr is an intriguing name for your location.  Tell me more.

I wanted a unique name but something that reflected aspects of the

beautiful Welsh landscape.


I know that Mawr means ‘great’ or ‘large’ in Welsh, as in Merthyr

Mawr.


Was that location an influence?


Yes, I have been there on many occasions either running or with my

children who often rode their horses across the sands.

Some of the highest dunes in Britain are to be found there, which

provide spectacular views across the Bristol Channel.


Were you aware that Die Mauer - a homonym of Mawr, means The

Wall in German?


Yes I did . It is why the name was ideal for the book.

And Skerrid. Where did that derive from?

A combination really.

The Skirrid is one of three fantastic mountains that surround the

Monmouthshire market town of Abergavenny. Its Welsh meaning is

separation or split.

Whilst 'Sker' is actually a fantastic beach near Porthcawl.

The two fitted together well to make up 'Skerrid Mawr'


There are some lovely characters in the book, very relatable and

colourful. Are any of them you?


Thank you - No ( laughs )


Like many authors you draw upon life experiences and observations

to arrive at your characters.

Tam is an interesting choice as the protagonist. Traditionally English,

might I suggest, with her own set of issues.


How easy, as a man, was it to feel the emotions of a middle-aged woman?


Understanding anyone's emotions is part of being human, irrespective

of gender. Understanding your own emotions can be difficult at times,

can’t it?


For example, Tam is kind at heart and warm, yet has found it hard to

be happy in her own life. Raising two wonderful children whilst her

husband Felton is more married to his job and his own enjoyment, she

struggles to find her own wellbeing.


You touch on several liberating themes in the book. How important

were they to you?


Sport has always been in my blood.

With triathlon and horses being very much a part of my own life , I

became fascinated with the unheralded event known as Modern

Pentathlon .


The final element of which is showjumping , where competitors are

allocated a random horse that they have never met or ridden

before! Fascinating.


However, the benefits of participating in any sport at any level, both to

our physical and mental health, are there to be found by everyone.


And Germany?


Growing up with West Germany, East Germany and the Cold War

tensions during my youth, I recall watching my local football team play

Carl Zeiss Jena. It made me want to understand more about the

divide which, in 1989, was finally removed of course. 


Naturism - tell me about your thoughts on this interesting subject


Naturism is still very much misunderstood in this country. Too many old,

pre-conceived views.

The subject still seems to be taboo in Britain- poorly portrayed in the media.

We are not as liberated and balanced on being naked as our European neighbours - like Germany, for example. You don't need to have 'the perfect body' to be a naturist.

Therefore, I hope that readers of 'Skerrid Mawr' might now understand and appreciate naturism and the benefits it could truly offer them .


Interesting that a male author should raise a subject like body issues,

something more akin to a female author I would suggest. 

Explain that for me, if you will.


I daresay I am not the only male author to raise such issues.

In 'Skerrid Mawr', Tam has been made to feel bad, or ‘unproud’ of her

body for no good reason - other than by the lofty expectations of her

philandering husband and social media.


It's unusual though, wouldn’t you agree?


Not at all. I can think of other men able to empathetically write about

similar subjects - Alice Cooper wrote a very powerful song ‘Only

Women Bleed’ which deals with domestic violence for example, so

why not?


When and where will the book be available Nick?


From 31st August via Amazon.

It is available to pre-order immediately - just use the following link.


 Thanks for you time today.


I wish you success with the book.


Your welcome, thank you Lydia






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