“I had to tell the story… I was too angry to let it be”

After AJ West won the 2022 HWA Debut Crown award for the best first novel by a historical fiction writer for The Spirit Engineer, it could be argued that the ‘difficult’ second book had become a whole lot harder following that accolade.

Fortunately, AJ has been driven by an anger and determination to tell the story of the 18th century Molly Houses and has another triumph on his hands with The Betrayal of Thomas True, which comes out on 4th July from Orenda Books.

Speaking to The Book Insider, AJ reveals the inspiration behind his latest historical drama and why he dipped into the life and times of Molly Houses.

AJ said: “As a gay man, I’ve always been keenly aware of our shared history, what little of it has been recorded. I was lying in bed one day, listening to a Radio 4 programme called Tales From the Old Bailey, when an episode came on about the trial and hanging of three men at Tyburn.”

AJ went on to explain what grabbed him when listening: “They had been arrested at Mother Clap’s Molly House on Field Lane in London – which would one day become the site of Fagin’s lair in Oliver Twist – then imprisoned at Newgate, awaiting trial.

“In the trial, a number of people gave testimony saying that a milkman named Gabriel Lawrence was an upstanding fellow and shouldn’t be executed, but the jury condemned him regardless.”

AJ added: “It seemed such a pathetic, cowardly, cruel act and stayed with me ever since. I had to tell that story for my second novel, I was too angry to let it be.”

Writing historical fiction can prove problematic, especially when looking back several hundred years and wanting to ensure that the story is historically factual, even if the story is fictional but just as difficult are the financial implications of writing ‘niche’ stories, so, what are the problems an author of historical fiction faces?

AJ said: “Well I can’t speak for anyone else but personally, I find it difficult to get by financially. The fact I write slightly unusual historical stories has meant that my advances are quite small for years of work and many thousands of hours toiling away.

“That’s not an entirely awful thing because firstly, I am genuinely grateful to be published and both my publishers have done a brilliant job with my books – and it also means I start earning royalties on day one of publication.

“Still, that’s maybe fifty pence a book when all’s said and done and you don’t have to be Einstein to know that ain’t much over two or three years unless you sell many tens of thousands of copies.”

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AJ continued: “The key, I’m learning, is to carry on by hook or by crook until you’ve written a few books, then hopefully the combined income adds up to something vaguely sustainable. But it is a terrible struggle and frankly quite frightening.”

AJ said that there is a lack of support from the government for those who want to be an author. He said: That isn’t necessarily particular to historical fiction of course, but I think the market and publisher demand for the genre, combined with the sheer weight of research and writing, can make the lack of financial support – and lack of government support – particularly tough.

“I simply can’t write my books in a few short weeks or months, because I want to create something original and authentic every time, and that requires a big investment, digging through archives and old books to find the heart of the story. Still, I write for the love of writing and, I have to say, the joy I get when people read my stories. I call it magic, and that’s how it feels.”

While finances are a concern, AJ admitted there was something more important than having coffers in the back, though that is always in the back of his mind. AJ said: “Much more important than money… though a deep sense of contentment would feel better if it weren’t tempered by a constant lurking dread.” In case I haven’t hinted hard enough – please buy my books and tell people about them.”

It has often been said the for an author, writing the book is only 50% of their working life, as promoting the book which entails attending author events can take up a lot of their time. It also means that the author has to come away from the keyboard to meet their readers face-to-face, which can be daunting for many. Fortunately for AJ, he has had a background in the media which has also seen him appear on television.

Speaking to The Book Insider about the transition from writing alone to meeting the readers, AJ said: “I don’t find public speaking as daunting as most authors because my background is in TV and radio presenting. When you’ve stood outside court houses at the end of a murder trial or indeed walked into the Big Brother house, you get a thicker skin.

“That being said, audiences at author events can be a little frightening because I’m aware they are quite brainy and possibly half-cut on wine.”

Despite this, the contact with those who enjoy his books is something that AJ relishes. He added: “I enjoy author events though, from book festivals and bookshop signings to The Book Party, a relaxed social event for readers and writers I set up with my co-founder, Vic Hyde.

“For me – and I mean this most sincerely – meeting readers is the best thing about being an author, so nerves or not, I always encourage my more shy novelist friends to overcome their understandable reservations and accept invites whenever and wherever they come.”