On foot through Northern England with “One Day” writer David Nicholls

David Nicholls has been one in every of my favorite authors since I cried through Oncewhich was recently made into one in every of the largest tearjerkers of a Netflix series. His latest novel, You are heretakes a very different turn and Nicholls himself actually calls it “my funniest book yet”.

As a reader, I used to be hooked. As a travel author, I used to be fascinated by the Coast to Coast Walk, a 16-day, 186-mile trek through the English countryside that I had never heard of. I studied the maps that accompanied each chapter and skim more in regards to the route and its history, having followed the book’s characters, Marnie and Michael, as they made their way across England, finding themselves and one another along the way in which.

I reached out to Nicholls to seek out out more in regards to the famous walk, which provides the premise for a gripping novel with as many twists and turns because the walk itself.

Here is what he needed to say:

First of all, congratulations on one other great book. I felt like I used to be really on the journey with Marnie and Michael and I could imagine all of the places and landscapes they experienced. For me that is the sign of a very special book – it is so vivid that it completely draws you in and makes you forget that you just’re really just sitting at home. Your books try this brilliantly. And as my husband has walked the Camino 3 times, I felt like I had accomplished a walk with none effort, so thanks for that.

Thank you a lot! This may be very generous and far appreciated.

Why did you choose to set this story 1) around a walk and a pair of) specifically across the Coast-to-Coast Walk?

A walk is a form of story, I feel. A structure, different plots, literal turns and changes of pace. A long The walk particularly has dynamism, a forward momentum and motivation, a destination that might not be the intended one. I liked the thought of ​​terrain and weather reflecting mood, and Coast to Coast meets that requirement perfectly: the precise length for the story, varied terrain, a clearly defined starting and end, and even a three-act structure – the lochs, the dales, the moors – that matches the mood. C2C has a symbolism, a really clear starting and end, like a belt across England, and in addition a mythology and a set of traditions; the pebble you carry across, the ritual of dipping your boot in each seas. It’s the proper setting – epic, varied, often beautiful, sometimes grim, but at all times at the precise time within the story.

Are you a hiker yourself?

I have never grown up, and positively not in my twenties. In my thirties, I took walking holidays with my children until they rebelled and refused to go away town. So now I walk alone – a revelation! I haven’t got to fret in regards to the weather or the space (I wish to walk 20-25 miles a day, depending on the terrain. Kids do not like that) and I’m free from the duty to maintain myself entertained, as wonderful as that might be. Of course, it’s physically difficult – walking is just about the one physical activity I’m good at – but what I actually enjoy is the time I spend alone, reflecting, listening to music, reading quietly within the evenings and getting a very good night’s sleep.

Tell us about your favorite walks.

I’m not necessarily an enormous fan of coastal walks, which might get a bit boring at times, however the Northumberland Coastal Path is gorgeous, with huge empty beaches, castles, a novel atmosphere and never too many tourists. There’s also a lesser known route, the Dales High Way, a fantastic diagonal path from Skipton outside Leeds to Appleby in Cumbria. Absolute beauty.

Have you done the Coast to Coast Walk yourself? Details please!

Very much so! I can not imagine writing the book without that have, although I had to separate it into three sections as a result of family obligations. It’s beautiful, especially the early sections within the Lakes. There are higher ways to cross the Yorkshire Dales in my view, and the section before the North York Moors is some of the boring walks I’ve ever done, but the very best sections are really beautiful. I used to be never colder, wetter and angrier than on the descent of Honister Pass, but now I do not regret it in any respect.

Which section of Coast to Coast is your favorite? Why?

The climb out of Borrowdale within the Lakes. Some say it’s probably the most beautiful place in England, but it surely’s also the wettest a part of the country and I do not think I’ve ever left with dry socks.

What interesting/surprising things did you learn while researching the hike?

It was devised within the early Nineteen Seventies by Alfred Wainwright – the titan of British walking – as his preferred west to east route, although after all there are all forms of diversions and alternative routes. As it is generally a two-week tour, I didn’t need to be out for too long and so managed it in eleven very long, tiring and rainy days. It’s hardly a secret – 1000’s of individuals do it yearly – but I really like the symbolism and traditions related to it. You have to choose up a pebble in St Bees, take it to Robin Hood’s Bay and dip your toes within the sea at the beginning and finish. It’s wonderful to sit down within the bar of the Bay Inn and watch the opposite coast-to-coast walkers walk down the slipway and throw their stones into the North Sea. It’s like completing a marathon – it’s emotional in a very unexpected way.

How did you choose the right way to divide the hike into every day in your chapters? Did you select the locations for every day in order that they said something about what was happening within the story?

Some of the storylines were preordained, others were inspired by the landscape and the experience of the hike. That terrible climb within the rain – at the same time as I stumbled and crawled, I believed, well, I can use that. Novelist’s privilege, I assume. There’s an exquisite little loch on the fourth day, Angle Tarn, and that immediately jogged my memory of Michael and Marnie’s attempt at swimming within the wild. The more boring parts of the route meant that I, just like the characters, had to consider something interesting for them to speak about. So the mountains and the rain and the motorways all contributed ideas for the story.

If readers desired to recreate Marnie and Michael’s walk, could they follow the identical route/timeline? I do know you said you made up the restaurants, hotels and pubs along the route – was that wishful considering or are there actually other options for walkers?

Yes! I like the thought of ​​people reading and mountain climbing at the identical time, although some days are very, very long. Day three within the novel is definitely a mixture of two hikes, so it is a 12-hour hike. But someone who’s reasonably fit and sets off early every morning could keep to the schedule, but would have to think twice about where to remain. Although it’s hard to ever feel completely lost on this densely populated island, there are a number of sections which might be really quite distant, and like within the novel, among the options are pretty… easy.

In your book Usthe journey itself can also be a very important a part of the story. What do you want about using travel to inform a story? How does travel influence or reveal something a couple of relationship?

I’ve at all times been in a position to point to a map and say, “This is where it happened.” It’s like finding the precise location for a movie, and even when I do not overload the text with research, knowing the background helps me immensely. Us got here from the press tour for Once. It was my first exposure to much of Europe, and while it was undoubtedly a privilege to see these places, traveling can also be exhausting – the early rises, the coffee breath, the constant feeling of running for a connection. I imagine that a relationship that may survive a significant European trip, as in Usor a 200-mile hike should be in pretty good condition. The hours of conversation, the inevitable frustration and disappointment, the missed turns and boring stretches – an extended trip is a relationship in compressed form and maybe that is why I find it more relaxing – or at the very least less stressful – to travel alone.

I really like that Marnie and Michael get to know one another through their playlists. Music is such a very important a part of traveling. Can you tell us among the songs in your personal playlist?

Well, I’m a bit shy since the music I take heed to while walking is pretty… personal. It’s a playlist called Private Pleasures and it may possibly clear a celebration faster than any compilation you have ever heard – a robust mixture of Kate Bush B-sides, eight-minute prog-rock epics, tinkling 80s art-pop, Sondheim, Krautrock and the Jesus Christ Superstar Film soundtrack. Sing along to Yvonne Elliman’s performance of I do not know the right way to love him within the rain on the North York Moors – terrible but additionally wonderful.

Will you truly have the chance to go on a book tour now or is it only for fun? What is currently at the highest of your travel wish list?

I feel I’ve used up all my travel days for the yr and I’m also cautious about travelling coast to coast again. Writing a couple of subject after which talking about it at length has the unlucky side effect of creating it lose its appeal. But I’ve hardly walked outside of England so possibly that’ll be next time. The West Highland Way, the Camino in Spain, the Dolomites – I feel like I’ve only just began.