Despite most of my debut romance novel being set on Romney Marsh, it was a pleasure to include key scenes in my cherished hometown of Faversham. I’ve written a fictitious location based on it in one of my earlier novels from another genre, but this is the port of kings without a mask. A character in its own right.
Alan Baker, the male protagonist, moves back there after his world collapses at the start of the novel. It’s there his childhood best friend, Julia Malcolm, offers her life-changing suggestion, which leads to him meeting Sally Reece. Making Julia a psychotherapist based out of the talking therapies clinic tucked away in Gatefield Lane offered the chance for Alan to receive appropriate, helpful advice, without becoming a formal patient. Julia loves Alan in a deep but platonic manner, from their shared history and abundant happy memories.
After meeting at the clinic during her lunch break, they stroll down to The Rec (a popular park) and deposit themselves on the war memorial bench.
You can follow Alan’s morning walk down Brent Hill, across the creek, up Partridge Lane, through the marketplace into Preston Street (stopping at ‘Cosgroves’ for a cappuccino), before rounding the corner into Gatefield Lane, passing the clinic, and following the alley’s extension across St Mary’s Road to William Street, Park Road and The Rec with its bench. There, more of Alan’s backstory unfolds, including foreshadowing nuggets relevant to the ending scene, which also takes place on the bench, a year later.
It’s a magnificent spot to reflect and watch the world go by. The synchronicities that unfold during the denouement blow Alan Baker away.
I won’t say anymore because… spoilers!
‘Through Sally’s Eyes’ will be out in Kindle and Paperback formats from 17th March 18th February, 2024.
John Eden 