Coral Rumble on the bare bones of her latest novel ‘When Skeltons Rise’

Coral Rumble: When the folks at Troika asked me to write a few words about the creation of my latest novel for children aged around 8+, When Skeletons Rise, I realised I didn’t quite know where to start! A number of people have commented on the book’s different themes - many of which could be followed up in a classroom setting - and so I sat down and listed out some of those themes.

Here's what I came up with so far: fear, loss, displacement, bereavement, history, truth, lies, secrets, family, extended family, trust, friendship, intergenerational friendships, teaching, learning, hardship, loyalty, betrayal . . . I’ll stop there!

But I never set out to write to a theme, or to search for any neat, ‘current issue’ boxes to tick, it’s not my approach at all. However, I do know that life is complicated, and that the story lived by any individual is made up of a host of ‘issues’.

Anyway, to stop me waffling, I asked those Troika folks to throw some questions my way, which they did. Here are my answers.

Where did Arlo's (the main character’s) story come from?

I believe that every child should see themselves in the books they read at home and at school. Arlo is a child who lives with a secret, a secret that’s shared by other real-life children, but those children rarely see their life experience lived out by characters in books. Arlo’s secret is a taboo, a thing of shame (I forgot to mention shame in my list!), and this leads to complications in his relationships with family and friends. Many years ago, I worked with some children who were struggling with the same experience, and their distress stayed with me, along with their belief that their current shame would define their lives. I suppose that was the seed that grew into Arlo’s story.

Are you fascinated by family secrets?

The existence of secrets is a gift to a writer! Secrets create suspense and intrigue. On top of that, most readers are nosy. They want to delve into the lives of characters in ways that they can’t with the lives of their neighbours - without running the risk of arrest for stalking! Family secrets affect more than the keeper of the secret, and once revealed, can have huge consequences for all.

I think our motives are key when we find ourselves hiding a truth that’s uncomfortable. To be honest, most lies told, or truths hidden, have a selfish intention. A person will lie to protect themselves and their own reputation. But sometimes the intention is to protect someone else, and so in those cases the reasoning can be honourable and a whole new discussion about truth and deception arises.

You suggest that history, as well as families, has secrets. Did this influence the writing of the story?

It seemed to me that a story centred on buried history could effectively mirror the way we bury uncomfortable realities about our lives. However, most historical finds are simply fascinating, and the embarrassment they might cause individuals can no longer be felt by the dead. Their families, though, might want to distance themselves from disreputable ancestors!

Just as we can find out more about people of the past from historical digs, we can find out more about characters in a book as we ‘dig’ around in their lives. This kind of digging naturally leads to a greater understanding of ourselves and other people.

In a lot of stories adults can appear to be shadowy and even dark, threatening maybe. Did you intentionally create trustworthy characters?

We all know that the characters in a story we’re reading have a back story – we’ve just picked up their story at a certain place and time. Arlo has had a very difficult life up until the point we meet him in Cornwall. His father has disappeared and he’s moved from what he knows to somewhere new. It’s also clear that he’s been let down and rejected by both adults and children, which has left him with trust problems. When Skeletons Rise explores how balance is brought back into his life. He now encounters both adults and children who can be trusted. In a world where bad experiences often blight the future life of individuals, it’s important for children to understand that their past doesn’t necessarily dictate their present or their future. I’ve tried to expand this idea in the character of Kane - his possible redemption.

I’d also add that restoration is also seen in both Mrs T and Harry. We witness in them how disaster can be dealt with and recovered from. Both have experienced unexpected bereavement. Life is difficult for many children. They need to know that a change is possible, that hope exists.

Cornwall is such an important ‘character’ in the story. Why Cornwall?

Many people dream of moving to the seaside – especially on a stressful day! I think it’s a lot to do with the perceived slower pace of life, and the therapeutic watching of waves. Both Arlo and Kelsey were certainly in need of rest and relaxation. However, I chose the setting of the story for a special reason. Many decades ago, my husband and I spent our honeymoon just outside of Bude. We stayed in a ‘secret garden’ cottage and went out and about from there to explore. We visited Morwenstow – the graves marked with a figurehead, the church, Hawkers Hut and, of course, the tearooms. I became enthralled with the true story of the Caledonia shipwreck, and the plight of the sailors really hit home. The experience obviously stayed with me, so I wanted to share it with, and through, Arlo.

Are you interested in shipwrecks?

Who isn’t? Whether it’s an ancient sailing ship or the wreck of the Titanic, historical ‘digs’ in a watery grave stir both the mind and emotions. I even included a poem about a wreck in my 2005 poetry collection, My Teacher’s As Wild As a Bison. Seems like an appropriate way to end – here it is:

WRECK

I am the wreck
That holds many secrets –
Of pirates and maidens,
And cannon explosions;
Of glittering treasure
And weapons aplenty.

I am the wreck
That could tell you some stories –
Of love, hate and envy,
Of greed, lust and power;
Of winning and losing,
And battles of will.

I am the wreck
That could unpack a history
Of age-old wrongdoing
That leads to destruction;
The rights and the wrongs,
The courage and fear.

I am the wreck
That is prodded and poked at,
Holds tightly to details
You dig and you scrape at;
But my secrets will stay
In the depths of my hull.

Discover more about When Skeletons Rise and author Coral Rumble.