Sam Brigger

She's a really great character.

You dedicated Nonesuch to your grandmother, Nancy, and under the dedication you wrote, quote, not entirely a good girl.

And in your afterward, you said that like Iris—

She, quote, came from Watford and she was, as Iris would say, of an adventurous disposition.

But Iris isn't her, unquote.

Of course, you are pointing out the connections between Iris and your grandmother.

We didn't need to know any of those.

So how was she an inspiration for Iris?

Were you able to discover anything more about your grandmother's adventures?

Francis, you grew up in a university town.

Both of your parents were historians, and I think both taught at the University of Keele.

You had a younger sister who was born with a genetic disorder, cystinosis, that she died from at the age of 22.

And it sounds like your parents, unsurprisingly, were very occupied with

in your childhood with her care and really trying to save her.

But as her sibling, I'm guessing you were perhaps benignly neglected, understandably so.

Right.

You said that reading was your escape.

You actually have a memoir called The Child that Books Built.

And you especially enjoyed fantasy by Tolkien and C.S.

Lewis.