Blog Tour – The Red Tunic by Kate Wiseman

It is my stop on The Write Reads book tour for The Red Tunic by Kate Wiseman, published by Neem Tree Press this month, August 2024.

Blurb

History and gender are intertwined in this fast-paced arresting account of the First World War and its devastating impact on familial and romantic bonds.

As headstrong as her twin is gentle, Nina has never fit the womanly mould society expects of her. Alfie and Nina Mullins have always relied on their shared world of hope and make-believe for comfort, but as the pressure on Alfie to prove himself at the Front mounts, Nina is presented with more possibility than she had ever imagined and the two are pushed in wildly different directions.

Coming of age as the First World War breaks out, the Mullins twins’ fates are inextricably interlinked with the turmoil of conflict in this fascinating exploration of gender roles and the extremes to which war pushes us.

About the Author

Kate was a late developer, attending university to study English and Creative Writing in her late 30s. She was one of the real life ‘Ritas’ featured on the Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Programme commemorating the anniversary of the play, Educating Rita.

Kate is a dedicated and licenced mudlark who is never happier than when she is up to her eyes in mud. She has won several literary awards and this year judged the historical fiction and biography category of the prestigious Eyelands International Book Awards.

My stop on the tour is an author interview about the The Red Tunic

********

What are the underlying themes of The Red Tunic?

The Red Tunic explores people who defied stereotypes and societal expectations in the First World War. Neglected twins Nina and Alfie Mullins grow up heavily reliant on each other. Nina is headstrong, restless and perpetually in trouble; Alfie is a gentle peacemaker. Coming of age when conscription was introduced for all men over 18, it makes sense to Nina to disguise herself as her brother and take his place on the battlefield. Alfie takes Nina’s place as a nurse in a hospital treating those wounded in the war. As they adjust to their new roles, they discover facets of themselves they didn’t know existed.

So I guess the themes are gender, defiance, love, war, joy, despair, loss, hope, stereotyping… there are more but that’s probably enough!

In the acknowledgements of The Red Tunic, you explain that this book has been a ‘labour of love’. How long have you been working on The Red Tunic and what first sparked your interest?

My fascination with the First World War goes back as long as I can remember. It was a turning point between Victorian notions of duty to King and Empire, and more modern attitudes. Some of my favourite novels deal with the First World War, and the outpouring of art of all forms from that catastrophic event was, I think, unprecedented.

I grew up with several brothers and was always interested in books and comics considered ‘boyish’ in those unenlightened times. I loved reading Victor and Tiger and Scorcher – comics intended for boys. I think that this fostered my fascination with war. I wanted to imagine what it would be like for a woman to be placed in that ultra-masculine environment. Research revealed that there have always been women who penetrated the battlefield, usually disguised as men, with the exception of the remarkable Flora Sandes, a British vicar’s daughter who ended up fighting as a woman in the Serbian army. She became a sergeant major and has been commemorated on Serbian stamps.

So, to finally get round to answering your question, I have been thinking about the situation in which Nina and Alfie find themselves for years. Researching and checking took a long time. There was so much that had to be verified: the noise of various weapons on the battlefield, for instance, and the order in which would hear them if you were unlucky enough to be involved in the fight, and the make and weight of the rifle issued to Nina. I started putting words to paper in 2016, I think, and worked on the book for about 5 years.

Do you have a favourite character in your book and why?

I love Nina and Alfie, the twins who swap places, but I also love Great Aunt Julia. She’s the family black sheep – an outspoken suffragette who simply disregards rules that she disagrees with. Everyone is terrified of her, but she cares about Nina and Alfie and is there when they need someone. Very different to Cedric, their cold-hearted father. Nina and Alfie must have inherited their non-conformist attitudes from her. I also like Great Aunt Julia’s outlandish taste in clothes. She wears a hat that looks like a guardsman’s bearskin to a family wedding.

Which resources did you find most useful when researching The Red Tunic?

There are so many brilliant modern novels about the First World War. Birdsong and Pat Barker’s trilogy are special favourites. For a heart-breaking contemporary novel written from the German point of view, read All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque. Peter Jackson’s documentary, They Shall Not Grow Old, is a real revelation. It features colourised original film of the conflict. It makes it seem as if it happened yesterday. Unforgettable. Finally, Sarah Percy’s Forgotten Warriors explores the lives of many of the women who made their mark in historical conflicts, disguised as men.

Have you got any writing rituals?

Nothing very exciting. I prefer to write in the mornings and always start off by rereading what I wrote the previous day. I don’t use a desk anymore; I lie back and balance my laptop on my chest!

What one piece of writing advice would you give to people aspiring to write a novel set in World War One?

Don’t be put off by what others have written before you, or by how they have written it. We all have our own story to tell, and our own voice to write in.

Tell us where you prefer to write and why.

I find that writing on holidays or on writing retreats works well for me. I think it’s because by removing myself from my everyday life and all its routines, I feel free to explore other lives and other worlds. It’s really liberating. I nearly always start a new manuscript while I’m away from home.

Is there anything else you would like to tell readers about The Red Tunic?

Nina’s lover – Liam – is based on my sixth form crush. Apparently he liked me too, but we never declared our love, alas! If he reads The Red Tunic, he will definitely recognise himself.

What are your social media links where can people find out about you and your books?

Find me on Instagram: @kittywise999

Twitter (X): @katewiseman

My website is: www.katewiseman.co.uk

Where is the best place for people to buy The Red Tunic?

It should be in all good bookshops. If it’s not on the shelves, they can order it for you. Or buy it direct from neemtreepress.com. Thank you!

********

You can read reviews of The Red Tunic on Amazon and Goodreads or follow the tour to discover what othr book bloggers have siad about this WWI historical romance: