Emma Carroll

About Author

Emma Carroll's new historical fiction novel, The Houdini Inheritance, explores the intrigue and mystery of one of the greatest magicians ever, Harry Houdini.

The bestselling novelist taught English for 20 years before following her dream of being an author. Her historical fiction novels now include Frost Hollow Hall, Letters from the Lighthouse and The Week at World's End and she has won or been nominated for awards including the CILIP Carnegie Medal, Young Quills and the Waterstones Book Prize. Emma lives in the Somerset hills with her husband and two terriers and writes for a living.

You can find Emma on X @emcarrollauthor.

Interview

The Houdini Inheritance (Faber Children's Books)

July 2024

Harry Houdini, one of the most famous magicians ever, remains an enigma to this day and Emma Carroll's new historical fiction novel, The Houdini Inheritance, revisits his life, and his death, in a fast-paced adventure story that takes us from a sleepy seaside town in Devon to the underbelly of vaudeville life in 1920's America. ReadingZone has been speaking with author Emma Carroll to find out more.

Read a chapter from The Houdini Inheritance.

Review: "With a rambunctious cast of characters and brimming with surprises, the narrative has all the energy of a vaudeville show."

Q&A with Emma Carroll

"I'm writing fiction based on history, so first and foremost it's a story."

1. Hello Emma, thank you for joining us on ReadingZone to tell us about your new book, The Houdini Inheritance. Can you tell us what happens?

Thanks for having me. It's great to be back! The Houdini Inheritance is an adventure about two friends Glory and Dennis, who, when attending Harry Houdini's final show, are drawn into his mysterious, dangerous world.

2. And what inspired you to seek out Houdini as the subject of a story?

As with most of my stories I'm drawn to the parts of history where we don't know everything. Harry Houdini was a true enigma. Much of his life-story remains a mystery. Though he was extremely secretive about his performances, he was a tireless publicity machine - never off duty, always promoting his own talents. The story of his death I found particularly intriguing, and hope my readers will, too.

I find writing about the past easier than writing the present. Without technology your characters have to work harder to solve a problem

3. What draws you to writing about real historical characters, and indeed to writing about the past?

I find writing about the past easier than writing the present. Without technology your characters have to work harder to solve a problem, and without certain medical advances or health + safety laws, the stakes are higher. Your characters really can brush up against danger in a way that seems unlikely in the modern day.

I'd like to think people might look up Harry Houdini after reading the story. I love how books can whet your appetite for wanting to discover more...

4. The book is set in 1926, why did you choose this date, and the setting in Devon?

1926 was the year of Houdini's death, so that was a key factor. He visited the UK many times, though I don't think he went to Devon ( that's my invention). I wanted to start the story somewhere that felt reasonably familiar, so an English seaside resort in summer seemed a fair shout.

"Glory, whose POV we follow, is - I'll be honest - a bit like me. She's dog-mad, impetuous,
and always ready for a bit of mischief!"

5. How did your two main characters in The Houdini Inheritance, Glory and Dennis, develop - did anyone you know help inspire them?

Glory, whose POV we follow, is - I'll be honest - a bit like me. She's dog-mad, impetuous, and always ready for a bit of mischief! Her character was an interesting one to write because, while she does grow as a person, we see this on the page from the way others react to her. She goes from being the slightly annoying, lacking in common-sense little sister, to someone the older characters learn from.

Dennis, her partner in crime, is based on the sort of friend I'm always drawn to, ones who are loyal and kind, but who also have a naughty side, a wicked glint in the eye!

7. How did you go about finding out about Houdini himself, in order to write him into your story? Do you think you would have enjoyed meeting him in person?

I read a couple of biographies on him which were really helpful - and one about his wife, Bess. There are also great blogs and websites out there - and photographs, audio-recordings of his voice, crackly, black and white films, so lots of source material.

I'm not entirely sure what I'd have made of him, to be honest! Apparently, he was very serious and never quite dropped the 'performer' facade. Though he was reportedly very kind, and also really loved dogs, which would've given us plenty to talk about!

8. How much of what we read in The Houdini Inheritance is based on historical facts, and how did you find out about them?

I'm writing fiction based on history, so first and foremost it's a story. I've deliberately moved the date of Houdini's death from October to summer so Glory and Dennis will be on school holiday at the time (and therefore more available for adventure!)

The setting of the story in Devon is also fictional. But lots in the story is true: the rivalry with other performers, Houdini's hatred of spirit mediums, the concern over how best to preserve his legacy after his death.

9. What did you find out about life in 1926 (Britain and America) when you researched this story, and did anything surprise you?

Dennis's mum Shula has a Jamaican father. She is an exceptional jazz singer and is adored whilst on stage, yet subject to racism in everyday life. The same is true of Glory's elder sister Effie, who is in a same sex relationship. It's uncomfortable to write about prejudice but important to remember that it did - and does - exist, and that we can do better.

The big surprise came whilst researching Coney island, when I found out about Dr Couney's babies. He was a pioneer in the treatment of premature babies. His methods - involving the use of incubators - was dismissed by the medical establishment, so he set up as a sideshow at Coney Island. People could pay to come and see his premature babies, whose survival rates were so impressive that eventually medics realised he was onto something. Today's care of premature babies has its roots in Dr Couney's sideshow.

"Inspirations come to me all the time - quirky little stories I hear, bits of the past that are
so strange they seem almost unreal."

10. Where do you go to seek inspiration for new historical fiction novels? Can you tell us a little about what you're writing currently, and where you most enjoy writing?

Inspirations come to me all the time - quirky little stories I hear, bits of the past that are so strange they seem almost unreal... I'm never short of material, to be honest!

I'm currently working on an exciting project where I'm trying out something slightly different for me. It's a story I've been desperate to write for years. Yes, it's set in the past but an 'alternative' past, and my inspiration for it is from a fictional book, rather than history itself. That's all I can say for now, but stay tuned!

Watch Emma Carroll introduce her earlier novel, The Week at World's End

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