Newcastle,
in the harsh days following WW2, is the backdrop against which a boy and girl find adventure and develop a special bond of friendship. They discover
a secret place behind the ruins of the City Walls where they begin to plan a
brighter future. But when a ghostly encounter with a 13th-century friar impels
them to fulfil his vital mission, they find they cannot escape the
repercussions of the dramatic accident which brought them together.
Autobiographical
elements weave through this story of a resourceful young Catholic boy and bring
vibrantly alive the diverse characters and curiosities of Newcastle’s post-war
city centre.
"Hedley's prose deals sensitively with aspects of broken family relationships, of sorrows and hopes, which linger long after in the reader's memory."
Dryad Publishing
Behind the Walls Q&A with Michael - 2018
What was the inspiration for the story?
The place itself is the inspiration for the story, the whole area
surrounding Newcastle’s City Walls is alive and bubbling over with
possibilities. It continues to work for me in the same way. I’m excited when I
walk the streets and take in richness of it, both in the present time and sense
of past and future for that matter.
Can you describe the main character?
Streetwise, ingenious, eye open for any opportunity, old beyond his
years because he’s had to be. Sensitive, aware, a dreamer yet has his feet on
the ground. He is little boy who thinks he’s a man able to take on the world up
until he is faced with a situation which is beyond him. He is innately aware of people because he had to be on his guard all the
time, but his awareness of the needs of others won’t do him any harm either
e.g. looking after the ‘needs of the nuns’ and the newspaper clippings.
Rescuing his class teacher from a tight spot with his unexpected knowledge.
Tell us more about the special bond between the two main characters.
Their first encounter brings alive an understanding and mutual
affection. Their relationship brings their characters out into the open, they
enhance each other. They suddenly recognize that their lives don’t have to be
how they have been. They are awake and encourage us to be awake, not to live life being
asleep whatever that may mean. This is the only life we have, for however short
or long so embrace it. Those precious days they had together were worth a
lifetime for many in terms of depth, love, affection, delight in each other and
fun.
What are the key themes/message of the book?
The importance of being loved and wanted and that you don’t need
anyone’s permission to dream your dreams.
There is still a sense of brokenness after the years of war and
hardship, but also a feeling that something is coming that is going to be
better and hopeful.
The need for some form of spirituality is shown in different guises.
Exploring the question in our lives about what is important beyond the
material, the need to engage with it and see what happens.
What do you hope your readers will take away from this book?
To embrace being kind and gentle because everybody is fragile.
What is the future for the main character? Will there be a sequel?
We will meet the main character again and the city will be the
inspiration, not really a sequel as such, but we’ll see him grow in the Sixties
and he won’t stop dreaming.
This story has created a foundation and laid a cornerstone which is
likely to inform the rest of his life.
