The Kippford RNLI lifeboat crew were thrilled to meet Scottish author Lynne McEwan recently when she paid a visit to the lifeboat station as part of her ongoing book research.
Lynne has written two novels set on the Solway Coast which feature a fictional character who volunteers with the RNLI in her spare time.
Novels In Dark Water and Dead Man Deep are both set in the fictional village of Kirkness and centre around Police Detective Shona Oliver whose experience on the lifeboat crosses over into her day job investigating crimes in Dumfries and Galloway.
Lifeboat crew member, Laura Wilson says: ‘When I heard Lynne wanted to come and visit the station, I decided to start reading the first book and very quickly finished the second too. I really enjoyed reading a crime novel set in a location I know, and the addition of the lifeboat aspect made it really different from anything else I’ve read.’
Glasgow-born author, Lynne, said, ‘Even though the books feature imaginary people and crimes, I try to show the activities of the RNLI as accurately as I possibly can. Writing is a solitary occupation and, for me, researching is a fantastic way to meet people who take on these experiences for real, and hear their stories. It was so useful to see the D Class lifeboat Ronnie Sinclair in action and the crew were wonderfully patient in answering my questions about the challenges faced in the Solway.
Lynne was visiting the area to take part in Wigtown Book Festival where she gave a reading from Dead Man Deep. She was also able to reveal that the third book has been written and submitted to her publishers for review, with plans for a fourth book underway.
After visiting the station Lynne said, ‘It was great to meet some of the volunteers at Kippford RNLI today to help with research for my books. I had visited the area as a child and it seemed like a perfect location for a crime series, and I also knew that I wanted to feature a lifeboat volunteer after meeting a female crew member and being inspired by what makes ordinary people give up their time to save lives.’
Lynne has also very generously donated two signed copies to be raffled in aid of RNLI Kippford. The raffle will take place at the Christmas coffee morning on the 13th October at Kippford Village hall.
