Tracy Cook: 'The characters must drive your narrative, not your research'
BY Maya Fernandes
14th May 2026
In this interview Tracy Cook, author of the debut novel Wings Over Valletta, shares her advice for researching and writing historical fiction.
'I need to have a deep grounding in the chronology of events that are relevant and the cultural/political context before I start writing, as that shapes not only the story but the characters.'
We caught up with Tracy to discuss her time studying with us, her writing routine and her approach to researching World War Two Malta for her debut novel.
Wings Over Valletta follows Kitty Campbell, an aircraft plotter searching for the daughter she was forced to give up for adoption in wartime Malta. What first drew you to this setting and period, and how did Kitty’s character take shape as you developed the story?
I’ve always been fascinated by stories of ordinary women doing extraordinary things, especially from World War Two and the first time I set foot in the Operations Room at the Lascaris War Rooms, deep under the Crusader bastions in Valletta, a shiver ran through me. As I learned how unusual it was for civilian women to plot aircraft battles at the top-secret heart of Malta’s defences, I knew I had to bring to life these unsung women who, under terrible conditions, played a pivotal role in winning the war in the Mediterranean.
But this was only part of the story – I wanted to explore the dilemma women faced in that era – how to be a strong woman, how to make a difference, especially in a time of war, with all the gender and societal constraints. That’s why I wanted Kitty, as well as having been a successful magazine photographer in 1930’s London and then working as a plotter, to search for the child she had never wanted to give up – a sort of metaphor for reclaiming her rights to be her own person, to make her own choices.
As a mum of two children, I am intrigued to explore issues around how important parenting is in shaping a child’s personality. For Kitty, this shows in how much her own parents’ behaviour has shaped her feelings and her life, and how fiercely, and differently, she loves her own child. Motherhood themes resonate throughout my writing. I find it fascinating to examine the incredible power of this love and, in the terrible choice Kitty faces, explore just how far a mother would go to protect their child. I hope it makes readers think ‘what would I do in that situation?’
Writing about World War Two Malta must have required a lot of research. Did you come across any lesser-known details or stories that stood out to you, and did any of them have a significant impact on the narrative?
A game changer was discovering the online Malta: War Diary for a description of what happened every single day of the war and the Times of Malta archive which made the cinemas, dances and food shortages of wartime Valletta feel real. It’s so often the tiniest detail that brings a character alive. I read many accounts of pilots and ordinary people’s lives in Malta at that time, and these inspired both characters and scenes – from Kitty clambering up a ladder to rescue precious possessions from her bombed apartment, to being in the midst of a massive raid on Luqa airfield, to diving into a ditch in the Maltese countryside whilst being strafed by a Messerschmitt. Several key characters and major plot points were inspired by real people in extraordinary situations – but I won’t give away any plot spoilers!
Which writers do you admire and what are some of your favourite historical novels?
I grew up on a diet of Lisa See novels and Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth and early on developed my taste for curling up on a cushion and escaping into far away settings and times. My reading still roams far and wide. I loved Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and Brotherless Nights by V.V. Ganeshananthan and read anything by Tracy Chevalier, but I also love a good World War Two novel. Most recently, I really enjoyed The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese and Louise Fein’s Book of Forbidden Words. But I think it’s important to read outside historical fiction too, and other go-to authors include Miranda Cowley Heller, Clare Chambers and right now I’m really enjoying Fran Littlewood’s The Favourite.
What does a typical writing day look like for you?
There’s never a typical day, although every week I battle to routinise my writing, but life does have this habit of just keep coming at you! I am a planner though, so before I start writing I read lots of research on my subject to get a clear picture of the issues, places and details I want to include. I then develop an outline, usually around eight plus pages, a chapter breakdown and lots of character development work, including finding pictures online of what I imagine my characters look like. I also develop their entire back story even if I don’t necessarily intend to use it. It helps me to really get inside them, find their voice and understand the beliefs and behaviours that drive them.
My morning always starts with a walk down the towpath by the river, which is also where I do a lot of thinking, as I think a lot of good writing grows out of hours of thinking. Annoyingly, my brain likes to problem solve at night and I often wake at 3am with an idea I just have to jot down. I try and write for three or four hours most mornings. Any more and my brain fries and is not up to much the next day. I also try and stop mid-scene, so I can look forward to diving into it the next day. When I’m editing though, I can keep going for hours, as it’s using a different, more analytical part of your brain.
What tips would you give to aspiring authors trying to write within the historical fiction genre?
First, have a look at the market and see what kind of historical fiction is currently selling, and think about why your story is relevant now. Make sure to pick an idea you are passionate about as you’ll be living with it for one or two years. Thoroughly immerse yourself in your era; look at newspapers, photographs, watch films, listen to music, try recipes – whatever makes it really sing for you.
I need to have a deep grounding in the chronology of events that are relevant and the cultural/political context before I start writing, as that shapes not only the story but the characters. I also want to know enough about the world that I don’t have to be interrupted when I’m writing to look up details, like was it oak, marble or tiles that mahogany chair scraped across in the Admiral’s villa? But I find research can become an excuse to procrastinate on the writing, so don’t let it take over. And when you write, push all that carefully discovered information right into the background of your story: the characters and their conflicts must drive your narrative, not your research.
Finally, find your voice for your characters – you want to suggest the era your book is set in, not drive readers away with overly old-fashioned ways of talking. It can be tricky hitting the right balance. Also watch out for modern idioms or slang creeping in.
You studied with us on our online Edit & Pitch Your Novel course. How did your time with us shape your approach to writing?
Before I did this course, I didn’t really understand what ‘editing’ meant - I thought it was a matter of just polishing away at the words. The course introduced me to a much more analytical and broader way of thinking – Anna Davis’ The Rewrite Doctor method gave me an invaluable template to follow and a much deeper understanding of story, plot, structure, emotional content and pacing, as well as helping with the elevator pitch and query letters. Best of all was working alongside other great writers, who generously shared feedback on each other’s work every week, which reinforced and illuminated all that theory we were learning. I was lucky enough to have Kingsley Pearson in my group, who went onto publish Flat 401.
And finally, what’s next for your writing journey?
I am delighted to be launching Wings over Valletta into the wild and I am very excited to be researching another historical fiction book, also set in southern Europe.
Get your hands on a copy of Wings Over Valletta, out next week from Allison & Busby.
Tracy was a student on our online Edit & Pitch Your Novel course in 2021.
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