By Tiffany Odekirk, Author of Winterset
Set in the lush, atmospheric world of Regency England, Winterset was inspired by a little-known piece of English history: during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, Catholic priests were persecuted and forced into hiding. To protect these priests, wealthy families built elaborate hiding places into their homes (such as Winterset Grange Manor) called priest hides (or more commonly priest holes). These weren’t just simple hiding spots, though, they were engineering marvels tucked behind walls, under floorboards, and even above fireplaces!
In 2022, when I first began researching for Winterset, specifically the priest holes where Kate hides from Oliver, I stumbled across an incredible house called Harvington Hall. This house boasts no less than seven priest hides—it’s possible future years may uncover more! For months I studied images of these priest hides, trying to understand what it might feel like to climb inside one; I wondered how it would smell, what the air might feel like, and the emotions that would fill me as I sat alone in the dark.
It wasn’t until 2024, though, that I had the privilege of traveling to England and touring Harvington Hall. As soon as I passed over the bridge and entered the red-brick courtyard, I knew that no matter how much research I had done previous there was no substitute for walking where my characters might have walked to get the story right. And as I shimmied into a particularly small priest hide, I gained the knowledge and experience I needed to tell this story in a way it deserved to be told.
After my research trip, I thought writing Winterset would be simple. I knew the characters so well, and I had researched the setting thoroughly. I was about halfway finished writing Winterset when I hit a proverbially wall. For me (and many writers) that usually means we have made a wrong turn somewhere in the story. This time though it was something I had forgotten about Ollie’s story.
In the middle of the night, I remembered a major wound of Ollie’s that informed much of his character. After that, Ollie’s character snapped into place in my mind, and I was finally able to complete Winterset! And when I say middle of the night, I mean middle of the night. Fitting for this story, don’t you think?! I popped out of bed and ran to my bookshelf to read the end of Summerhaven. I couldn’t believe I’d already written the answer to my question about his character! I knew why Ollie felt and acted the way he did, I’d just forgotten! It was one of the most satisfying experiences I’ve had as an author. Ollie felt so real in that moment! Writing Winterset was REALLY difficult for me at times, but because of the effort it took to create this story, Ollie and Kate will always have a special place in my heart! They were both so wounded and them finding a home and love in each other was so special to write.
NEW! Winterset: A hidden past. A house with secrets. And one chance for two wounded hearts to find love together.
Tiffany Odekirk believes cooking should take less than thirty minutes, frosting is better than ice cream, and all books should end with “happily ever after.” After earning her bachelor’s degree, she worked in the nonprofit sector to help homeless women and children. Tiffany is the author of four romance novels and has received a 5-star Readers’ Favorite review and a Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal Award (IBPA) for her Regency romance Summerhaven. These days, you can find her reading or writing a book in her Southern California home, where she lives with her handsome husband and four adorable children. You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Bookbub @AuthorTiffanyOdekirk.
