L S Matthews
Author's Site
RESOURCES/ TEACHING IDEAS
Includes material suitable for SEN, EBD, English, Drama, Citizenship, Tutor Group work, Personal Development, Talented and Gifted groups
The Characters
As with all my books, The Outcasts grew out of lots of things which are important to me. Each of the main, young characters has a blending of aspects of the young adults with whom I've worked. They've made me feel admiration, affection, exasperation and most importantly to me, have made me cry with laughter. Sometimes people said of them: "I can't tolerate him/her for 10 seconds, never mind all day, all week; I don't know how you do it." On the contrary, I don't know how I can repay them for the inspiration they gave me. I hope those who read this book will maybe learn a little, not judge too quickly, or simply feel better about themselves.
The adult characters are also blends of aspects of individuals I've met over the years - I hope you understand and even recognise a few of them, too.
The Plot:
The "net and twine" background to the plot springs out of the local industry of Bridport (Birdport in the book) and surrounding villages, which was of great importance in the past, and does continue today. Many of my ancestors worked in this industry, short or long-term, and I live in a very old networker's cottage, with its long, thin garden enabling the stretching out of nets or rope to work on. At the same time, I just love string theory - who wouldn't? - so I've tangled that into the tale with a few twists of my own. This is one of the joys of being a novelist, not a scientist. After all, I got to include my own theories such as the "extra Wednesday" you sometimes seem to get in a week, and how stairs are often more tedious to climb in the afternoon.
Background resources: read more about string theory on:
The Setting:
Below are some photos of my own, of Bettiscombe House. This is a private house, not open to the public (though they sometimes open the gardens for charity), and is set in serene, perfect countryside. A footpath, as I say in the book, runs through it. If you decide to visit, please respect the owner's peace and privacy!
Background resources:
Stories/ Myths:
For the background to the screaming skull story, try http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/hauntings/screaming_skulls.html and http://www.castleofspirits.com/screamingskull.html
but a general search will find many sites. See also "Smuggling" below.
History: For the background history of Bettiscombe Manor, and the Pinney family, try:
http://www.pinneyfamily.org/history.html
For Bridport history (the "Birdport" of the book) try:
http://www.thedorsetpage.com/locations/Place/B310.htm
Bridport, though the town itself is just inland, has its harbour at what is now known as West Bay.
Smuggling: It's not in the book, but might be interesting for extension work, for both history and creative writing. Read about the local connections on: http://www.burtonbradstock.org.uk/History/Smuggling/Smuggling%20Index.htm
Science: Scientists might like to look at the Jurassic Coast connection (Natural World Heritage Site status )http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/bridport.htm; the world famous Chesil Beach; and fossil sites include http://www.ukfossils.co.uk/Fossils-and-Geology/West-Bay/West-Bay.htm(Mary Anning was just along the road at Lyme Regis).
The path to Bettiscombe Manor