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Talking Location With author Charlotte Rixon – Newcastle

31st January 2023

Charlotte Rixon#TalkingLocationWith... Charlotte Rixon, author of The One That Got Away – NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

Even though it was more than 20 years ago, I remember so clearly the first time I ever went to Newcastle. I was at university in Leeds, and my boyfriend at the time was from Northumberland. We took the train together to visit his family and I remember it creaking its way across the railway bridge, and seeing the magnificent arch of the famous Tyne Bridge, built in 1928, to my right. The city’s lights twinkled at me as we crossed the wide river and made our way into the station. Is there a more magnificent introduction to a city, I wonder?

On that first visit to Newcastle, I was struck by the warmth of the people – it left a huge impression on me. We took a bus from the city centre to my boyfriend’s hometown, a small hamlet on the coast in Northumberland. I had no idea that Northumberland had 40 miles of stunning coast, and that its entire coastline is a Designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. I was struck by the vastness of it all – long stretches of immaculate beaches teaming with wildlife, sand dunes, quaint fishing villages and quiet, hidden coves. Most of the beaches we visited were empty – it felt like the perfect place to escape from the world.

When I came to write The One That Got Away, I knew that I wanted to set it at a northern university. The two characters in the novel, Clara and Benjamin, have completely different backgrounds but meet at university and fall deeply in love. Clara is from London, Benjamin is from just outside Newcastle. The north/south divide has been spoken about a lot in fiction, but in the novel this is almost a symbol of the differences between the two characters. Clara is reserved, suspicious and analytical. Benjamin is warm, welcoming and open, but perhaps a little too trusting.

Charlotte RixonStudent culture and nightlife also play huge parts in the novel. As I mentioned, I went to university in Leeds, similarly renowned for its nightlife, and the time I spent visiting Newcastle assured me that its residents also knew how to have a really good night out. I remember one fantastic evening spent along The Quayside, which was lined with bars and restaurants that overlook the Tyne – easily rivalling London’s South Bank.

Finally, it wouldn’t be right to talk about Newcastle without mentioning The Beautiful Game. Football is a huge part of Geordie culture, and I remember being struck by the number of people you would see wearing football shirts – especially on a Saturday. It felt as though literally everyone was either a Sunderland or a Newcastle United supporter, and that this passion really brought people of all generations together.

I came away from my time spent in the North East with treasured memories, and also a little bit of envy. I admired the fierce passion and pride that the residents of Newcastle and Northumberland took in their heritage. It felt like a really special club of people – one that I wished I was a member of.

The One That Got Away is out on 2 February. You can find out more about Charlotte Rixon at her website

Catch her on Twitter: twitter.com/charduck and Instagram: instagram.com/charduck

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