Welcome to the website of Marina McArthur. Here you can find information about Marina, her new writing and her novel Seeds of Winter. There are extracts from the novel and background information about the myth she has re-worked in telling this tale.
Marina’s first novel Seeds of Winter explores the join between contemporary life and myth or fantasy. Her heroine takes a journey into the Underworld of the ancient Greeks via a portal left conveniently open in southern Greece. Maybe you could find it yourself if you followed her path.
Marina’s second novel, House Hold, is the story of a house in the Welsh Marches that has a voice of its own and a complicated relationship with the family who live in it. Their combined, compelling journey unfolds over 150 years.
Her third novel, Gift of the Ice, like the first features journeys to realms beyond our ordinary world. Set against the stunning backdrop of the remote Ukok Plateau in the Altai Mountains of Siberia, Gift of the Ice is a story of entangled hearts, environmental peril and awakening spirit.
Marina’s approach is realist and sometimes magical realist, staying rooted in the world we know. Think a female take on some of the ideas played with by Neil Gaiman (from Sandman to American Gods an inspiration), or homage to the intoxicating writing of Angela Carter. Other novelists whose work she greatly admires are Ursula Le Guin (Earthsea), Dan Simmons (Hyperion Cantos), and David Foster Wallace (Infinite Jest) – though she can’t claim any literary kinship to the latter.
Now available in hardcopy and Kindle formats:
In the UK: purchase Seeds of Winter. In the USA: purchase Seeds of Winter.
To contact Marina email: marina at mmcarthur.co.uk
More About Marina McArthur
Even before her degree in English Lit from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Marina had the best of starts for a novelist, being immersed in good writing from childhood. Thanks to bookish parents she was a founder member of the Puffin Club (with badge to prove it!) and had the privilege of access to the best in children's literature. Alan Garner, Henry Treece, and Joan Aitken gave much pleasure and inspiration - three names from many. She read a lot of junk too - it helps to know the difference.
While completing her first novel Marina had the invaluable support of a creative writing group. In writing the second, she had access to the wisdom and experience of excellent tutors and fellow writers at Bath Spa University, where she completed an MA in Creative Writing, graduating with Distinction. She was shortlisted for the Bath Spa Janklow & Nesbit prize.
Marina grew up in North Norfolk and the Scottish Borders and spent some years living and working in Surrey and Sussex. She now lives on top of a hill in Herefordshire, and has enjoyed weaving this area through her second novel. Marina and her husband also spend time in the Mani peninsular in Greece, finding much to inspire in that elemental land of sea, rock and olive tree.
Marina is a "second-career" writer. She spent many years working in health care consultancy, often in mental health services, before being able to invest time in her creative writing. A little knowledge and experience from her first career may seep through into her writing, whatever she may intend.