The Sound of Silence

Travel Guide

Sheila herself was born and bred in Sunderland herself and the novel is infused with Northern Grit. A lot of violence too but then this is the underbelly of the Seahills Estate on which it is based and understandably this is al fictional too.

The other areas her characters inhabit however are very real and are showcased in many ways from the faded beauty of the seaside areas such as Roker beach and its smarter counterpart of Seaburn. And the centre of Sunderland itself. One of the characters works in the famous Glass centre which is a major visitor attraction on the North East.

‘Although the part that was Roker, certainly had its fair shore of pebbles which made it a haven for pebble hunters, something she herself had loved to do as a child.”

There is also a lot of history in this town – both in the buildings as well as the people on the estate. Sometimes they bring happy memories such as the church Lorraine remembers visiting with Luke but other spots seem to make her nervous as if the past is still around everywhere she turns.

Sheila Quigley is your guide to a Sunderland and an estate in Houghton le Spring that you will be pleased is fictional but with that Northern wit and charm

And there’s a cameo by the Newcastle branch of Waterstones which is always nice to see.