Hunger & Thirst: An Exploration of Art, Memory, and the Paranormal

Host Elena Lappin in conversation with novelist CLAIRE FULLER about her latest novel Hunger & Thirst, weaving themes of art, memory, and the supernatural, in a 1980s setting. Claire Fuller shares insights into her creative process, her fascination with horror, and how her background as a sculptor influences her writing.

Key topics:

• Claire Fuller’s transition from artist to novelist at age 40
• The significance of physical books and the joy of making something tangible
• How her novel explores the link between art and perception, especially through sculpture
• The symbolism of the lithopedian—a calcified fetus—and its relevance to themes of trauma and the body
• The importance of self-contained readings and moments that can stand alone from the main narrative
• The influence of horror films like Rosemary’s Baby, The Shining, and The Stepford Wives on her storytelling
• How visual detail shapes her prose and enhances storytelling
• The role of domestic spaces and traces of the past in shaping identity and memory
• Her approach to writing horror and the necessity of foreshadowing and buildup
• Themes of interconnectedness, ghosts, and historical echoes in her characters’ lives
• Her inspiration from place, notably Winchester and her childhood home—a bungalow
• The emotional significance of personal memorabilia and the act of holding onto objects
• Her advocacy for other writers through social media and her Substack newsletter
• The enduring joy of creating physical books and the unique experience of writing in physical form

Timestamps:00:00 – The magic of making and sharing books across the world

00:34 – Claire Fuller introduces Hunger and Thirst and reads a fragment of her novel

01:34 – The significance of a standalone scene and its thematic relevance

06:23 – Why Hunger and Thirst encapsulates the novel’s themes and character development

08:08 – The symbolism of medical conditions like the lithopedian in her narrative

09:11 – The narrative layer of contemplating mortality and the question of being “ever gone”

10:15 – Visual storytelling and the influence of her artistic background

11:48 – Observing the world through a detailed, almost forensic lens

12:49 – The “Hamlet” space of ambiguity in her storytelling and horror influences

13:27 – The horror films Rosemary’s Baby, The Shining, and The Stepford Wives and their thematic significance

15:09 – The appeal of domestic horror and slow-building tension in her work

16:38 – Character profiles: Ursula’s background and psychological makeup

17:46 – The relationship between memorabilia, memory, and storytelling

19:27 – The balance between inspiration and clutter in an artist’s physical environment

20:07 – The ethical and emotional considerations of reading private family letters

21:29 – How old photographs and ephemera inspire her writing and prompts

22:22 – The ghosts of strangers and the idea of collective memory—reflections from W. G. Sebald

23:47 – The role of horror in her storytelling and why it’s essential to her artistic expression

26:40 – How characters’ obsession with horror films serves as a reflection of their fears and anxieties

28:35 – The setting of the former crime scene house and the traces of the past in our environments

29:21 – Personal memories of living in a house full of history and its influence on her writing

https://clairefuller.co.uk

32:54 – Comparing her experience as a sculptor and novelist: the physicality of creation

34:22 – The flow state in sculpture versus writing—overcoming self-imposed barriers

36:26 – The surprising journey to becoming a published author and her early art-based roots

37:16 – The inspiration behind her depiction of Winchester and her use of place in storytelling

38:39 – The mysterious Vince character and the significance of early connections among characters

40:42 – Themes of lineage, traces, and the past’s influence on present identity

44:50 – Why Claire Fuller writes: a desire to create and make tangible objects in storytelling

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