Salomon writes…

Dear Michelle,

I’m sitting on the floor by the latrine on the delayed and crowded 16.47 from Marylebone to Haddenham… Reading thin air, utterly hooked, and reliving my own alpine climbing days… the discomfort, pain, cold, hunger, exhaustion… making the best of an unplanned overnight bivi…

I bought Thin Air in a charity shop some months ago… I glimpsed it in my peripheral vision and immediately picked it up and took it home. Not before paying for it..

I’d love to know how you researched this book. It’s brill and spot on.

I feel like I’d trust you to hold my ropes!

My heart goes out crevasse deep to the Sherpas and Cedric.

Michelle Replies…

Dear Salomon, I’ve just checked my emails and got yours; I really hope that by now you’re no longer on that delayed train, and have reached Haddenham!

I’m absolutely delighted that you enjoyed/are enjoying THIN AIR, particularly as you’ve been a climber yourself.  In answer to your question, nope, I’m not a climber and never have been.  But I have hiked in mountains in all over the world; and I’ve always loved the classic accounts of climbing, such as THE WHITE SPIDER and TOUCHING THE VOID.  To research the story I read in-depth about the history of Himalayan mountaineering.  Then, to put it simply, I used my imagination.  I also hiked in the foothills of Kanchenjunga, which was invaluable.  (I go into all this in a bit more detail in the Author’s Note at the back of the book; but I suggest you only take a look at that when you’ve finished the story.)

Thanks so much for getting in touch; and I hope you enjoy the rest of it!

With very best wishes,  Michelle

 

 

 

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