Today I did something a bit different.  I went to Hay Festival for the first time! It’s only just over an hour from me, so I finally made the trip, and I’m so glad I did. I went to hear Tracy Chevalier speak, the author of The Glassmaker, which I read recently and absolutely loved.

The book follows the story of a woman lampworker in 15th-century Murano, and it really struck a chord with me. It’s not often my little corner of the world -lampwork glass beadmaking - gets the spotlight in a novel, and I wasn’t expecting it to have such an emotional impact. But reading it made me feel properly seen. It reminded me that this ancient, skilled craft I’ve chosen has a rich heritage and that I’m part of something special. It honestly made me feel proud.

Hearing Tracy talk about the book’s inspiration and her research just made me love it even more. As part of writing The Glassmaker, she actually gave lampworking a go herself. She said it was incredibly hard and gave full credit to the people who taught her and made it look easy - though she quickly added that it absolutely isn’t.

She’s written lots of novels about makers: fossil hunters, embroiderers, quilters, and usually tries her hand at the craft as part of her research. Many of them she’s carried on with just for fun. But when asked if she’d keep going with lampwork, she smiled and said, “No. Because it’s hard.”

That made me laugh and quietly cheer inside. Because yes, it is hard. But that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. The heat, the precision, the endless learning, it’s not for everyone. But for those of us who fall in love with it, it’s magic.

And one more lovely thing happened. I made a pendant for her and gave it to her when she signed my book. She’s just sent me a photo of her wearing it and I’m absolutely thrilled. What a moment.

If you’re curious about what goes on behind the beads I make, The Glassmaker offers a beautifully imagined glimpse into the kind of world I work in - albeit things are a bit more modern now.  Fortunately smelly tallow and difficult bellows have been replaced by propane gas and oxygen concentrators, and beads are now cooled in a digitally controlled kiln instead of a bucket of ash.

If you love stories about craft, resilience, and women doing things they weren’t supposed to do, this one’s for you.

The Glassmaker is available in hardback and paperback from all the usual good booksellers including World of Books and as an audio book.

Let me know if you’ve read it, or if you do pick it up, I’d love to hear what you think.

Julie x

Tracy wrote "Thank you for the beautiful necklace, Julie! It perfectly matches my shirt. So generous of you! I'm delighted you felt seen in The Glassmaker.