Kate Mosse’s latest book is a heartfelt tribute to West Sussex, part of a growing series where authors share their personal ties to the landscapes they love. The series began last year with Michael Morpurgo, who has lived in Devon for over 50 years, celebrating spring in the region. Val McDermid, who grew up in Scotland and still lives there, reflected on the essence of winter. Soon, Bernardine Evaristo will explore summer, while Mosse—whose life has largely been spent in Sussex—focuses on autumn. With nearly 65 years in the county, Mosse has deep roots in the area, making her perspective both personal and rich with historical nuance. Mosse grew up in Fishbourne and now lives in Chichester, where she met her husband during her A-level studies near the Bishop’s Palace. Their relationship began at the city’s annual Sloe Fair, where she celebrated her 17th birthday. They later marked her 40th birthday there with their children. Today, they live with her husband’s 90-something mother, Granny Rosie, who has also spent her life in Sussex. Granny Rosie recalls watching cattle graze in fields that are now home to a supermarket, a reminder of how the connection between tradition and the natural world has changed over time. Mosse’s writing is deeply influenced by the landscape, history, and folklore of Sussex. While her Languedoc trilogy was inspired by her time in Carcassonne, it was the unique character of Sussex that sparked her passion for blending history and storytelling. The county’s folklore and countryside have shaped her gothic thriller The Taxidermist’s Daughter and her memoir An Extra Pair of Hands. In her new book, she explores the interplay between nature and history, such as how the Romans called wild cyclamen “earth truffle” and believed that spells were ineffective where they grew. She also highlights how Sussex has inspired other writers. William Blake, who wrote the poem Jerusalem in Felpham, was tried in Chichester for sedition after removing a drunk soldier from his garden. Though he was acquitted, he never returned to the county. John Keats was inspired by Chichester’s architecture to write The Eve of St Agnes, and Rudyard Kipling wrote Kim while living in Sussex, followed by Just So Stories and Puck of Pook’s Hill, which are set in Burwash. Mosse weaves her personal memories with historical and natural elements, creating a tribute to the beauty of the Sussex countryside. She sees autumn as a time of transition, beginning with her first day at school on 1 September. She reflects on Halloween, Bonfire Night in Lewes, and the Harvest festival, viewing the end of November as a kind of harvest. She describes autumn as a thank you for “the gift of home,” emphasizing the joy of being in a place where generations gather.