“I didn't get to see my family or Georgia for 17 years. So when I did go back, I found it really strange, really surreal. That was very emotional for me. So I started writing it really trying to make sense of it in my own head.” -Leo Vardiashvili Inspired by his own estrangement from his homeland, Leo Vardiashvili tells the story of a family torn apart as they wrestle with the events of the past. Hard By A Great Forest is told through the eyes of Saba, who is forced to leave London and return to Georgia, in search of his missing father and brother, 18 years after they fled the war-torn country. Saba follows breadcrumb clues left behind by his brother, whilst guided on his journey by strangers and old ghosts. This episode explores Leo’s own experiences leaving Georgia, only to return to the country as a stranger. We hear about the history of the Georgian Civil War which is weaved throughout this novel, and about the culture and the people of Georgia. And we learn what Leo had to give up in order to write the book. In this episode, you will learn: How to use the inspiration of your own life experiences in your writing. Why minor characters must be furnished with a complete set of complex characteristics. If your novel seems like a dead-end, it may simply be missing one crucial ingredient you haven’t thought of yet. Find out more about Leo Vardiashvili here. Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood. Behind The Spine is an inkjockey production and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up for the newsletter here. You can buy copies of our anthology series here.  You can view the full transcript here. Connect with the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk