Atop the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool, sit two Liver Birds. Bertie faces inland, watching over the city. Bella faces out to sea, watching over the seamen. The birds are surely aware of each other’s presence, sitting as they do at opposite ends of the building, pointing away from each other. They surely feel the weight of the chains that bind them to the building. Their isolation and captivity secure the future of the city – if they were to mate and fly away, Liverpool would cease to exist, apparently. But who says? And what would that even mean? Or is it simply romantic anthropomorphism to presume the two birds are in love but cursed with their duty? They’re just two concrete statues on top of a building that have inspired and evolved a story. Aren’t they? Like everything else, it’s all in your mind…
The above is an extract from my #WIP, #Underrated. It’s unedited. It might well end up as the prologue. I’m aiming to finish the novel before the blackberries are gone…
Morwenna Blackwood, Author 