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AF When were you first conscious that you wanted to
become a writer?
“In 1998, when I first attempted to write a chapter of a
crime novel and found to my complete surprise that it
got shortlisted for the CWA new crime writers award. It
only took another 10 years to actually produce a book,
so “wanted” seems like a loose enough term. But
something changed…”
AF Who were your biggest earliest influences?
“Rockabilly & Teds of all kinds, MJQ. The extraordinary
people that I met in the 1980s – The Hip Troop, as it
were. I owe them pretty much everything. LSD – opened
many doors and thankfully shut a few more. Samuel
Beckett – “The laugh sensation of two continents” as the
poster for the US premiere of Waiting For Godot had it.
Phil Blakeway – Greengrocer and Gloucester prop who
proved, long before darts became popular, that you can
be an athlete without ever running. Henry Blofeld – a
poet’s ear with Wodehouse’s voice.
Also in Eastbourne library, on a grey afternoon, reading
a large print version of Raymond Chandler’s Farewell My
Lovely, coming across the line “a blonde to make a
bishop kick a hole in a stained-glass window”. Geoffrey
Fletcher (and James Mason) in the London Nobody Knows
and of course Tex Avery – for sex and death.”
AF How long did Estrella Damn take for you to complete?
“2 years. But part-time for much of that. In actual
working days probably six months, if one could ever work
for that long without stopping for some comforts. So 2
years, then.”
AF Is any of it autobiographical?
“He’s short bald, well-upholstered and occasionally has
a glass of sherry before dinner. Not in the least.”
AF Quite! Is Slim Gunter from a long traditional line of
semi-sleuths? Or somewhere else?
“From Russell Square. From a one room flat. From a need
to try and help. Above all, from an England where Miss
Marple is in re-hab and Peter Wimsey has finally been
made to pay death duties.”
AF The hidden London of Somers Town/Russell Square is
the backdrop to Estrella Damn. What does the area mean
to you? How much has it changed?
“It means raindrops on smeared window panes. Tea and two
toast. Beer and the train pulling away to points North.
Somewhere close to lots of neon and dreams that never
quite made it. Sandwiches in grease-proof paper. Ghosts
lying quietly in unmarked graves. Men drinking outdoors,
sitting happily on top of old bones. Above all, perhaps,
the lost quality of “raffishness”. Those things are all
still there, but now it’s much harder to see them,
through a thicket of coffee chains, pubs with clear
glass in the windows and the hateful march of
“modernisation”, a euphemism for corporate greed.”
AF Can you still get a decent pint in a proper pub
there?
“Sometimes, on a quiet afternoon when the sunlight
creeps across the doorway for a quick one on the way
home.”
AF Has the smoking ban banished pub culture for good?
“I’m not sure. But are there not better things to be
considered for prohibition, like the greed and murder
carried out in the name of trade and the death and
despair done in the service of what is referred to as
democracy?”
AF What else are you reading now?
“Something Wholesale – Eric Newby’s account of working
in post-war London in the family clothing business,
based in Great Marlborough Street. Let the posh charm
and lack of pretension fall on you like summer rain.”
AF Which modern authors/publishers do you rate? If any…
“I haven’t been reading much new fiction of late.
Non-fiction would include Iain Sinclair, Peter Ackroyd
and Fergus Henderson’s cookery writing…
… As for publishers. Hmm. Best keep quiet on that one.
Independents. Soul Bay, of course.”
AF Have you got any more readings planned?
“Just done two in Northern Ireland (at Warrenpoin and
Kilkeel Libraries). Next one planned in February 09 in
Merton, South London.”
AF When can we expect a new book?
“There is a new Slim volume completed. Negotiations on
when to publish it are under way. In 2009 definitely”
AF What do you dream about?
“Having a quiff…”
AF Cheers mate.
“Cheers!” |
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