Difference between revisions of "The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerald Wixey"
(Created page with "{{infoboxinterviews |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerlad Wixey |reviewer=Sue Magee |summary=Sue's been gorging on Gerald Wixey's ''Small Town'' books. After she'd re...") |
|||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
Gerlad Wixey: Adult definitely, probably women in the main, certainly night owls. | Gerlad Wixey: Adult definitely, probably women in the main, certainly night owls. | ||
| − | * '''BB: What was the inspiration behind the | + | * '''BB: What was the inspiration behind the ''Small Town'' books?''' |
GW: Characters locally, the wide lawns and narrow minds morality that dominates small towns and the politics of relationships. | GW: Characters locally, the wide lawns and narrow minds morality that dominates small towns and the politics of relationships. | ||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
* '''BB: For a man who has always lived in a peaceful market town you bring the seedier parts of London off the page extremely well. How did you manage that?''' | * '''BB: For a man who has always lived in a peaceful market town you bring the seedier parts of London off the page extremely well. How did you manage that?''' | ||
| − | GW: Talking to my uncle who ran an illegal drinking club in London just after the war. | + | GW: Talking to my uncle who ran an illegal drinking club in London just after the war. I've heavily researched that period as well, especially post-war London. |
* '''BB: I sensed that there was a great deal of your father in Harry, the pub-owning ex-boxer. Are any of the other characters a nod to other people you know, or have known?''' | * '''BB: I sensed that there was a great deal of your father in Harry, the pub-owning ex-boxer. Are any of the other characters a nod to other people you know, or have known?''' | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
GW: My dear old uncle, a lounge lizard and a cad. Also Jack, who was based on a dear old friend who was in military intelligence during the war. A pedant, fount of all knowledge, a drinker and good company. | GW: My dear old uncle, a lounge lizard and a cad. Also Jack, who was based on a dear old friend who was in military intelligence during the war. A pedant, fount of all knowledge, a drinker and good company. | ||
| − | * '''BB: | + | * '''BB: What's next for Jack, Harry, Wyn and Stuart? I've grown rather attached to them!''' |
GW: Two more novels involving the above, both finished and looking for a decent publishing deal. | GW: Two more novels involving the above, both finished and looking for a decent publishing deal. | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
* '''BB: Where and how do you write? Are you a disciplined writer?''' | * '''BB: Where and how do you write? Are you a disciplined writer?''' | ||
| − | GW: I start writing when my wife leaves for work at 6.15 and do four hours on the bounce. I try for 1500 words which would be a good day, mostly I probably average 1000. I play around with what | + | GW: I start writing when my wife leaves for work at 6.15 and do four hours on the bounce. I try for 1500 words which would be a good day, mostly I probably average 1000. I play around with what I've produced for another hour, then walk my dogs and discuss my next days work with them. |
| − | * '''BB: I know that | + | * '''BB: I know that you're studying for an MA in Creative Writing - but does reading matter to you? What are you reading at the moment?''' |
| − | GW: I read avidly, at the moment | + | GW: I read avidly, at the moment I'm reading [[:Category:Alan Furst|Alan Furst]], who is the master of the low-key suspense/espionage novel. As to my studies, I've been in such a rich vein over these last few months that I've put them on hold for a year. I have to write at the moment, it means everything to me! |
| − | * '''BB: Tell us what turned you into a whistle blower - | + | * '''BB: Tell us what turned you into a whistle blower - we're intrigued!''' |
GW: I was employed by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, purely on energy production. There was a bad accident at a weapons producing plant nearby and they moved production to my workshop. This was the time of the cruise missiles which were housed just a few miles from my home After a long talk with my wife (young family + mortgage!) I told my employers that I refused to use my many skills manufacturing warheads. Within hours, I was moved out and consigned to a backwater. Because the switch in production was both illegal and morally wrong, I contacted the Observer and after a few meetings with their journalists they ran the story. I was immensely proud of my stance and as everyone knows, the land based cruise missiles have long gone. (not because of me I hasten to add!) | GW: I was employed by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, purely on energy production. There was a bad accident at a weapons producing plant nearby and they moved production to my workshop. This was the time of the cruise missiles which were housed just a few miles from my home After a long talk with my wife (young family + mortgage!) I told my employers that I refused to use my many skills manufacturing warheads. Within hours, I was moved out and consigned to a backwater. Because the switch in production was both illegal and morally wrong, I contacted the Observer and after a few meetings with their journalists they ran the story. I was immensely proud of my stance and as everyone knows, the land based cruise missiles have long gone. (not because of me I hasten to add!) | ||
| Line 44: | Line 44: | ||
* '''BB: That's a brave and principled stance to have taken.''' | * '''BB: That's a brave and principled stance to have taken.''' | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''You've got one wish. What's it to be?''' |
GW: A deal with a leading publisher. | GW: A deal with a leading publisher. | ||
| Line 50: | Line 50: | ||
* '''BB: What's next for Gerlad Wixey?''' | * '''BB: What's next for Gerlad Wixey?''' | ||
| − | GW: I have 4 more titles ready to go. Two of which are not thrillers. Both are very modern love stories, dark, intense and I hesitate to class them as erotica. The modern conception of erotica is badly written filth. Mine are both well written filth and | + | GW: I have 4 more titles ready to go. Two of which are not thrillers. Both are very modern love stories, dark, intense and I hesitate to class them as erotica. The modern conception of erotica is badly written filth. Mine are both well written filth and I'm almost ready to begin the submission process. |
* '''BB: We wish you well with all that, Gerald and thanks for chatting to us.''' | * '''BB: We wish you well with all that, Gerald and thanks for chatting to us.''' | ||
Revision as of 14:48, 23 April 2013
| The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerlad Wixey
| |
|
| |
| Summary: Sue's been gorging on Gerald Wixey's Small Town books. After she'd read Salt of Their Blood and 4 Bones Sleeping she had quite a few questions for the author when he popped into Bookbag Towers. | |
| Date: 23 April 2013 | |
Interviewer: Sue Magee
 | |
|
Share on: | |
Sue's been gorging on Gerald Wixey's Small Town books. After she'd read Salt of Their Blood and 4 Bones Sleeping she had quite a few questions for the author when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
- Bookbag: When you close your eyes and imagine your readers, who do you see?
Gerlad Wixey: Adult definitely, probably women in the main, certainly night owls.
- BB: What was the inspiration behind the Small Town books?
GW: Characters locally, the wide lawns and narrow minds morality that dominates small towns and the politics of relationships.
- BB: For a man who has always lived in a peaceful market town you bring the seedier parts of London off the page extremely well. How did you manage that?
GW: Talking to my uncle who ran an illegal drinking club in London just after the war. I've heavily researched that period as well, especially post-war London.
- BB: I sensed that there was a great deal of your father in Harry, the pub-owning ex-boxer. Are any of the other characters a nod to other people you know, or have known?
GW: My dear old uncle, a lounge lizard and a cad. Also Jack, who was based on a dear old friend who was in military intelligence during the war. A pedant, fount of all knowledge, a drinker and good company.
- BB: What's next for Jack, Harry, Wyn and Stuart? I've grown rather attached to them!
GW: Two more novels involving the above, both finished and looking for a decent publishing deal.
- BB: Where and how do you write? Are you a disciplined writer?
GW: I start writing when my wife leaves for work at 6.15 and do four hours on the bounce. I try for 1500 words which would be a good day, mostly I probably average 1000. I play around with what I've produced for another hour, then walk my dogs and discuss my next days work with them.
- BB: I know that you're studying for an MA in Creative Writing - but does reading matter to you? What are you reading at the moment?
GW: I read avidly, at the moment I'm reading Alan Furst, who is the master of the low-key suspense/espionage novel. As to my studies, I've been in such a rich vein over these last few months that I've put them on hold for a year. I have to write at the moment, it means everything to me!
- BB: Tell us what turned you into a whistle blower - we're intrigued!
GW: I was employed by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, purely on energy production. There was a bad accident at a weapons producing plant nearby and they moved production to my workshop. This was the time of the cruise missiles which were housed just a few miles from my home After a long talk with my wife (young family + mortgage!) I told my employers that I refused to use my many skills manufacturing warheads. Within hours, I was moved out and consigned to a backwater. Because the switch in production was both illegal and morally wrong, I contacted the Observer and after a few meetings with their journalists they ran the story. I was immensely proud of my stance and as everyone knows, the land based cruise missiles have long gone. (not because of me I hasten to add!)
- BB: That's a brave and principled stance to have taken.
You've got one wish. What's it to be?
GW: A deal with a leading publisher.
- BB: What's next for Gerlad Wixey?
GW: I have 4 more titles ready to go. Two of which are not thrillers. Both are very modern love stories, dark, intense and I hesitate to class them as erotica. The modern conception of erotica is badly written filth. Mine are both well written filth and I'm almost ready to begin the submission process.
- BB: We wish you well with all that, Gerald and thanks for chatting to us.
You can read more about Gerlad Wixey here.
Check out Bookbag's exciting features section, with interviews, top tens and editorials.
Comments
Like to comment on this feature?
Just send us an email and we'll put the best up on the site.
