Author Interview with Albert Jack

Author, Albert Jack, has seen great success from his witty, entertaining and fascinating books which explore the background behind a varitey of subjects including common phrases, pub names and urban legends. His new release Pop Goes the Weasel explores the stories behind our most favourite nursery rhymes. Read on to discover some of the nursery rhymes which took Jack by surprise, his favourite books, and what question he would ask Katie Price…yes, really!

…about your book

Where is the first place you go to research the meaning behind nursery rhymes?
The starting point for me was when I was reading about the Siege of Colchester during the English Civil War when Oliver Cromwell’s parliamentarian forces surrounded Colchester Castle, which was occupied by troops loyal to King Charles I. Now, you might already be wondering what this has to do with nursery rhymes, although when you discover that one of the king’s largest cannon’s, being used to fend off Cromwell’s army, was called Humpty Dumpty and was manned by a gunner called One Eyed Thompson. I then started to wonder why, if Humpty Dumpty was originally a cannon, that we all share an image of him as an egg. And, of course, the nursery rhyme doesn’t mention an egg at all so the plot thickened. It was finding out all of this that led me on the trail of other nursery rhymes and their original meaning, or who were the people that inspired them.

Which nursery rhyme and its meaning is your favourite?
Perhaps Little Jack Horner is my favorite. It was Thomas Horner, once the steward to the Dean of Glastonbury, who was charged with the task of delivering the deeds to twelve magnificent church properties to King Henry VIII in an attempt to bribe him into not carrying out his threat of dissolving the monasteries, or at least dissolving his own monastery. The deeds were concealed inside a bowl with a crust on that looked like a pie, in the hope of deceiving would be highway robbers or unscrupulous lords along the way but, as legend has it, Thomas squeezed his hand in and stole the deeds to Mells Manor in Somerset which is, by all accounts, still owned by his descendants to this day. Well, that is how the story goes and it is a great story.

Which rhyme provided you with the biggest surprise?
The whole project was full of wonderful surprises. There really was a Jack and Jill, for example. And Baa Baa Black Sheep was written as a piece of propaganda in 1275 after the Great Custom Tax in which the King imposed upon the wool trade, England’s largest export at the time. Of every three sacks of wool produced one bag had to be sent to the King (the Master) and one to the Church (the Dame) and one to the farmer (the little boy down the lane). That 66% tax partly funded the later crusades. And Ring a Ring a Roses has nothing to do with the Great Plague after all. And Remember Remember the 5^th of November was originally written as a sermon. Fascinating stuff.

Why do you think society has embraced these sometimes sinister and dark rhymes as Children’s songs?
The main reason for this was when a publisher called John Newberry produced his collection of Mother Goose Tales in 1765 for children. He went around the country learning all the local rhymes and folk songs and presented a collection for the entertainment of children. Possibly unaware of the dark history recorded in many of the tales or tunes Newberry’s mother Goose collection was so popular that children have been taught many of them from the moment they learned how to communicate with others using language ever since.

…just for fun

The majority of nursery rhymes were about political and royal figures. Who would make a good subject for a nursery rhyme today and how do you think it would go?
Good question. Ok, here goes. ‘When poor Harry he joined the army, his father the Prince, reminded him calmly’……….. somebody else can finish that off for me. But it would have to be either Prince Harry (the only interesting royal) or Tony Blair. He deserves to be remembered in a way that could be covered by a modern nursery rhyme.

What is the most dog-eared, over used, read time and time again, book on your shelf?
They are all well used, believe me. But Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable has probably taken the biggest hammering. I think it has even had something spilt all over and was left out to dry in the sun judging by how wrinkled it also is, although no-body has owned up to that yet. But it still works. Actually I have about three copies of it. One at home in Cape Town, one here in Guildford and another one in storage somewhere in case I need to bring it off the bench at any time. That’s how often I thumb through that one.

You are granted a wish to meet any author, dead or alive. Who would it be and what would be your first question?
Really….. these are just for fun questions. That’s a massive question! Katie Price, and then ask her if she has ever even read one of her books. No, only joking. Well, possibly Edgar Allen Poe in 1845 and then tell him how influential his books would become over the next 150 years. Then I would ask him, in which case, would he mind cheering up a little bit. I would say the same to Jack Kerouac in the 1950’s. But, as I have just watched The Italian Job again the other day, I would ask the writer of that what happened after the end. Did that coach go over the cliff or not.

…and finally

Where do you find the most creative place to write?
At home in Cape Town . It’s not that it is especially creative, but it is easy to settle into a disciplined routine of writing every day there without too many interruptions. In fact sometimes none at all and I can go for days down there without any contact with anybody and really get some work done. Although I worry sometimes that one day they will just find a skeleton sitting at my desk months after I last spoke to anyone because they would all assume I was working hard and not bother checking. I even forgot both Mothers Day and her birthday whilst writing one book, and even she didn’t phone to check I was alright, just left me too it.

Which of your books has been the most enjoyable to research and write?
They all are. Red Herrings and White Elephants was great because it was the first one and we all thought I might be onto something there, it was a good idea and the research went really well so when it became an instant hit we were all pleased but those of us working on it were not too surprised, believe it or not. The most recent What Caesar did for My Salad was great fun too, because it is all about the history and origins of food. Who was margarita? Which Benedict inspired that Egg dish? Who were the tartars and what is their connection with a raw meat recipe and, of course, What did Caesar do for my favorite salad.

Can you tell us about what you are working on next?
I have about four new ideas on the drawing board that I am trying to shape into a book. All similar themes though, the history and origins behind our popular culture. Ask me again next month and I might have decided on which one to start first by then.

Take a look at ReaderIReadIt’s review of Pop Goes the Weasel here

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Author Interview with Andrew Taylor

Andrew Taylor’s eagerly awaited new novel, The Anatomy of Ghosts, is a sophisticated twist on the traditional ghost story with mystery and suspense that leaves you unable to put the book down. Find out what Andrew had to say about his inspiration, the secret to good crime writing and which story stops him from turning the lights out at night.

…about your book

What was the inspiration behind The Anatomy of Ghosts?
Perhaps it really began a winter night in Cambridge, nearly 40 years ago, when there was a power cut and the town and university was a place of darkness illuminated by the flickering flames of occasional candles. It gave the illusion of looking backwards through the centuries. Time passed. Then I had the vague idea of a murder mystery with a ghost set in the eighteenth century, when people thought rather differently about ghosts from the way they do now. This connected with the equally vague idea that it should be set in Cambridge, a city I used to know well but no longer do. A fictional college, Jerusalem, is mentioned in several of my other novels. I felt that perhaps it was time to explore the place. The ideas collided. The title, The Anatomy of Ghosts, came out of nowhere. And then I knew I had something that might eventually turn into a novel.

You create a fantastic cast of characters all with their own demons. Who do you think is haunted the most?
They all have their own ghosts. Holdsworth’s are the ones I thought most about, simply because he is the central character.

Being a Cambridge graduate yourself, did you enjoy researching 1780s Cambridge and did you learn anything new or surprising?
Research is almost always enjoyable – it’s easier than writing, and also novelists have the luxury of choosing settings that interest them in the first place. I hadn’t realised quite how corrupt, elitist and educationally inadequate both Oxford and Cambridge had become (unlike the Scottish universities, which were much better, as it happens). And I learned some incredibly unpleasant things about sewage.

…just for fun

Which novel sends chills down your spine?
Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw. If I’m allowed short stories, I’d go for one by M.R.James.

You are granted a wish to meet any author, dead or alive. Who would it be and what would be your first question?
Maybe Dickens – if only because I could ask him how he planned to end The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

You are asked to add a book into a capsule which will be sent into space for aliens to find. What would you choose?
If it’s someone else’s book, why not the complete works of Proust? That would certainly give the aliens something to think about. Either that or Joyce’s Finnegan’s Wake. If it’s one of mine, let’s have The Anatomy of Ghosts.

…and finally

You have a growing list of published novels which have had great success. Which book did you have the most enjoyable experience writing and publishing?
That’s a hard one – writing is never easy, but all the books are enjoyable at some points. But in terms of publishing, the most enjoyable experience came with my very first, Caroline Minuscule. When it was published I realised I had become a real writer.

What is the secret behind good crime writing?
A crime, probably murder, and a narrative, often involving some sort of mystery, that makes the reader want to turn the page and read on.

Can you tell us what you are working on next?
I’m staying in the 18thc, but the setting will be very, very different. No ghosts, either, or not so far.

Take a look at ReaderIReadIt’s review of The Anatomy of Ghosts.

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Author Interview with Lucy Pollard-Gott

Trying to decide your favourite character is one thing but attempting to rank 100 that have been most influential is certainly a challenge not to be underestimated. Lucy Pollard-Gott’s, The Fictional 100, chronicals the worlds greatest characters from literature and legend and is full of interesting facts, pictures and quotes. So while you try to decide on your number one, here is what the author has to say.

…about your book

What was your inspiration to write this book?
Many biographical dictionaries have appeared ranking historical persons, and I thought that fictional characters merited the same treatment–“biographies” of their lives. I wanted to follow characters from their birth in one or more works of fiction or legend, first telling their stories in the fictional world and then tracing their influence in other works of fiction, in film, art, music, and in the world at large.  I also wished to explore as much as possible the psychological aspects of the characters that have become most influential.

Was it difficult ranking your chosen characters in order?
Of course, there is some uncertainty built into any ranking process. Because of the multiple avenues through which a character’s influence can be expressed, no single measure can provide an automatic standard for assessing rank, but instead multiple sources of influence must be coordinated and weighed. Some of the factors contributing to a higher rank include persistence over a longer time, versatility (dispersion of the character in a variety of different works in different media), complexity (characters which continue to spur debate), and international appeal. Equally well-informed people may disagree on the ranks I’ve settled on. A good rule of thumb is that a character’s rank could move up or down by a factor of three and still be consistent with my assessment. For example, I ranked Hamlet first, and many people would too, but few people would likely leave him out of the top three. Don Quixote, at third, could rank as high as first or as low as ninth, but it would be surprising if he dropped off the top ten altogether. And so on down the list.
I also took some care that the ranks within geographical subsets make sense: Hamlet is the top character in British literature, Huckleberry Finn in American literature, Genji for Japanese literature, Odysseus for the ancient Greeks, and so on around the world.

Which author do you think created the most influential characters overall?
It is hard to get ahead of Shakespeare for influential characters! Eight of his characters made my list, and they all excel in the hallmarks of influence. Even in translation to other languages, the poetry and dramatic power that Shakespeare brought to bear have made his characters robust, versatile, exciting, perplexing, and widely popular. He also knew how to choose among fruitful characters that others had created to get the most out of their stories and personalities.

…just for fun If you were to invite 5 fictional characters round to dinner who would they be?
Sherlock Holmes, Emma Woodhouse, Genji, Superman, and Cinderella. Sherlock Holmes would surely confound the other guests by his astute appraisals of them.  I would love to offer him a mystery or two and, what’s more to the point, I’d like to see which of the many actors has come closest to capturing the “real” Sherlock. (Is it Jeremy Brett or Benedict Cumberbatch?) Emma would be a lovely addition to any party, especially a picnic, and could be counted on to speak honestly and with the best of intentions. If she happened to come out with a gaffe, she would sincerely regret it and surely make amends. If the radiant Prince Genji came to dinner, I would probably impose on him to play the koto and to compose some lovely waka poetry for the occasion, since these are among the arts at which he is unsurpassed. Superman would be equally welcome as himself or as Clark Kent.  Cinderella would no doubt be a charming guest and make sure everyone went home by midnight!

All authors are asked which book they wish to read on a desert island but in the spirit of your work, which character do you think would be the most influential to help you survive living on a desert island?
Long John Silver suggests himself, because of his experience on Treasure Island, but I would choose Odysseus. On his voyage home from Troy, he landed on a series of islands, which might have been easier if they had been deserted—at least he would have encountered fewer dangers and foes! But dealing with loneliness would be one of the obstacles to healthy survival. Odysseus faced loss of comrades and persevered through many and varied hardships, keeping the thoughts of his home, wife, and son in mind. He would be a resourceful companion and have great stories to tell!

Which character do you most identify yourself with?�
I feel the greatest affinity for Jean Valjean. I admire the kind of ideal person he grew to be—selfless, compassionate, forgiving, generous.

…and finally Are you working on anything new you can tell us about?
Yes, I’m doing the research for a historical novel set in medieval France. I’m looking forward to creating some fictional characters of my own, after admiring the fictional folks already populating the imaginary landscape and chronicling their real-world influence.

What are you reading at the moment?
I am savoring Shirleyby Charlotte Brontë in tandem with The Tenant of Wildfell Hallby her sister Anne. It is fascinating to compare their voices. Both authors have such acute perceptions of their characters, it is almost painful to watch the characters squirm under the Brontë lens. If I had to cite a contrast, I’d say that Anne, as narrator, has the hotter temper and the sharper tongue! Her subject does lend itself to more outrage.
I’ve also been reading more biographies—some for research and some that just grabbed me, such as Katie Whitaker’s A Royal Passion, described as a biography of the marriage of Charles I of England and Henrietta Maria of France. The new research Whitaker offers, painting a more sympathetic portrait of Henrietta as wife and of them both as a couple, appealed to me very much. And I’m curious to start Trying to Please, the new memoir by John Julius Norwich, whose stylish narrative histories never fail to draw me in.
Finally, there are always new things to read about the further adventures of the characters on my list—they keep popping up in the news! 

Read The Fictional 100 Review here

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An Interview with Jessica Meats

Jessica Meat’s debut novel Child of the Hive explores a Britain at war with a deadly organisation and her only hope lies with two specially gifted young adults. A thrilling book and perfect read for anyone looking to escape reality, Reader I Read It questions this up and coming Author.

…about your book

Child of the Hive is your first novel. What initial thought sparked off the idea of the book?
I started with the idea of the character Will. I wanted a young character hiding from two different groups of people. I knew that one of the groups had to be an organisation that would generally be thought of as “the good guys.” From that simple idea, I began working out why things were that way. Why was Will hiding? What had happened to drive him underground? It had to be an emotional conflict and almost immediately, that gave me the character of Drew. Having two characters who used to be so close pitted against each other provides wonderful narrative drama.
The character of Sophie was an idea I’d had for years. I was just waiting for a story to suit her. Thinking about why Sophie behaved as she did was what allowed me to develop the entire background of the Hive.

Your book is set the near future , how easy was it to create and describe the future?
Surprisingly easy. I just thought about the things we have or are developing now and worked them into the story. Some things I wrote into the first draft to show it was the future now exist. Electronic billboards in the London Underground are a perfect example of this. The virtual reality technology Will is working on at the start of the second half of the book is all physically possible now.

If Child of the Hive was adapted to film, who would you like to play main characters Will and Sophie?
I don’t mind but I’d want them to be ordinary-looking. So often in movies and TV shows, everyone is gorgeous. By all means, Drew can be a Hollywood hunk but I’d like the other characters to look like people you could just pass in the street without giving a second glance.

…just for fun

Which book do you wish you could have written?
Harry Potter! Honestly, there’s no author I want to be like or imitate, though I’m certain there are many that influence my writing style. I’d much rather write my own books my way.

You are granted a wish to meet any author, dead or alive. Who would it be and what would be your first question?
Probably Baroness Orczy, who wrote the Scarlett Pimpernel books. I’d ask how much her books are historically accurate and how much she makes up for the sake of a good adventure.

If you were to identify yourself with any character from a novel who would it be?
Lots of bits of me tend to creep into my own characters. In Child, Rachel’s thoughts when she’s trying to get Drew’s attention have elements of me. The moment when Alex fiddles with her watch so much it falls off… I’ve lost track of the number of times that’s happened to me. I don’t think there’s a character in my books or anyone else’s who is like all of me.

….and finally

After the experience of writing and publishing your debut novel what advice would you give others thinking about writing a book?
Keep trying. Child may be my first published novel but it’s not my first attempt. My first couple of attempts at writing a novel were pretty awful. By the time I got to my fourth book, I had something I wouldn’t be ashamed to show people. Child was my fifth attempt at a novel and it still took three drafts to get it into a suitable shape to send to publishers. I have rejection letters for all three drafts so clearly perseverance is the key.

Did you suffer from writer’s block when writing and if so how did you overcome it?
I think I suffer from the opposite problem. I get an idea for a story and start writing it. Then I get another new, exciting idea so I start writing that. Then I get another idea…I end up with a pile of beginnings but no ends!

Are you working on a second novel?
When I get time! I’ve actually started working on a sequel that focuses on the child who’s referred to in the title of this book and what happens to him when he gets older. I’ve written about 30000 words of the story. The problem was that I was writing it while I was editing Child. I kept getting sent manuscripts from the publisher with the instructions to read it through carefully twice to check for errors and approve any changes. When you read the same book ten times in six months after spending three months preparing it for submission, you want to try doing something new. Whether it’s this book or not, there will definitely be another novel when I can find the time to write it.

Take a look at Jessica’s blog and find out more here

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