Emails, emails, emails

Do you know, I’m sure I’m programmed to only delete/archive email messages on certain days. Like, once a month.

I’ve spent most of the day trying to get up to date with things and I’m happy to say I’m pretty much there. Hooray. But amongst all the Important and starred emails there’s just so much junk. Google alerts, Twitter and Facebook notifications – all stuff I’ve actioned when I’ve had them. Is it just me? Is anyone else as, ahem, disorganised?

So. If anyone’s waiting for stuff from me, they should either have it now or very shortly. I feel so much more relaxed now I know better where I’m up to.

On Making Things and Creativity

Really, really love what Brett Anderson had to say here about (song) writing. About making things if you don’t have them. On making something different. On doing something different. On inspiration and creativity and on growing into what you become.

Story writing is no different.

I’ve been listening to old Suede stuff quite a bit of late. Especially this and (wait for the intro to finish) this.

And I think I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and remembering. Time doesn’t half fly and people don’t half change (I’m talking about me here as well). But doing that remembering and listening to these songs I loved when I was fourteen or so has cheered me up no end.

Blabbering over. For now.

How Much Of Us There Was

How Much of Us There Was by Michael Kimball, broke my heart. There’s not much else to say about it. It is, as I expected, utterly brilliant and incredibly affecting.

An elderly man wakes up one morning to find his wife having a seizure and then slipping into a coma. What follows is the story of the man’s wife’s death. It’s honest and moving and real and it’s written in such a sensitive and tender way that it’s almost impossible not to have your heart broken by it.

I wanted to describe How Much Of Us There Was as someone coming to terms with losing their partner, but that, I think would be wrong, because, like the man in the book, I don’t think many people are able to come to terms with such a tragic event.

An incredible book and one which I was delighted to discover was just as good as Dear Everybody.

It also made me think of my late grandparents, and made me happy that I’ve dedicated my book to them.

Read it. You will thank me for it.

And you can see me interview Michael here.

***

And in other news…

If I’ve not heard from Rhoda or Katherine (come on folks, you’ve won!!!) by 5pm I shall pick two more winners of R.N. Morris’ a Razor Wrapped in Silk out of the tin.

Death Is Not The End – Jon Mayhew Interview

Thrilled, thrilled thrilled to welcome children’s author, Jon Mayhew, to the blog today to talk about his book, Mortlock, ghuls, mandolins, Dickens, ballads and running around the Wirral.


Welcome, Jon! So, Mortlock has just been published! Congratulations. Can you tell us a little about it? Who’s it for and what’s it about?
It’s about a girl called Josie and a boy called Alfie. They are twins separated at birth. What brings them together is the death of the magician the Great Cardamom, Josie’s guardian, at the hands of the evil crow-like ghuls. Josie and Alfie are plunged into a nightmare race to find Mortlock and the Amarant (the flower of Life) before the ghuls and their master the evil Lord Corvis does. Obviously, Corvis has nefarious plans for the Amarant and for mankind.
Why did you write it?
It kind of wrote itself in a funny kind of way. It was a story that buzzed around my head as I was running around the lanes of Wirral (as I am wont to do). I guess it was story I had to tell. So I did!
What’s the Mortlock world like? Is it a place you’d like to live?
Mortlock’s world is quite grim and dark. It’s a Hammer Horror version of Victorian London, choking fogs that conceal villainous pursuers, freezing cold winters that pinch at your fingertips and nose. A place where the dead can rise and where the brave can win through if they stay true. Nah, I’d hate to live there. I like to escape there quite frequently though. There is a fair amount of humour in Mortlock’s world too, so that’s quite reassuring.
Could you tell us a little about your influences?
MR James was a big influence. I love that whole genre, tweed –clad gents leaning on mantelpieces, tapping their pipes into the fire and then telling in hushed tones how they saw ‘something’ that could never be explained. Ace!

Dickens had a role too, I love A Christmas Carol and Great Expectations. When you consider a character like Abel Magwitch and the many layers. A convicted felon who is so impressed by the kindness of a terrified young boy, he never forgets. He sentimentalises the boy to such an extent that he risks his life to return and see how he has changed. Brilliant! It was the scene in Oliver Twist, when Oliver is sold to Sowerberry, the undertaker that inspired Alfie Wiggins.

As a teacher, I read a lot of superb children’s literature with my pupils. Skellig by David Almond, Holes by Louis Sachar were two of my favourites and inspired me to try my hand at writing.
Talk to us about ballads and how you’ve used those in the novel.
Traditional music has long been a major factor in my life. I love the link with times past. When I play Sir Roger de Coverley on my mandolin, I’m playing a tune that dickens would have recognised (my playing permitting). A tune mentioned in A Christmas Carol. The ballads are such a part of our culture, the culture we share with the Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Cornish, Manx all the island people but we ignore them. They are such fantastic gory and heart-rending stories and when you read them you see that people three hundred years ago had similar tastes to ours.

The ballads extracts I’ve chosen highlight a theme from each chapter. It’s not rocket science, in most cases the theme is death or blood! But there are some nice versions that I’ve found that do make a point.
A little bird told me Mortlock’s launch was something a little special – could you tell us about that?
It was a magical evening. Bloomsbury had found a basement room in an old London pub with a stage. They asked me to write a short play based on the idea of meeting a ghul and on the early chapters of Mortlock. Actors performed my play, it was amazing! And quite chilling too. I was able to invite family and friends. It was strange seeing my brothers and sisters mingling with writers and publishers, a kind of unusual mix.


Publishers don’t pay for launch parties as much these days so it was particularly special and a measure of the faith Bloomsbury have in Mortlock. I have to say, they have pulled out all the stops in terms of publicity, with school visits arranged, adverts in children’s magazines, and a huge number of uncorrected proofs sent to reviewers.
What does a story have to do to be great?
I’m very wary of giving out advice about writing. I suppose it has to engage with the reader emotionally and for children’s writing there has to be a sense of satisfaction at the end. I like the fact that Mortlock is a complete standalone story. Hopefully, the reader is left wanting more but knowing where all the strands ended.
Have you always wanted to write for children?
I write for myself, or the child within. I suspect that my profession has guided me to writing for children or moulded my tastes towards children’s literature. I do love children’s literature. There’s no pretension. Children want a good story, well told.
What were your favourite books from childhood? Any you’d recommend fans of Mortlock read?
I didn’t really read before the age of eleven or twelve but my teenage years were a blur of HP Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, Ghost stories of all kinds as well as a whole library of fantasy books. I would say read anything, there’s so much choice these days. You can type a book into a search engine and find a dozen similar titles.
‘Jonathan Mayhew’ is going to be entered into the OED and you can pick its definition: What does it say?
A well-meaning furry creature who can never make a decision.
What’s next for you?
Next up is The Demon Collector, a gruesome tale of one Edgy Taylor, a boy who becomes embroiled in the intrigues and adventures of the Royal Society of Daemonologie. He travels, hunting for demons, collecting them, little knowing that he carries a secret of his own. One that will threaten his very life and the future of Heaven, Hell and Earth.

Blimey, I can’t wait to read that myself!
Anything you’d like to add?
I’m innocent and thank you for having me.

This Post is For Rhoda and Katherine

Rhoda and Katherine – When I made the draw for the A Razor Wrapped in Silk competition I pulled out your names. But before I can get the books to you I need your addresses. Please email me here.

If I’ve not heard from you by the end of business tomorrow I’ll pull out two more names. So, come on folks – get cracking! You’ve won books!

(And if any of you know Rhoda or Katherine, could you give them a little nudge for me please…)

Winners!

So, I put all the (26) entries onto a piece of paper

and then I got the scissors out

I put the entries into this tin (pleased I’d finally found a use for it)

And then

FINALLY

After giving the tin a shake and a stir…

I, with my eyes tightly closed, reached inside and pulled out five winners.

Congratulations to: Katherine, Jo, Rhoda, Aliya Whiteley and Dot Seven who all win a copy of A Razor Wrapped in Silk.

If you let me know your addresses (either by DMing me on Twitter or by emailing me here) then I shall pass them on to Roger.

I Will Smash You

I received my copy of I Will Smash You a couple of days ago and I’ve watched it twice already. It is wonderful and extraordinary. And there’s something about it that’s resonated in me, something that’s truly affecting.

So why? What is it?

Well, it’s 50 minute short film by the ever brilliant Michael Kimball and Luca Dipierro. Twenty people tell a story about an object from their lives and then they smash it up.A girl destroys an effigy of her mean teacher, a woman smashes up her car because it’s cursed. A man’s procrastination is crushed under a block of cement. Someone else destroys an office environment.

It’s a strange film, extraordinary, funny, entertaining and hugely affecting. The one thing that stood out for me was how much anger or frustration people (not just in the film) seem to carry around with them. And it’s startling to see this, and you really do, once they begin to smash up the objects associated with whatever anger or frustration they’ve been carrying around inside them – it’s right there, in front of you, on the screen. Those involved seem to have such a release. It seems to be therapy of sorts and one that seems to work.

I think the most interesting and affecting of all the smashings is this guy, who wants to destroy his grandfather’s favourite hymn.

There’s more info and trailers and things here. Have a look. Buy a copy. I’d recommend it highly; curious, sad, angry, strange and funny – it’s brilliant. And certainly one of the most original films you’re likely to see. I loved it.

I’m musing now on what object I’d most like to smash. There may be more than one.

***

And, as an aside, I interviewed Michael about his utterly brilliant novel, Dear Everybody here.

And I started another of his novels, How Much of Us There Was, yesterday and it’s shaping up to be just as good.