This went out of print last month. I’ve reedited it and I’m
now going to self-publish it, both as a Kindle edition and a hard copy.
Here I interview myself about the novel.
1)
What is Spooking about?
It might be described as a paranormal romance. In
fact, it has been described as such. However, there isn’t a vampire to be seen.
The supernatural elements are quite gentle. Arguably it also a story about grief
and mourning. It does have a reasonably upbeat ending, however.
2)
Did you start with the story or with
the characters?
In some senses one always starts with the characters.
Story always comes from the tension between the players. Having said that, I normally
have a two-line version of the whole story in my head. I then flesh that out
into a full story arc and eventually produce a chapter break down. As I write,
however, I find I need additional or different chapters and the characters
start to take on a life of their own. Spooking
was no different.
3) What led you to write it?
The idea came, as they do, out of the blue. I always
have two or three ideas for other novels whilst I’m working on the current one.
I dread the day I run out of ideas. So far so good.
4)
What real-life events or people
inspired events or characters in this book?
The novel is set in two real places – the south
coast in Hampshire and Bangor in north Wales. We used to live in Hampshire and
I studied for my PhD in Bangor. The little blue car that crashes into the river
is based on the car that my son and daughter used to drive. It was a blue Ford Fiesta. It was a super
little car. It too was called Binky. I now own another Ford Fiesta – a bright
red modern one. Both of them have been very nice to drive and very reliable.
The actual story is completely fictitious.
5) What authors or stories inspire you as a writer? (i.e., who are the authors or stories that, if I like their stories, I will probably also like your stories?)
There are so many. Here are a few:
Michael Morpurgo
Philip Pulllman
Maeve Binchy
Neil Gaiman
Aiden Chambers
Charles Dickens
Monika Feth
Kate Atkinson
Gustave Flaubert
Emile Zola
Heinrich Böll
If you asked me again tomorrow I’d probably come up
with a slightly different list.