The lovely Marje has tagged me to join in a writer Q&A – https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/the-writer-q-a-tag/ . Thought Iād give it a go!
1. If you met a sexy vampire what would you do? Hook up, get the garlic and crosses out or run a mile?
Reader, I married her.
2. Whatās your favourite genre of book and why?
I read a lot of non-fiction at the momentā¦ rather boringly, most are āhow to be an awesome writerā type of books, matching my personal writing ambitions… Stephen Kingās āOn Writingā is a recent favourite.
Other than that, I read lots of poetry books, in different styles. I just finished Carol Ann Duffyās Love Poems, and Tim Keyās āIncomplete Tim Keyā (the āIncompleteā moniker seems to refer to the fact that itās not funny, despite intentionsā¦ and I had been looking forward to it immensely…) Iāve just picked up Ginsbergās Howl collection too, and keep dipping into anything by Billy Collins or Shel Silverstein for inspiration. I like studying a range of poetry, even the stuff that doesnāt connect with me, to improve my own limited skillset.
I dip into fiction, but it tends to be author-led, rather than genre. I buy almost everything with Neil Gaimanās name on it, for example.
3. Who is/are your favourite author (s) , poet (s)? What is it about them that inspires you?
Neil Gaiman is a huge inspiration. He gives great interviews too that are always worth checking out. His slogan of āMake Great Artā is one that Iāve taken to heart.
Billy Collins is an inspiration in a more practical sense. Almost every poem of his that I read has a phrase or an idea in it that sparks something in me, and I have to go away and scribble my own poem to capture it. He has a remarkable way of using humour in his poetry, which obviously fits with my own personal style too.
4. If you had to control a classroom of year 6 kids would you bale, or enjoy the challenge? Would you be (a.) too undisciplined to do so, youād just join in the general mayhem, (b.) enjoy bossing them around, or (c.) pray in a corner for the bell to sound.
I taught for a year after leaving university, from Year 1 up to Year 12āsā¦ I got on fine with the older ones (they were quite close to my age at the time), but I did find the younger ones more of a challenge. I remember one 6 year old boy who seemed to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of dinosaurs, and being amazed by thatā¦ and now, in time, my eldest has become that child!
To answer the question, I did try (b), and probably would again, but didnāt always find the right level. I remember one of the games teachers having āa quiet wordā with me about inappropriate language that Iād used. (I told one of the boys on the rugby pitch to āstop twatting about!āā¦ not my finest moment)
5. What made you become a writer/blogger? Do your family support you or do they think youāre crazy, bored, attention seeking, or all of these? Tell us a bit about your current WIP and/or booksā¦
I started writing childrenās stories after our eldest was born, and started blogging childrenās poems on the back of that. Itās all ballooned from there. Now, I am polishing a book of zombie survival haiku for self-publishing, and planning a host of other releases, poems and stories. My wife is amazingly supportiveā¦ sheās even taken the kids out today so I can spend time writing!
6. What is the most awful job and/or experience youāve ever done/had?
Iāve just had to leave my job, but donāt want to share the details of that. Between the ages of 17 and 21, I worked in a bingo hall. (Yes, I was a bingo caller.) The job wasnāt too bad most of the time, but that was before the days of the smoking ban, and every session in that room would leave you coated in other peopleās smoke. Yuck. Plus, there would be occasional live entertainment on a Saturday nightā¦ some of the locals would overdo it on the cheap booze at the bar. I may not be able to throw a punch worth a damn, but I know I can take one. Happy days!
7. Are you a plotter or a pantser? Does this spill out onto other parts of your life? Are you generally organised/disorganised?
Iām a total pantser. I just made a to-do list to try and catch up on everything that needs doing, and instead of working through it in any sensible order Iāve started this post instead, which logically would be the very last thing on the list! My wife is the total opposite (sheād probably say that she needs to be). I think we smooth the edges off each other š
8. Do you believe in Ghosts? Fate? Love at First Sight? Fairies? Psychic happenings? Numerology, Mermaids, The Loch Ness Monster, Demonsā¦etcā¦Make your own observations ā¦. and let me know..
Nope. Not a one of them. But I do believe in love. Is that not mystical power enough?
9. What is the worst haircut/clothes/hats youāve ever had/worn? Photos please, or describe in vivid detailā¦
I lost most of the hair on top of my head in my early twenties, but as it was thinning at uni I did make the mistake of trying to dye it red, even though it was really short (like Renton in Trainspotting)ā¦ it just looked like Iād dipped my scalp in some ink! Mercifully it washed off pretty quickly.
10. Please finish this sentence with more than three extra words: Life is one foot in and one foot out, you ā¦.
In haiku, naturally:
Life is one foot in
And one foot out, you never
Know which one is which
A Certain Point of View 
You must be logged in to post a comment.