interview

Text Box: An
Interview
With the
Author

Isn’t the Isle of Wight a strange place for a Gothic writer to live?

Well, obviously we’re not within quick or easy reach of the big mainland Goth clubs etc, but there’s a thriving underground community here.

It’s not a good place for vampires though – as the Island’s one of the biggest garlic growers in Europe!

Some might say that living in ‘the back of beyond’ you may not be able to write an accurate portrayal of the scene that exists in London and other big cities.

Ah, but I was living in London when I wrote the book. I moved to the Island after it was published.

Obviously it does make it harder to sell the book – as I can’t tout them around at gigs and gatherings – can’t thrust them under people’s noses, so to speak. It is hard to convince people with just a flyer, review or advert that the book’s a well-produced and quality item.

It certainly is that … I was quite surprised when I saw it – the quality is as good as anything you’d find in a bookshop.

Yes, I’m rather pleased with it myself. I do admit to being more than a little apprehensive while waiting for the books to arrive from the printer’s. I stood nervously looking at the sealed boxes for quite a while before ripping the first one open to examine the books – but I was quite thrilled with the end result.

Yes, you put the book out yourself – using your own funds – isn’t that an expensive thing to do?

Well, it depends on how many copies you have printed and how many pages, type of cover etc. The more copies, the cheaper each unit (book) price is. It’s a case of getting the balance right. It was a bit of a gamble, but several friends had read the manuscript and like me were disappointed when I kept receiving rejection slips from mainstream publishers.

None of the publishers seemed to have any idea what Goth was. I just had to find the money to put it out myself. It does mean though that I will have to sell virtually all the books to get my outlay back.

Had you any experience of publishing? Given that the book looks so professional?

No, none at all. In my old job as a cartographer, I did a lot of graphic/design work, which I’m sure helped. It’s surprising what you can do with just a basic word-processor, plus I put in extra touches, such as handwritten parts and small drawings for chapter headings.

But the book’s not available in shops?

Sister Ray in London do have a supply – you’ll have to be brave and ask as they don’t have it on display though. Previously, the Whitby Bookshop has taken several batches. On the whole, though, it’s not really practical to get shops to stock it – due to having to deliver or post supplies, then keep on checking if they’ve sold.

Of course by ordering from me direct, you can have your copy personalised with your name. You get it quicker too, by ordering direct from me. It cuts out the middleman. All bookshops do, is to order from me and then re-sell to the customer.

What if you quickly sell out?
Well, I’d be able to get a reprint done in a matter of weeks, that would be no problem at all.

There’s confusion between self-publishing and vanity publishing …

Well, vanity publishing is basically where the ‘publisher’ offers to publish your work – as long as you pay him a huge sum. This means they’ll publish absolutely anything – no matter how good or bad it is. The end result is often shabbily typeset, miss-spelt and poorly packaged. You get no proof of how many copies they have printed with your money. It could just be the five you ask them for. These publishers usually advertise in papers ‘Authors – your work published’.

With self-publishing, you are the publisher. You give your press (company) a name, you have to prepare the pages, on paper or disc, and design a cover. You then pay for the printer to print as many copies as you wish. Then you have to promote and distribute yourself. It’s really like putting out a fanzine – but on a bigger scale. It’s surprisingly common. Even some of the great poets had to self publish to begin with, even Beatrix Potter – and Lawrence of Arabia. In fact one of his self-published books recently sold for around £18,000!!

The characters in your novel seem very real – are they based on people you know?
No not wholly, more perhaps a mishmash of a lot of people that I’ve come across over the years. I think that everyone who reads it will identify with at least a couple of the characters – and feel that they remind them of people that they know.

Also the main band, the Black NightShades – are they based on a particular band?

No, not at all. Perhaps a band that I’d like to exist. They do have a very visual and over-the-top stage show. I’ve always been into big sets and theatrics – as long as the music’s still good.

When I first heard about the book – I expected it to be very po-faced and starchy – but it’s really very humorous and wild. Plus the violence is very real and the spooky bits very chilling.

Yes, I can see that maybe a lot of people think that’s it’s going to be very heavy going and serious. But in a way, much of it is a bit tongue-in-cheek. I also tried to make it as readable and assessable as possible. A few people have written back to me that they whizzed through it in a day or so – just couldn’t put it down.

And some scenes are highly erotic – do you find it easy to write such explicit scenes?

Well, yes, actually I do. I know a lot of people get embarrassed at writing that sort of thing – but I quite enjoy it!! And no, it’s not all written from experience. You just have to imagine that you’re someone else while you tap away at the keys.

Is it mainly Goths or Vampire lovers who buy the book?

Both really. I’ve had letters from out-and-out Goths, who aren’t into Vampires, from dedicated Vampire lovers who aren’t into Goth – and from general horror fans. It’s a shame if people are put off – thinking it’s for Goths only.

There’s several references to Tarot/the Occult in the book – is this something that you’re into?

A little. I’m no expert in anyway, but such things do hold great fascination for me. I do have quite a few books on the subject. It is something that I immersed myself in when writing the book, partly for research purposes – one of the characters is very much into that sort of thing.

Would you like to see the book made into a feature film?

Oh, yes, it’s a very visual book – it begs to be made into a film!!

I have sent info off to over sixty film companies. But, as when I was trying to find a publisher, unfortunately most don’t seem to know what Gothic culture is – or that there’s a link between music and horror – so don’t consider it a viable idea(!!) Three companies did ask for more info – but haven’t taken things further. But there’s always hope. Plus I’m still open to offers.

I also think that it would make a good stage play/musical – a sort of updated Rocky Horror Show.

What are your favourite vampire films?

Herzog’s Nosferatu, Vampire in Venice (Kinski’s great). Any with Christoper Lee – particularly the first Hammer one and Dracula 1972AD, The Hunger.

And other films?
The Serpent & the Rainbow, Dead Calm, Young Guns, any with Clint Eastwood or Dirk Bogarde.

What about further writing – does the Island make you feel less inspired to write gothic/horror fiction?

Not at all – even more so, in fact. The scenery here is so dramatic. Much more in tune with the original, Victorian vision of Gothic. Foggy, precarious cliff-top roads, misty graveyards with crumbling tombstones, oodles of ghostly legends. Apparently, it’s the most haunted island. Riddled with ley-lines. Howling winds and stormy seas. Tales of shipwrecks and smugglers. Regular ghost walks around several towns and frequent murder-mystery weekends. Even an empty coffin found on the beach a while back. What more could any romantic Goth ever want …

So when will can we expect another novel from you?

I don’t know yet. I’ve had a lot of lovely and encouraging letters, asking about a sequel. At he moment, I’m working on a totally non-related book. It’s coming along slowly. It will be very extreme – but I’m not giving any more away at the moment ...