Monday 18 January 2016

Kev, The Magnificent's Q&As‏

Once again, English writer, Kevin Ansbro, was tagged to answer some writer questions, so I welcome him to post his answers here on Script Alchemy. Without further ado, here's Kevin:


The Magnificent model, Kevin Ansbro

Genial Australian writer Tarquin Carlin was nominated to answer questions as part of The Siblinghood of the World Blogger Awards (Bloody hell! That title alone should win an award of some sort).
Tarquin's excellent answers can be seen at his blog Blog of Many Colours


Tarquin, in turn, has nominated me to answer some questions of his own.
Now, despite being as thick as two short planks, I am sportingly prepared to give it a go!


Here be your questions! Says Tarquin.


1. Do you believe in the “You must write every single day” ethos?
Good God, no. You’d starve your grey matter of the oxygen of inspiration! 
Becoming conjoined to your keypad, with your creativity enervated and brain transmuted to blancmange is not conducive to end product excellence!
Here's a tip for free; only write when that elusive muse radiates from your head like a radioactive halo.

2. What was the last book you read?
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce, for which I posted a review on Goodreads


3. How do you find balancing time to write with the rest of your life?
The honest truth is that I don’t! Before I was encouraged to set up on Twitter by my publisher, I could easily devote any spare time to writing. Ah, such sweet memories! Social media can be a poisoned chalice. 

4. Are you a Planner or a Pantser?
More of a planner, really: I have tried writing by the seat of my pants, but only ended up with an incredibly inky bottom!


Kevin Ansbro with his second book, Kinnara
5. What are you currently working on?
I’m in the midst of a sabbatical where my writing’s concerned, preferring to concentrate on book promo. I have a seven week tropical holiday planned for later this year, thereafter I shall begin again to write in earnest.


6. How do you handle criticism of your work?
Thus far (thankfully) my wife has been my only critic. She is an avid book reader, more so than me, and was the first person to read Kinnara before the publisher got to see it. Her (brutally honest) counsel was invaluable.
I welcome constructive criticism, all writers should; it’s a no-brainer, why would an author not want to improve their book? Duh!


Kevin Ansbro's first book, The Angel in my Well

7. When people ask the inevitable “what do you write about?” how do you respond?
I try to keep my reply as brief as possible, otherwise the inquisitor's eyes might begin to glaze over!

8. Who are the Writers you admire and why?
Gosh! So many!
Salman Rushdie: because of his delightful human imagery and his mischievousness.
Alexandre Dumas, for the swaggering bravado of his books, which fuelled my childhood imagination.
John Steinbeck, a master story-teller. His use of symbolism, and the analogous nature of his work, fashioned my writing style at an early age. 
Honourable mentions go to Victor Hugo, Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and (of course) Charles Dickens!
 
9. How much of yourself is in any of your characters?
It would be impossible not to syringe a a few fluid ounces of oneself into one's characters (ooh, get me, talking like the Queen). Different facets of my own personality crop up in my storylines (‘good me’ and ‘bad me’).


10. Where do you write from? What fuels the stories you choose to tell and why?
As a kid I always had a vivid imagination, and wrote outlandish stories from a very early age.
I was one of those boys who would daydream in lessons and the teachers, sensing this, would shout questions at me, knowing full well that I wasn’t listening.
This is what happened once:
My teacher was addressing the class, occasionally firing questions.
So there's me,  daydreaming and not paying the slightest bit of attention.
Teacher knows this and hurls an unheard question at me: “Yes? ANSBRO?!”
Me: “Um, umm…”
Friend sitting next to me whispers, “1066.”
Me, with injudicious conviction, “1066, Sir!”
Teacher: “1066? You STUPID boy!”
My friend collapses in fit of giggles, delighted that I actually believed he’d given me a suitable answer.

Thank you, Tarquin. 
Great questions! 
www.kevinansbro.co.uk 


Author Kevin Ansbro