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Kevin Wignall, a regular author at the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, is a man of some mystery. To celebrate the release of his new children’s books (yes, they include vampires!) he’s launched a dedicated Facebook page aimed at the kids (so they don’t have to be exposed to the adult version of the man!). As Kevin said: “And as it’s for teens and has a perpetually young vampire as a hero, I thought I should add a picture from my own youth. You’ve been warned, and seeing it will make you realize that life has treated me harshly (!).” Check out the Facebook page and Kevin as a youngster here!
In honour of the Blood, we thought it worth re-posting an exclusive Q&A he did with the Festival below for 2009 (for adults) –
His novels have caused a stir in the movie industry, with interest from the likes of Tom Cruise. But he is a man of some mystery. “I’m ridiculously protective of my privacy so if I’m being interviewed by phone I’ll become very cagey,” he said, “and you probably won’t get much out of me. Ironically, I’m likely to be more expansive by email.”
Here’s his (email) Q&A.
You’re a regular at the Festival. For those intimidated to come alone, or who have never been, what insider tips do you offer?
Tough for me to answer because I’m an author so I know a lot of people. The only advice I could give is not to be afraid to talk to random strangers – people at the Festival are generally very friendly.
The Festival is one heck of a gathering; can you offer attendees a survival guide? (Apart from packing Alkazeltzer)
What’s to survive? Plenty of nice people, a good bar, a pleasant environment – I can think of worse places to spend a few days.
Is there anyone you’re particularly looking forward to at 2009’s event?
. For me it’s a chance to catch up with people I don’t see too often, so I’m looking forward to seeing Laura Lippman, and it’s always good to meet authors you haven’t met or even heard of before.
Have you been asked before to be a guest on a panel? Would you consider it? (Despite not having a UK publisher)
No, and probably not. And given that I’m not published in the UK I don’t think it would be particularly fair to take a place that could go to someone else with a UK audience.
Everyone says how lovely and nice crime authors are, do you agree? If so, why do you think those who write about the darkest sides of humanity are so nice in person?
It is true. A Spanish writer, whose name escapes me, said we write about atrocities in order that we might not commit them – there’s a lot of truth in that. Of course, comedians are meant to be miserable off stage, but Mark Billingham scuppers that argument.
You said about Who is Conrad Hirst that you were “interested in the fault lines between who we think we are and how others see us.” Does that tie into why you’re guarded about your privacy? Is it important to keep an element of mystery?
No, I’m guarded because that’s the way I’m wired. But as you mention it, I do think it’s possible for your reading public to know too much about you – I think Twitter is as ludicrous as it sounds. If you want to know who I am or what I’m like, read the books.
On a flip note, you also said people complain you don’t resemble your author pic. How would you describe your looks?
I resemble my author pic for about ten minutes every day.
Before becoming authors, many crime novelists seem to have a turning point where they become a professional writer – Lee Child was made redundant, Natasha Cooper left publishing etc. What was yours?
Nothing so dramatic. I realized I’d been talking about writing a book for a while and had never actually done it, so I sat down and wrote “People Die”.
It’s clear you’re incredibly liked, respected and you have amazing reviews from the likes of Jeffrey Deaver. Do you resent you’re not published in the UK?
Strangely, no. You’d think I would be, but it’s just business – the first two books didn’t do well here, end of story. I’d like to be published again in the UK, but no more so than I want a presence in any large market – Germany or Japan, for example, both of which are just publishing me for the first time.
A couple of your novels have been optioned for film, has that changed your life (I guess it changed your bank balance which must in turn change your life?)
Actually, unless the option is enormous, it doesn’t dramatically change your bank balance until the film goes into production. It doesn’t even dramatically change your life – I have quite a bit of involvement with the film industry now, but I know some authors who don’t have any contact with the people who’ve optioned their work. It’s just another part of the job.
Are your feet on the ground?
Except when they’re on my desk.
Novel writing for a living is a dream many people chase – does it live up to the dream?
It depends on the dream – a lot of people have unrealistic expectations and there are down-sides as there are with any career. On the whole, though, it’s a pretty good life.
You said somewhere that you are not a big crime or thriller reader – why did you choose to write crime, or did it choose you?
I’m still not sure that I do write crime or thrillers. I think the crime community has expanded (as the literary fiction world has become more wizened) and it now encompasses people like me and many more besides. As a result (of the expansion, rather than my presence), I think crime fiction is the most exciting part of publishing at the moment.
Moral ambiguity seems to be a theme – what are your morals?
I try to treat people well and walk lightly on the world. I think the same is true of most of my characters.
Your work has been described as ‘philosophical and pacy’ – a rare mix – do you think that impacts on how prolific you are – you don’t conform to the novel-a-year schedule?
I hadn’t thought of it like that before, but you might be onto something. I’m full of admiration for my friends who can produce a book a year. I can actually write a book in two or three months, but I tend to spend a long time thinking about them before I start writing. I’m trying to improve my productivity…
Which of your books are you most proud of and why?
At the risk of sounding precious, that’s like asking someone to choose their favourite child.
You say the stories are thought through before you start writing – is it all consuming? Do you turn into a reclusive type or go on long walks like Simon Kernick, talking to yourself, scaring off dog walkers?
I have a feeling Simon’s “plotting” walks always end in the pub! During the plotting stage I tend to sit listening to deafening music, sometimes for a couple of weeks, until I have it all pieced together in my head. I might occasionally make notes, but most of it exists only in my mind until I start writing. In a way, being a writer is in itself all-consuming – everything you experience is mentally recorded, and many personal experiences have found their way into my books and stories in some guise or other.
In a review for For the Dogs, your hero Stephen Lucas was described as “one of the most romantic, endearing, cold-blooded contract killers I have met in fiction”. Which is a remarkable thing to say. I didn’t think cold blooded and romantic could go hand in hand, but you achieve it even in the short story The Window – which begs the question – Readers are often tempted to see characters as an alter-ego of their author, should we be worried?!
You mean, should you be worried that I might turn out to be a romantic?
What do you make of the cliché ‘write what you know’?
It’s become a cliché for a reason, but I think it can lead people astray. Your fiction has to be true to you, that’s the main thing.
In People Die, a reviewer said JJ suffered from ‘numbness and disconnection’. Do you relate to this as a reflection of our existence in general? As symptomatic of modern society?
I can relate to that. But let’s move on.
Do you believe in redemption, salvation? If so, what is it?
I don’t know, in answer to both. I think that’s why it features so much in my work.
What’s your greatest ambition for your novels?
A teenager wrote to me last week and said my books were probably the only thing that kept her reading. That’ll do.
Mad Scientology and craziness aside (hah), what have you got against Tom Cruise starring in an adaptation of your work?
I just never believe in him. I’m actually building a list of great films that were almost ruined by the presence of Tom Cruise – “A Few Good Men”, “The Firm”, etc. etc… He might well be a lovely guy, but I just don’t rate him as an actor.
www.kjwignall.com