Writing masterclass with Alexander Bigbury

Artist's impression of Alex Bigbury's famous spectacles

Jerry Naylist is a writer and columnist for the best-selling magazine Time 2 Rite. He sat down with none other than 1968 Man Booker Prize winner Alexander Bigbury. Jerry has kindly agreed to allow me to publish the transcript of his interview:

Jerry: Garth, first of all thank you for taking time out to have a quick chat today.

Garth: Pleasure.

J: Tell me about your childhood, how much of ‘I Fucking Hate You, Dad’ was drawn from personal experience?

G: None, actually. I had a happy childhood, we lived in a pink house with pink-coloured furniture and wallpaper. Even my father's belt was pink. There was a lot of pink, looking back. But no I don’t feel that my personal experience was put into the book at all.

J: Who in the literary world has influenced you?

G: Without doubt myself; no book has quite inspired me as much as my own. There’s something about picking up one of my first novels and reading it, like a fan excited for what's to come, and revelling in the exceptional prose, the convoluted plot, complex characters - it really is a treat.

J: Have you any advice for a budding author?

G: Other than to buy and read my books? Juggle everything.

J: Your time, responsibilities you mean?

G: Speak metaphorically.

J: I suspect I know the answer to this already but if you could only give one piece of advice to a fledgling writer, what would it be?

G: Lie to journalists.

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