Thank you for coming to chat with us today. Why do you think Derek Thompson chose to write about you?
We met on a train. He said he was a writer, and I said in that case I had a story for him. I suppose I've been wanting to tell it for a long time, so why not to a stranger? I made him change a couple of details - to protect the innocent - but I stand by the end result.
Tell us a little about yourself?
I've lived by many names, always moving on, and I didn't expect my future to be any different. But fate has a way of writing its own script for us.
What is your birth date? (Historicals this is a good lead in for yours, Contemps I recommend having character refuse to answer)
That depends on who you think I am! You can check my Driving License, if you think that'll help. Ah, what a shame, I seem to have left it behind somewhere...
Where do you live? What is it about that area that drew you there?
It's a rural community, and I ended up there by chance. It didn't seem so when I first arrived, but I think, on reflection, that this was my golden ticket. I was drawn there by self-preservation, by the need to start a new life.
What do you wish people would know about you?
That I've no regrets - despite what you might want to think. You have to play the cards you're dealt in life
What music do you listen to?
The soothing sound of a peaceful future and a muted past.
Will we be seeing more of you or are you stepping out of the lime light?
I don't anticipate the need to go back to old ways. But as I always say, never say never!
Where have we seen you before?
Confidentially, there are a lot of people like me; faces in the crowd, the ones who never put down roots, who always seem to be looking for an exit strategy. But I doubt you'll have seen me before - I'm very deliberate about things like that. It's in my interests to always know the way the game is running.
What is your perfect evening?
In good company, and with a secret no one can afford to reveal.
What do you do to relax?
The best way to relax is to stop running.
Is there anything you wish Derek had kept his mouth shut about?
Not really; I only told him what I needed him to know - he remembers it differently though. He'll tell you about that later on.
Do you feel you were portrayed fairly?
Fair is a very subjective word. Let's agree that he saw me from all angles.
Tell us about (Love interest) what drew you to her?
I saw something in her that I hadn't seen in anyone for a long time. She was vulnerable, yes, but she also had incredible strength of character, which was just as well, considering how things turned out.
What really pushes your buttons?
Injustice. Cruelty. Cowardice. Everything I saw in myself that I joined the army to deal with.
What’s your favorite sporting activity?
Hill walking!
What about the Man/Woman on the cover is that a fair representation of you?
Pretty much. When you read what Derek has to say, you'll understand why.
Do you believe in ghosts?
In my experience, the dead stay buried, usually...
What is your biggest fear?
Betrayal.
Why should the readers be interested in your story?
It asks the question we rarely ask ourselves: how far would you go to do the right thing?
What's Derek's view?
I used to ride the train to London and it took about five hours. So there I am, eyes half closed, listening to the chatter around me. A man takes the set beside me and we chat a little. I don't look up - that British politeness keeps me focused on my magazine. I tell him I'm a writer and he gives me a funny kind of laugh, says he'll tell me a story I can write, but on two conditions. Firstly, I close my eyes when he's speaking, so I don't get distracted; and secondly, I never look at his face directly. So he talks, and I listen, and I write. Now, at the station before the London terminus, about half an hour from our final destination, I'm all done. I rest my eyes, just for a few moments; my hand is cramped from writing longhand. Next thing I know, the train is pulling into London and the man I've called Peter Marlow (not the name he gave me, you understand), well, he's nowhere to be seen. But I never forget a voice and some day I fully expect to hear him again.
Until then, I have his story: The Silent Hills.
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2 comments:
I enjoyed this. I got a glimpse of Bogart in Peter Marlow, but maybe that's just who I wanted to see. Great job.
Nice interview. "How far would you go to do the right thing?" is a fascinating measuring stick.
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