There’s a
fabulous independent bookshop in Taunton called Brendon Books which always has
a programme of author talks. A couple of days ago I went along to listen to
John Connolly, author of the Charlie Parker detective series among others.
Confession:
I haven’t read any of the Charlie Parker books. In fact, until last week, I
hadn’t read John Connolly at all. I was going to the talk with a friend who’s a
huge fan and the blurb about the author was interesting.
That said, I
don’t like to turn up knowing nothing, so I bought his books of short stories,
Nocturnes, to get a flavour of his style. These stories are scary as hell!! And
there is quite a variety of beasts and devilry going on. I couldn’t help the
question that formed in my mind…what on earth is going on in his?? I was even
slightly apprehensive of meeting him.
The question
led me to consider a few things about the reader’s psyche, and the writer’s
psyche. Back in my schooldays, in English Literature, we were taught to analyse
texts. ‘Why do you think the poet used that word? What do you think the author
is trying to say?’
These days,
as a reader, I read primarily for pleasure, entertainment, to be taken away by
a great story or immersed in fascinating characters. Although I read closely, too
often with my writer head on, I don’t ask those questions anymore. Maybe it’s
just more obvious to me now what an author’s message is.
As a writer,
though, these questions make me nervous. Imagine a reader asking about my message, my
intentions? I think on one level, that’s okay. But imagine them analysing my mind !! From this current work in
progress, the reader will no doubt question me on father/daughter relationships…probably
wrongly. And I was certainly asked some very odd questions about my research
for my previous novel 😉
I understand
that my writing is influenced by my life experiences, relationships and belief systems,
but just remember another key factor- we writers make things up!
