I’m not doing this in the third person, it’s insane. :)
I was born in Cornwall in 1972. Since this now seems like a very long time ago, I have recently begun a project of ageing in reverse, and propose to ping back and forth between 37 and 33 for the foreseeable future. I like books, movies, music (my music taste is eclectic to the point of pointillist and famously awful in some areas, and I love obscure cover versions of 80s hits. Possibly my favourite insane bit of music is by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain:
Other than that, I’m married to a dedicated, beautiful, and hilarious human rights lawyer called Clare and we have a small but infinitely exciting daughter. I sometimes write with her on my knee (either of them, actually) which explains the section in my new novel which reads “SDLVKJ88888&774333484—-fdook!”
No, there isn’t. But would’t that be great?
I used to write screenplays, but I couldn’t stand the film industry any more. It’s like bathing in a mild ammonia solution by comparison with the warm waters of the book world. Plus, when you write a book, film people think you’re interesting. Write a screenplay and you’re just another burdensome wannabe. It’s crazy.
The Gone-Away World was my first book. If I’d known how insanely difficult it ought to be to write a book like that, I’d never have dared. It was fun.
Angelmaker, the new book, comes out this year (Feb 2nd in the UK, March 20th in the US). There’s an e-short to whet your appetite or function as a sort of goodnight kiss.
My first non-fiction book – about which I am terrified – is The Blind Giant, coming out in the UK in the middle of 2012.
My author picture was taken by my friend Rory Lindsay and I love it. I wish I was that brooding and cool. In general, when I talk, I bob about and wave my hands, and my face freezes in strange contorted ways when someone takes a picture.
Aaaand that’s enough about me.