Our Interview with Danny Kemp!

                                             

                                                       Bio

The reasons that lead me to pursue this new career as a writer have been well documented on the Web Page address below. I will not repeat them here, prefering this site as a means for us to get to know each other better and to update you with progress towards my ambition.

The Deslote Garden

I'm going to skip my vocation as A London Taxi Driver as that I make mention of on my Face Book page under the title of 'A view From the Cab.' Here I shall tell of moments in The Meproploitan Police and my time spent as a Tenant of three Courage Brewery 'PUBS' in Kent.

Let me first shock you with a tale that arose for the first of those three 'Pubs.'

I was arrested for attempted Murder.

My then wife of some fourteen years and I had grown tried of life as a Taxi driver and her as a Dental Nurse, so decided that a new challenge as Pub Tenants was our next step. We were selected after appyling for, and an interview process, a Licenced Premises in the quaint picturesque village of Headcorn in the middle of the Weald of Kent. Here amongst the black timber framed centuries old house's we were to make our debut.

The Pub in question was a 'run-down' place where the previous Licencee thought more of socialising than running a respectable House where all could go and feel at 'Home.' He had competion, there were Three other Pubs in this small community.

The customers ran the Pub for him, it was they who decided when it should close and what was important there, ie. the game of Pool.

                                 Bio provided by author's site

We have had the great pleasure of getting the opportunity to interview Danny and get to know more about him. Anyone who has read or followed him either on facebook or twitter knows how funny, kind and caring a gentleman he can be! His wit is sharper then any razor around today! I love his stories and listening to his interview on the web radio was also very entertaining! So get comfortable and please give a warm welcome to Danny!

1. What makes for a good hook in your stories? Where does your inspiration come from?

This is an awkward question for me to answer as I’ve only written two novels and started a third. I have been told that THE DESOLATE GARDEN has a good hook and that mirrors, in a way, the same beginning as the other two; they start in the present. They share another similarity in so much as, almost straight away there is narrative. If I could use an analogy to describe how I see crafting a story should go, then I’d use our own experiences of going on Holidays. The tension comes at the beginning before you set-off. Your coming home, at the end of that vacation, is the climax. The things that happen in the middle are the things that made that holiday memorable or not.

            As far as inspiration goes, I look around I guess. I’m not trying to be simplistic here but there is inspiration everywhere. I love imagining people in different situations than ones that possibly they might feel comfortable in. I was once described by my father as being ‘deceitful’ perhaps he was right, and that ability to lie is a necessity for my kind of imagination.

2.  Are you an organized writer? Do you do things like take notes and make lists of characters?  Or do you free write and work it out as you go?

            I’m organized in a way yes. I’m a Licensed London Taxi Driver so sitting in traffic jams is part of my life; I carry a big flip-over note pad beside me. Any snippets of information that can be used on my Blog site regarding advice for proposed visits to London are jotted down, as are recollections from my past that I use in that THE VIEWS FROM THE CAB Blog. BBC Radio 4 is on all day in the cab and it is surprising what you can get from that. The other day I heard the question..”Why do you bet?” Now there is a line that can go into a novel I’m sure, so that would go into that note pad.

            I don’t list characters no, That, to be honest, is what I find to be the best part of writing they come from your soul and your heart. They are the pumping blood that connects everything in your story together. I love where they take me in my imagination. I have a mental image of them all, fat, thin, beautiful, ugly but where they want to go is the excitement of writing.

            I read somewhere that the greatest novelist ever, Charles Dickens, never gave you chapter and verse about a character. He gave the reader their characteristics, their way of life and how they conducted that life, not necessarily the details such the colour of their clothes, what they ate, what was their favorite tipple. Films do that, and you have no need in them to use any imagination, but in a story; well I believe that it’s all about how the reader sees the character, that you the writer, outline for them to see. The very best story tellers paint with their words.

3.   What is your normal writing day like? Do you write when you are inspired or do you have a schedule?
With your indulgence I’ll answer the second part first. I would guess that most people have seen a rodeo show from American, and maybe those ones where very brave or foolish men attempt to ride on the back of a wild horse, or more dangerously, those bulls: I’m one of those bulls: Let me out and write, get off my back and let me free. This wish of mine is curtailed by your first question.

            Nothing is normal in my life at the moment. That novel I mentioned..THE DESOLATE GARDEN..is at long last at the printers and it is part of my responsibility to promote that book. I’m an unknown, so that vital profile is what I’m searching for. My day is split into four parts. Working day earning a living 10am to 7pm, Facebook/promoting day 7pm to midnight, sleep time and dreaming of Face Book ( I’m not joking.) Then 7am to 10am more of the same promotion only this time the added deviation of the world of Twitter! Wow, what a day and because it’s so enthralling I devote all day Saturday and Sunday to my profile build (Urg)

4.  Who is your favorite author and how did they inspire you to write?
 Sorry again haven’t got only one. John Le Carré and John Fowles, would be two. I have read all that they have penned. But my favorite story of all time was Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak That encompassed everything that I would aspire to write. James Joyce would fascinate me when I was younger with his use of language and of course there is Dickens, the Master.   

5.  It’s easy to see that you have a passion for writing but is there any part of it you don’t like?
Of writing and the telling of stories then no, but everything to do with sheer promotion for promotion sake. I love interacting with others on Face Book but not the spamming. I once put up a joke that has a hidden meaning, see if you can work it out: “I couldn’t repair your brakes so I’ve made your horn louder” It refers to those spammers.

6.  Do you make time to read and if you do what are you reading right now?
 As a Politician would say....”I refer you to an answer previously given” ie NO and NONE.

7. How did you get started in writing in the fictional genre? Is there personal life experience in the writing?
Yes there is, but I’m not saying which parts.

8.   Your books have been published with Amazon.com, Does this mean you see the publishing industry headed this way?
Like everyone else I would think, I imagine there will be huge changes within the industry. For me I preferred the traditional route, without an advance I would quickly add, but an Editor and sales representation and of course an agent. I’m 62 so as I see it I can realistically publish four books. Whatever changes come along in that time there will still be tangible novels around.

9.  Do you have any online sites where others can read more of your writings?

http://www-thedesolategarden-com.co.uk/       Book site.

http://danielkemp.co.uk/                                   More of me Past and Future.

http://www.facebook.com/dannyandpatkemp/   Speaks for its self.

theauthordannykemp.com                                   Blog Site..The View From The Cab.

@DanielKemp6                                                              Twitter

10. Do you have any more stories in the works? What kinds of stories do you plan to write next?

I have one, MITZEY COLLINS. It is a moralistic tale of how the death of a young girl implodes on those immediately surrounding her and on MITZY, who never knew her and wished she had never heard her name!

 11.  Who would be your first choice to play the main character of your book "The Desolate Garden"?

Easy one ...Me. (I’m being funny not even I am that egotistic.)

If the film industry buy the film rights, I’m MORE than happy to let them decide.

12.  If you could meet anyone from any time who would it be and what would be your first question?
First person I would like to meet, and one day will, but wont have any opportunity to ask any question would be;...God and I’d ask;...”Why did you do it?”

Another would be my father who died when I was only sixteen and too wrapped up in myself to care I’d ask;...”What was your life like dad?”