Interview with Stuart Ayris

Tollesbury Time Forever

                                                

                                              
                                           Bio for Stuart Ayris
Stuart was born in the summer of 1969. He has three wonderful sons and lives in Tollesbury with his wife, Rebecca.

He has written two novels, "A Cleansing of Souls" (Available on Amazon) and "Tollesbury Time Forever" which will be published as an e-book in early 2012. He is currently working on his third novel, tentatively titled, "The Bird That Nobody See's."
Bio was taken from his web site at the link provided below.
http://www.stuartayrisbooks.co.uk/

It was a real treat to get a chance to interview Stuart who was very quick to respond to my request for willing volunteers to interview! His book "Tollesbury Time Forever" is quickly moving up the ranking charts at Amazon.com! Please sit back with a hot cup of your favorite beverage and enjoy! Thank you~






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

A good hook is something that makes you want to read on, much like the introduction of a great song keeps you listening for the whole three minutes - obviously a little harder with a novel but you get my point. I guess it comes down to that old child-like thing we call 'wonder'. If you can inspire wonder in a reader as early as possible then you have a chance of bringing them into the story you are telling.

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 am entirely disorganised in most areas of my life - writing in particular. I barely know what day it is when I wake up. Especially with the cricket being on Sky Sports. Ruins your natural body-clock!

3. What is your normal writing day like? Do you write when you are inspired or do you have a schedule?

I write in spurts. For many years, I have suffered from insomnia and an over-indulgence in alcohol. So I will write ordinarily when I come back from the pub and will continue on until perhaps three in the morning. I will then wake up maybe four hours later, read what I've read, think "that's alright," and so on for about three months - at which time I crash out, recouperate and start all over again. So it is a schedule of sorts...

4. Who is your favorite author and how did they inspire you to write?

That has to be John Steinbeck - just ahead of Jack Kerouac. John Steinbeck was able to describe in detail whilst still keeping your attention, he was able to write about the struggles of life without being political and he was able to write long, wonderful tales.

5. It’s easy to see that you have a passion for writing but is there any part of it you don’t like?

The actual writing I love. The editing (and there is much needed with my 'schedule'!) I'm getting used to. So no - there is nothing I dislike about it at all!

6. Do you make time to read and if you do what are you reading right now?

I read for maybe twenty minutes before going to bed. At the moment, I'm reading 'First We Read, Then We Write: a study of Emerson' and to be honest I don't understand too much of it! Emerson, I love. This book about him? Not so much.

7. What influenced your writing style? Is there personal life experience in the writing?

I have been influenced by a combination of John Steinbeck and Jack Kerouac. I love the style of the former and that absolute unblinking honesty of the latter. In terms of life experience, Tollesbury Time Forever contains my thoughts, ideals and fears more than it does actual life experience. It is about a Beatles-obsessed alcoholic with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and a love of cricket; now I love The Beatles but I'm not obsessed by them, I love a drink but am not an alcoholic, I have weird thoughts and experiences but I've not been diagnosed with schizophrenia; but, hands up, I love cricket!

8. Your books have been published with Amazon.com, Does this mean you see the publishing industry headed this way?

For people like me, the opportunity to write a book that comes from very deep within my mind and then publish it for others to read, should be a fundamental right of all people. That's how it was for William Blake and for Thomas Paine and that's how it should be for us. The fact that for two hundred years publishers and agents have dictated the mark, taken their huge cut and picked who they wanted from the celebrity market and the upper eschelons of society, well, that doesn't make the system right.

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

I have a blog at www.tollesburytimeforever.blogspot. com and a website at www.stuartayrisbooks.co.uk

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

I am about 13,000 words into my next novel - The Bird That Nobody Sees. I hope to have completed it by the end of August, Test Matches and European Championships permitting.

11. Who would be your first choice to play Simon Gregory of your book?

Timothy Spall or the bloke that lives behind us. The bloke that lives behind us though isn't an actor. He'd be really good though.

12. If you could meet anyone from any time who would it be and what would be your first question?

Rick Danko, the bass player in The Band - I would ask him to stop drinking and taking drugs so he could live forever.