Tell
us a bit about yourself. You’re
an editor by trade--why did you choose to venture into writing?
I’m
not sure it was a choice! I’ve
always been drawn to writing, storytelling, creating characters, imagining
worlds. When I write I become completely absorbed in what I’m
doing—it’s
the thing I want to do most and everything else fades away. This is one
definition of happiness. Of course there are also many times when I pace up and
down the room racked with self-doubt and frustration, but that’s
all part of the process.
As for my job as an editor—I’ve
worked in publishing ever since I finished university. I’m
lucky—I’m
good at English but rotten at almost everything else. This made it very easy
for me to decide what job to pursue. I love reading and talking about books and
I love being around inspiring, intelligent, creative people. So publishing was
the obvious choice. I could have become a teacher like my mother, I suppose—but when you work
in publishing, there is the added bonus that you can nip to the loo whenever
you want.
How did you come up with your
subject?
It all started with my main character,
Tom Hawkins. He’s
a young, impulsive gambler who has been living on his wits in 1720s London
after being disinherited by his father. (Following an unfortunate incident in a
brothel.) He’s
terrible with money, so it seemed inevitable that he would end up in a debtors’ prison. So I began
to research the various prisons of the time and came across the story of the
Marshalsea gaol. I became fascinated by the way the prison was run and the
story of its sadistic, charismatic keeper William Acton. I realized that it
would be the perfect place to set the entire novel.
Who is your
favorite character in the novel?
It’s
dangerous having favorites when you write crime novels. You might have to kill
them off…
I love it when readers tell me their
favorites, though. I know at least one person who wants to marry Tom. Which
would be a huge (if enjoyable) mistake.
Do you have any other works in
progress?
I’ve
just delivered the sequel. I’ve
really fallen in love with the period and the world I’ve
created. I just hope I can drag readers along with me for the ride!
Who is your favorite author?
I don’t
have one favorite. I tend to have favorite books, rather than authors.
Frankenstein, The Woman in White, Catch 22, Our Mutual Friend, Remains of the
Day, Gormenghast, A Place of Greater Safety, The Constant Gardener, Cold
Comfort Farm, Njal’s
Saga, Watchmen, and so many more. That variety is part of the joy of reading,
for me. So many worlds to explore.
And lastly, a bonus question. If you could live
in any time period, what would it be?
Right here, right now. Any other
answer speaks of regret or escape. I like to look my own time period in the eye
and live in it just as well as I can.
Well there you have it folks. I'd like to thank Antonia for stopping in. Make sure you pick up a copy of her novel "The Devil in Marshalsea". It's available at Amazon, Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository, and Indiebound.
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