| Interview with Philip Griffin |
First off, thanks so much for joining us for an up-close and personal interview for TeensReadToo.com!
My name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking
time out of your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your
readers and fans.
Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you
wanted to be a writer?
When I was about seven or eight years old I sat down one day and made a list of all the possible jobs I
might do when I grew up (not a long list --- apart from “writer” there was: “teacher”, “bus driver”, “sweet
shop keeper”, “mum/dad” and “other-type-of-shop keeper” --- my radar didn’t extend far in those days!).
Then I listed all the good and bad things I could think about each one --- and after about 10 minutes
serious contemplation (undoubtedly aided by a penny chew induced sugar rush) I decided that being a
writer was absolutely and emphatically the best job in the world --- coz you can write whatever you like
whenever you like with no-one to boss you about!!!
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
Ursula’s Maiden Army was the second book I wrote. In my 20s I wrote The Fictionary and got as far as
sending it to one publisher; but then, while I was waiting for their reply, I stumbled upon the legend of St.
Ursula, and by the time the rejection letter for The Fictionary finally came, I’d started reading around the
subject and was hooked. I spent about eight years researching the legend and the period (in my spare
time of course!) then three years writing the first draft, by which time I was in my late 30s, it was the mid-
1990s, and I was living in Germany. I then spent a couple of frustrating years (and a small fortune in
postage from Germany!) submitting paper synopses and extracts to countless publishes in the UK, and
only succeeded in accumulating the usual heap of rejection letters that bedevil all wannabe authors who
don’t have connections in the industry. My break eventually came in 1999 when I first went online; and at
that point many publishers were still willing to receive electronic submissions (almost impossible now I
think). I fired off a fresh barrage of submissions --- electronically --- to publishers in the US/Canada/
Australia and within days Beagle Bay snapped it up. I actually succeeded in attracting interest from three
other publishers, but Beagle Bay made the best offer. Meanwhile, the 25-year old, paper manuscript of
The Fictionary sits on the shelf above my PC haunting every minute of my (very rare) spare time, crying
out for my attention!
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one
thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
The Fictionary is about a magic book that answers a reader’s questions by telling a story and somewhere
within the story lies the answer. The narrative has an overarching plot involving the main characters and
The Fictionary itself (“What is it?” “Will the main character – Codoné – ask the forbidden question?”) plus
three “sub-stories” which are stories told by the Fictionary --- a fantasy, a comedy/adventure, and a
horror story.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
Comic books (British and American), history books and visiting ancient sites, particularly Roman sites,
classic authors such as Plato, Shakespeare or Dickens, science fiction (book, film and TV --- yes I’m a
Trekkie!) --- oh and Lewis Carroll and Tolkien.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
My wife is a copper and thinks UMA is boring --- not enough sex and violence! She wishes I spent more
time doing useful things like re-fitting the kitchen or gardening!
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Japanese Curry
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Chinese exercises for my bad neck; big breakfast to fuel my “ample” frame, and walk LuLu-the-dog.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
The impossible-to-imagine amount of clutter!
Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If
you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
Red --- it is the colour of love and of life
Who is your favorite cartoon character?
Tom and Jerry
Which cartoon character is most like you?
Bugs Bunny – character; Elmer Fudd - looks
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history,
where and when would it be—and why?
My death --- so I could try to avoid it!
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to?
60s/70s/80s rock & gentle classical
Favorite musical artists?
John Lennon/Beatles / Pink Floyd / Depeche Mode
Do you listen to music while you’re writing?
No --- but I do listen to gentle classical (Mozart, Beethoven) when I’m thinking about what to write
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows?
Monty Python / The office / historical documentaries
Movies you watch over and over again?
Goldfinger / Gladiator / The Spike Jones Story
What was the last movie you saw at the theater?
The Pink Panther with Steve Martin
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Get political, and do whatever is necessary, using peaceful, non-violent means, to stop all war!!!
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
The important word for me is “story” --- whatever I write, whether it’s horror, comedy or fantasy-
adventure, I can guarantee it will have a strong, unpredictable and yet satisfying storyline. I always strive
and try my best to write a good read! Watch out for The Fictionary first --- a real story-feast with four of
them in one!
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
My name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking
time out of your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your
readers and fans.
Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you
wanted to be a writer?
When I was about seven or eight years old I sat down one day and made a list of all the possible jobs I
might do when I grew up (not a long list --- apart from “writer” there was: “teacher”, “bus driver”, “sweet
shop keeper”, “mum/dad” and “other-type-of-shop keeper” --- my radar didn’t extend far in those days!).
Then I listed all the good and bad things I could think about each one --- and after about 10 minutes
serious contemplation (undoubtedly aided by a penny chew induced sugar rush) I decided that being a
writer was absolutely and emphatically the best job in the world --- coz you can write whatever you like
whenever you like with no-one to boss you about!!!
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
Ursula’s Maiden Army was the second book I wrote. In my 20s I wrote The Fictionary and got as far as
sending it to one publisher; but then, while I was waiting for their reply, I stumbled upon the legend of St.
Ursula, and by the time the rejection letter for The Fictionary finally came, I’d started reading around the
subject and was hooked. I spent about eight years researching the legend and the period (in my spare
time of course!) then three years writing the first draft, by which time I was in my late 30s, it was the mid-
1990s, and I was living in Germany. I then spent a couple of frustrating years (and a small fortune in
postage from Germany!) submitting paper synopses and extracts to countless publishes in the UK, and
only succeeded in accumulating the usual heap of rejection letters that bedevil all wannabe authors who
don’t have connections in the industry. My break eventually came in 1999 when I first went online; and at
that point many publishers were still willing to receive electronic submissions (almost impossible now I
think). I fired off a fresh barrage of submissions --- electronically --- to publishers in the US/Canada/
Australia and within days Beagle Bay snapped it up. I actually succeeded in attracting interest from three
other publishers, but Beagle Bay made the best offer. Meanwhile, the 25-year old, paper manuscript of
The Fictionary sits on the shelf above my PC haunting every minute of my (very rare) spare time, crying
out for my attention!
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one
thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
The Fictionary is about a magic book that answers a reader’s questions by telling a story and somewhere
within the story lies the answer. The narrative has an overarching plot involving the main characters and
The Fictionary itself (“What is it?” “Will the main character – Codoné – ask the forbidden question?”) plus
three “sub-stories” which are stories told by the Fictionary --- a fantasy, a comedy/adventure, and a
horror story.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
Comic books (British and American), history books and visiting ancient sites, particularly Roman sites,
classic authors such as Plato, Shakespeare or Dickens, science fiction (book, film and TV --- yes I’m a
Trekkie!) --- oh and Lewis Carroll and Tolkien.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
My wife is a copper and thinks UMA is boring --- not enough sex and violence! She wishes I spent more
time doing useful things like re-fitting the kitchen or gardening!
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Japanese Curry
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Chinese exercises for my bad neck; big breakfast to fuel my “ample” frame, and walk LuLu-the-dog.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
The impossible-to-imagine amount of clutter!
Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If
you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
Red --- it is the colour of love and of life
Who is your favorite cartoon character?
Tom and Jerry
Which cartoon character is most like you?
Bugs Bunny – character; Elmer Fudd - looks
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history,
where and when would it be—and why?
My death --- so I could try to avoid it!
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to?
60s/70s/80s rock & gentle classical
Favorite musical artists?
John Lennon/Beatles / Pink Floyd / Depeche Mode
Do you listen to music while you’re writing?
No --- but I do listen to gentle classical (Mozart, Beethoven) when I’m thinking about what to write
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows?
Monty Python / The office / historical documentaries
Movies you watch over and over again?
Goldfinger / Gladiator / The Spike Jones Story
What was the last movie you saw at the theater?
The Pink Panther with Steve Martin
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Get political, and do whatever is necessary, using peaceful, non-violent means, to stop all war!!!
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
The important word for me is “story” --- whatever I write, whether it’s horror, comedy or fantasy-
adventure, I can guarantee it will have a strong, unpredictable and yet satisfying storyline. I always strive
and try my best to write a good read! Watch out for The Fictionary first --- a real story-feast with four of
them in one!
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
| Visit Mr. Griffin's Website |