Interview by Diana Milne with Peter St John
What is the
genre you are best known for?
Wouldn’t it be splendid, Diana, if I only knew what I am best known for?
Unfortunately, genre is problematic for me as I find
it difficult to place my novels in any existing category. As the principal
characters are aged around 11 to 15 years, “Young Adult” might be appropriate. However,
much of the action explores interactions between young people and adults. Not
only that, but adults seem to appreciate what I write. The matter is
complicated yet further in that, as the action is placed in the early years of
World War II, the novels could be considered as being “Historical Fiction”.
2. If your books
in the “Gang” series were adapted into a TV show or a film, who would you like
to play the lead role?
Oh wouldn’t it be fun to have the “Gang” books made into a film series?
Some of my readers have urged me
to go for this, but I wouldn’t know how to start. As for your question, I regret I am unable to answer directly, as the lead role would have to be played by a lad about 12 years old, and I can’t think of anybody who could fill the bill.
to go for this, but I wouldn’t know how to start. As for your question, I regret I am unable to answer directly, as the lead role would have to be played by a lad about 12 years old, and I can’t think of anybody who could fill the bill.
3. What made you
choose this genre?
You know, Diana, I didn’t choose. The nature of the “Gang” series is
such that far from choosing a genre, I was compelled to shoehorn the books into
an existing genre which seemed to be the least worst fit. I sometimes wish
there was a genre called, “Nine to Ninety-nine”.
4. How do you
get ideas for plots and characters?
I like to explore relationships between children in their world, and the
way in which they interact with one another and also with the world of adults who
live in the same small community. The ideas and characters seem to be already
in existence somewhere out there in the ether: I merely garner them. The Second
World War, which I experienced as a child, also provides a situation of stress
and difficulty that the characters must overcome. I also like to show, with
humour, how relational interactions that the characters bring with them, can be
integrated in each book with some overarching human value.
5. Favourite
picture or work of art?
It’s extremely hard to pick just one favourite work of art, but in the
context of my writing I’ll plump for “Children’s Games” by Pieter Bruegel the
Elder.
In this picture, children and adults of a small community are playing games, and perhaps squabbling over them, which is not so far from the atmosphere of the “Gang” books.
In this picture, children and adults of a small community are playing games, and perhaps squabbling over them, which is not so far from the atmosphere of the “Gang” books.
6. If, as a one
off (and you could guarantee publication!) you could write anything you wanted,
is there another genre you would love to work with and do you already have a
budding plot line in mind?
I sometimes think I’d like to attempt a romance, but one which develops
at a distance, in an unconventional way, and which keeps the reader on
tenterhooks. I do indeed have a plot outline for it, together with a fair bit
of text already written. I think I need a good push from somewhere to get it
underway again.
7. Was becoming
a writer a conscious decision or something that you drifted into (or even
something so compelling that it could not be denied?) How old were you when you
first started to write seriously.
I no longer remember whether or not it was a conscious decision, but the
idea of getting my own back on some of the adults around me when I was a child
had something to do with it. I began my first novel at the age of
seventy-three. This has been followed by eight more, as well as several
booklets, and a collection of poems yet to be published formally.
8. Marmite? Love
it or hate it?
In French, a “marmite” is a large cooking pot.
I live not far from Geneva
where, every year in mid-December, is celebrated the Escalade.
This popular fête commemorates the defeat of the Duke ofSavoy , who in 1602, attacked the city. The
story goes that a certain Madame Royaume, who was preparing a pot of vegetable
soup, spotted, from her upstairs window, the enemy troops creeping into the
city. She promptly tipped her pot of soup on their heads, thus raising the
alarm. The event is now celebrated by breaking and eating a tasty chocolate
marmite filled with marzipan vegetables. (WHAT??? D) As for the kind of marmite you
doubtless mean, it is not readily available here. I quite liked the salty sharp
taste of it as a child in England ,
but then, with the war and rationing, there wasn’t much else to spread on a bit
of bread.
This popular fête commemorates the defeat of the Duke of
9. Do you have
any rituals and routines when writing? Your favourite cup for example or ‘that’
piece of music...?
10. I promise I
won’t tell them the answer to this, but when you are writing, who is more
important, your family or your characters?
This is hardly a valid question for me,
as I don’t have much family still living. The few members that there are, live at considerable distances. My characters have a lively presence, but it is not difficult to leave them for a while in favour of family and friends. My characters aren’t going to go away, even if sometimes I could wish they would.
as I don’t have much family still living. The few members that there are, live at considerable distances. My characters have a lively presence, but it is not difficult to leave them for a while in favour of family and friends. My characters aren’t going to go away, even if sometimes I could wish they would.
11. Other than
writing full time, what would be your dream job?
My dream job would be one with a huge salary for doing nothing. Actually,
being retired is not so bad, although I could wish for a slightly bigger
pension.
12. Coffee or
tea? Red or white?
Coffee please for breakfast, and a good dry white, or an excellent
vintage red with my dinner, depending on the menu.
13. How much of
your work is planned before you start? Do you have a full draft or let it find
its way?
I tend to plan in advance, towards a fairly clear idea of the ending,
together with a rough chapter structure printed out and held in a loose-leaf
folder. This, of course, gets modified and enlarged as the plot unfolds. The
plan is an essential aid to weaving together the various subplots as the main
conflict unfolds towards a resolution. It also helps me to keep the characters
more-or-less in step with where we are all going, and not rushing off to do
their own thing, which the stronger ones certainly tend to do.
14. If you had
free choice over the font your book is printed in, what font/fonts would you
choose?
I’d love to select fonts that (at least for me) would reflect the character
and/or the action in progress. Alas, my publisher won’t allow me to do this,
(never mind problems with ungainly apostrophes) so I have to stick with
Palatino. It’s an attractive font with small apostrophes.
15. Imagine that
you could get hold of any original source document. What would it be?
That’s easy to answer. I’ve written a novel (“Triple Agent”) which takes
literally John 21:20 […] 21:24 (“Peter turned and saw following them the
disciple whom Jesus loved. […] This is the disciple who is bearing witness to
these things and who has written these things”). I would dearly love to see the
original document to discover whether my speculations and constructions on this
theme were correct.
16. Have any of
your characters ever shocked you and gone off on their own adventure leaving
you scratching your head??? If so how did you cope with that!?
They try, but I usually have to delete their individual adventures.
Sometimes, however, they add valuably to the unfolding of the plot.
17. How much
research do you do and do you ever go on research trips?
Some research is necessary, not least into how life was lived in the
early part of the Second World War. I have been on several research trips for
example to verify elements from the London
Blitz, and to check the geography of the village that was taken as a model for
Widdlington.
18. Fiction
authors have to contend with real characters invading our stories. Are there
any ‘real’ characters you have been tempted to prematurely kill off or ignore
because you just don’t like them or they spoil the plot?
Oh yes, but I prefer not to name names and to disguise
identifying elements, as some of the characters, or their descendants,
may still be alive.
19. Are you prepared to go away from the known facts for the sake of the story and if so how do you get around this?
I don’t see this as a problem, although I try to incorporate known facts
appropriately, even to such details as phases of the moon in some night
adventures. That said, the stories are fiction after all.
20. Do you find
that the lines between fact and fiction sometimes become blurred?
Fact and fiction might be deliberately blurred on the page, but not in
my head (I hope).
21. Have you ever
totally hated or fallen in love with one of your characters?
Oh yes, I can’t help feeling that if a writer doesn’t become emotionally
involved with his or her characters, then the resulting novel risks to turn out
somewhat cold and flat.
I have eclectic tastes, but in general, prefer non-fiction to fiction.
23. What drink would you recommend drinking whilst reading your latest book?
Last but not
least... favourite author?
What an invidious question, Diana. I’ve lived so long, and read the
works of so many excellent writers,
that I’m going to ask you to let me off
answering your question with just one name – unless it be my own!
About the “Gang”
series.
The "Gang" books tell an ongoing story of children’s gangs and
budding love. When a boy from London finds himself homeless after the orphanage
where he lived was bombed, he is bundled off to the countryside to live with
his only relative, a pious spinster aunt. Her village would be a peaceful place
to live— or so he imagined... These stories contain war-time action including
air-raids and invasion scares, as well as feuds and contests with rival gangs.
Although each book stands alone, a continuing story flows through them.
The series has appeal for both adult and younger readers, and gives an intimate
and nostalgic view of the drama of the early part of World War II.
Humorous yet thought-provoking, this series explores the difficulties
and rewards of forging relationships in traumatic times.
Awards:
Three of the “Gang” books, “Gang
Territory ”, “Gang
Loyalty”, and “Gang Petition”, have been awarded the Book Readers’ Appreciation
Group medallion.
Peter
St John was born in London, at a time when worthless shares, and workless men
littered the streets. His baptismal gift from two of the apostles, was difficult
to live with in a Church-run orphanage destroyed in 1940 by Hitler's blitz. He
was evacuated from the ruins to the countryside, where the Nazi aim again
missed by a hair's breadth.
"Grammar" school was "Granpa"
school: young men at battle replaced by oldies... and bright young women.
As an eager Air Force pilot, Peter navigated the
winds, envied the birds, and learned the "arts" of war.
Back in Civvy
street , Peter discovered marriage, fatherhood and Australia. He studied engineering and put letters after his name.
Aimed for the moon at Woomera, but hit the rusty
desert instead. It's bloody hot, mate, in the sun; bloody cold at night. It's
bloody deadly too at times, but strewth, so bloody lovely.
Came Sputnik, and the Cold War space-race. Peter
rocketed to lend a hand in Europe, and discovered Paris, languages, ELDO*, and
an office on three continents; one in sweltering French Guyana . Who'd volunteer for Devils Island
except to rocket into space? But Europe 's leap
to orbit was crippled by political irresolution.**
So back to Australia
where Peter now daily took "the liberty boat from shore" to reach the
Navy's concrete HQ "ship" in Canberra .
But the bold project for which he strove, never saw the sea. His ship was again
scuttled by politics.
Disgruntled and unemployed, Peter set off for
Parliament House, where miraculously he was offered a job helping Senators peer
critically over Government's shoulder, and bring Parliament's Standing
Committees to the people. Heady stuff. And then the PM asked him to join his
staff!
But soon the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva called, requesting
participation in strengthening parliamentary democracy around the world. Six
challenging years for Peter...
And so to fiction, with his first novel published in
2007. This has been followed by eight more.
Peter lives in France where he is active in a
literary group.
He has a son, two grandsons, a great-grandson and a
great-granddaughter.
* The long-defunct European Launcher Development
Organisation.
**Subsequently re-activated as the European Space
Agency with the highly successful "Ariane" project.
© Peter St John 2018
© Peter St John 2018
I absolutely ADORE Peter St. John's books! They are fun, poignant, humorous, occasionally a little sad, informative and, yes indeed, completely suitable for children 9-99!!! And by the way, that painting - I'm thrilled to say I know it! (I don't always know the ones authors cite here as their faves.) I came to know it first on the cover of a book about medieval children. Fab!
ReplyDeleteVery well done to both of you, interviewer and interviewee, and may many peeps be reading these multiple award-winning tales all over the world!!!