Official Interview: Lord Christopher

[kandscreeley]

Today's Chat with Sarah features Lord Christopher author of Please! Just Call Me Kevie!

Official Review

View Kindle edition (free on Kindle Unlimited)

*******************************************************************************************************************************
1. What do you do when you aren't writing?

Writing is my hobby. My full time job in life now is caring for my wife Anne who has been suffering Parkinson's Disease for almost 12 years, and has recently beat insidious breast cancer. Anne needs 24/7 care.

2. When did you start writing?

I was a Professional Engineer of Queensland for many years. Most of this job involved writing engineering reports. Such reports require that no emotion is used in descriptions. I often sympathised with Webb-Ellis when he was playing football. The football rules prevented him from touching the ball with his hands. Webb-Ellis picked the ball up one day and ran with it and thus the sport of Rugby was founded. I was prevented from using emotion in my writing, so when I retired I started writing with emotion (a lot of emotion has been held in).

I started emotive writing in 2012. Anne and I went on an Elvis music cruise during that year. Following disembarkation, I wrote The Last Rock Star but my screenplay hasn't yet got a gig.

I started writing my first novel Please! Just Call Me Kevie in 2018, following a visit from my paternal Uncle Kevin.

3. Let's discuss Please! Just Call Me Kevie! For those that don't know, can you give us a quick synopsis?

When my Uncle Kevin (Please! Just Call Me Kevie!) arrives out of the blue to visit me and Anne, he brings with him both disruption and fun.

Kevie was a wonderful storyteller with a travelling spirit and a rich history.

I trace the history of happy-go-lucky Uncle Kevin against the backdrop of the history and zeitgeist of Australia at that time.

Kevie always had an interesting approach to and philosophy about life, and it served him well. But life can be sad and difficult, with many occurrences documented by me.

My dear uncle passed away late 2022. If I have a regret, it is that my uncle never read my book.

4. The reviewer calls this book "semi-biographical." Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?

I agree with the reviewer. The book is not just about my Uncle Kevin. The book is also about my interaction with my uncle over many many years as I grew up.

During my Uncle Kevin's tenancy with us, there were times when Anne and I simply had to have a break from Kevie and these times are also documented in the book.

5. What was the most fun part of the book for you to write?

I had a lot of fun getting into the shoes of my uncle and then seeing how he viewed the world. This experience has changed the way I now view the world, in a positive way.

6. The book takes place in Australia. What do you think readers would be most surprised to learn about it?

People around the world would be very surprised to learn about the Japanese assault on Australia during World War 2. The Japanese fleet that attacked Pearl Harbour then sailed to Northern Australia where they attacked allied ships in Darwin Harbour and then relentlessly bombed the Northern part of Australia. Japanese submarines also invaded Sydney Harbour. How did Australia handle this? Well, you had better read the book!

7. What do you admire most about Kevie?

My uncle had a very jovial and very positive view of the world. Every day was a new adventure for him which he looked forward too despite my uncle suffering from motor neuron disease (MND) for 25 years.

8. What's next for you? Any more books?

I have just finished 2 books:

Nanas Poems and Close Encounters with People of a Homeless Kind.

Nanas Poems is a compilation of most of the poems my grandmother wrote during here life. It is Cradle to the Grave stuff. Olympia will be publishing this one shortly.

Close Encounters is a compilation of poems about my personal experiences with homeless people. I'm looking for a publisher for this one. I'm thinking this book may best be donated to The Salvation Army so they can obtain donations from it.

I like to end with fun questions.

9. What is your advice for those that want to write a book?

Writing is simple: Pick a subject. Do the research. The go for it! Focus, then just sit down and write half a chapter over several days (10 pages). Then revise and revise and revise some more!

Getting your book published is the hard part! Australian publishers would not touch my book Please! Just call me Kevie! I had offers from at least three UK publishers! Thank you UK!

10. If you could save one material thing from a fire, what would you save?

I would save my wife! We can always start again! The fire would probably have been caused by me overcooking those pork chops described in the book and leaving the stove stop on!

11. What's your least favourite task around the house?

Preparing to cook pork chops! I wish I had a kitchen hand!

12. What's the best meal you've ever eaten?

The superbly cooked pork chops supported with cooked apple, surrounded by mashed potato and peas. It's in the book!

[Nurur-Rahman Mikail]

I sympathize with the author
Long Good health author's wife.
But hey! I don't recommend too much of pork!

[Lakshyaaj J]

Your interview was insightful and engaging, providing a deep dive into your creative process and inspiration. Thank you for sharing your journey and wisdom with us.