Sep 27, 2011

Lucy Bignall - Author Interview: Short Story Writer

What kinds of fiction did you read as a child and teenager, and did you have some favourites?

Well, I read the normal diet of Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl, Swallows and Amazons, C.S. Lewis - all the classics I think . I loved books about magic, but equally I loved books about ordinary children, to whom extraordinary things happened - Noel Streatfield and E Nesbit were some of the writers I read over and over again. As a teenager, my favourite writers were probably Jane Austen, Nevil Shute and Diana Wynne Jones.

Would you say your childhood and teenage reading has had a distinct influence on how you write fiction now, and why?

I would like to think so, but I'm not sure. I am constantly amazed by the fact that the sort of writing I am drawn to is often very different to the sort of thing I read.

Pick one of your favourites among your fiction stories or a story which is an interesting example from your fiction. What makes this story one of your favourites or an interesting example of your fiction?

This is a difficult one as my stories are often very different, so it depends on whether I am in a humorous mood, a dramatic mood or a fantastical mood as to which is my favourite! Probably one of my favourites is my Trio for Orchestra - a story about music, betrayal and the supernatural - mostly because it took me so long to get it right, I was particularly pleased when I finished it!

Who is another author whose fiction writing you admire and why?

There are so many...Jane Austen, Harper Lee, and though it might not be fashionable to say so, I would have to say one of my favourites is J.K Rowling because she has such an incredible imagination, while at the same time keeping her characters very real and managing to deliver a strong moral message in a way that does not lecture the reader.

How would you summarise one of your short stories in one paragraph?

Fly on the Wall is the story of a woman - Genevieve - who has put all her own dreams on a back burner whilst bringing up a young family. She is horrified when, in early middle age, just as she is beginning to experience some freedom and the chance to make her mark in the world, she is knocked down by a bus and her life is ended. But she is even more horrified to find that, in spite of the fact that she spent her life looking after others and trying to do the right thing, she is to be reincarnated as a mere house fly! However, in her short life as a fly, she grows to realise quite how much she really did achieve in her life as a human.

How would you describe the appeal of this short story to readers?

I think there are a lot of women out there who feel the same sense of frustration and underachievement as Genevieve and they would relate to this quite well. There is also a certain amount of wry humour in the telling which would hopefully appeal to others.

How would you summarise a scene or sub-section from this short story in one paragraph?

The first scene has Genevieve trying to argue her case with the angel who has told her she is to return as a housefly. She asks whether there might have been a mistake and whether she could at least go back as a bird or dragonfly, but the angel is adamant, telling her in no uncertain terms that "the boss never makes mistakes."

How would you describe the contribution this scene or sub-section makes to the short story?

This scene should invite the reader to question why, indeed, Genevieve is to return as a mere housefly....

Do you aspire to primarily write novels in the future, or are you more interested in writing short stories, and why?

Primarily, I aspire to write, and if I get an idea I am not content until I have written it, whether it be a short story or a novel or a memoir!

Do you read many short story anthologies, and why?

Not really. At the moment I am making a deliberate effort to read books by authors and in genres I haven't read before and it has been an enlightening experience - for instance, I had not read Stephen King before because I don't really like horror, but I have very much enjoyed his writing.

What lengths of short stories do you usually write, and why?

It really depends on the ideas I've had and how many words they may warrant. I guess a lot of them have fallen between the 2000-5000 word range.

Do you submit for many short story competitions, anthologies and magazines, and what are your main motivations for this?

I submit to a lot of magazines - not so much to competitions as it can get a bit expensive after a while. I am still at the "emerging" stage of being a writer, so am hoping that any exposure would be good!

Author website: http://talesoflucythebard.blogspot.com

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