#LoveOzYAbookclub Jan 2021 author interview – GARTH NIX (The Left-Handed Booksellers of London)
Garth Nix is a bit of an Australian literary legend. I knowthis because when I mentioned I was conducting this interview, my kids – who readGarth’s Keys to the Kingdom series when they were young – all said, ‘OMGyou’re interviewing Garth Nix?? He’s a total legend!’
And it’s true that Garth is a legend – but that makes himsound a bit intimidating, when he’s really very nice. He responded to thesequestions just after New Year, when he should have rightfully been on holidayswith his family, which was very sporting. He’s also an incredibly cleverplotter, and writes some of the most elaborate and gorgeous world-building inthe business.
He’s speaking to us today about his latest release THELEFT-HANDED BOOKSELLERS OF LONDON and a few other things (like This Is SpinalTap and the menu at a pub in Bath)…
Garth, areyou a plotter or a pantser? Or something in between? Do you even believe inthat ‘plotter Vs pantser’ stuff?
Like mostthings in writing (and publishing) it is rarely an either/or situation, thoughthese kind of simplistic divisions are appealing in the same way “silverbullet” approaches to writing a novel are attractive, everyone hopes there isone simple secret to it. I am a bit of both and it varies depending on what Iam writing. For most short stories I am a pantser, but not always. For novels,there is always an element of planning, but I often don’t follow the plan.However, I find it useful to do the planning even when I don’t follow it.
Your bookhas been the basis for the development of a themed dinner. What’s on the menu?
Because thisis a very English book, set in London in a somewhat alternate 1983, I think itprobably would need to be English food. Though I’d prefer it to be from thecurrent era rather than the 80s, so perhaps something like this from thecurrent menu of The Pig near Bath, where I had a very fine lunch in2019:
Ham Hock andparcel terrine with homemade piccalilli
West EndFarm Pork Chop with Garden Greens and Somerset Cider Brandy Sauce
Apple andBlackberry Crumble with Bird’s Custard
Thatsounds delicious! Now, what are your perfect writing conditions?
I try not toget too hung up on achieving perfect writing conditions, because often this canbe used as an excuse not to write. But somewhere quiet is always good, with abit of space. So not inside a cupboard in a house next to a highway. Though Iwould still try to write there as well.
Trash Media Challenge – which fave trash movie/showwould you cheerily inflict on your friends?
I have overthe years quite often inflicted The CourtJester and Spinal Tap on friends,usually accompanied by alcohol. I would never call them trash, though!
Your faveline of poetry is…
“Qinquiremeof Ninevah from distant Ophir…” the first line from “cargoes” by JohnMasefield, though it is a tie with “Busy old fool, unruly sun,” the first line of“the Sun Rising” by John Dunne.
Garth, thank you for participating in #LoveOzYAbookclub!
I hope youenjoyed this interview and THE LEFT-HANDED BOOKSELLERS OF LONDON for this month– keep an eye out for a discussion post about the novel very soon.
xxEllie
