Live Event with Stuart Ayris - 18th of October 2012 at 7.30pm

[Lorraine]

Hi Bye Ian !

[Stuart]

Ian wrote: "Hi Stu.

Hope you're keeping well, mate. Just popping my head out of the chaos of my life to ask you a little question. I know you love all that brilliant Victorian literature stuff, and just wonde..."

Hope they're your own kids you're bathing!!!

I wouldn't say I have been influenced by any of the victorians in what I have written up til now. But having got heavily into Charles Dickens (not in an Oscar Wilde way of course!) I would really like one day to write a long, wonderful book.

Comparisons? A cross between Jerome K Jerome, Rimbaud, Baudelaire and anybody nobody's heard of.

[Lorraine]

Next one from Mago (thanks Mago for all these questions, they're fab ! Missing you !)

Are you still planning a visit to Scouseland?

[Stuart]

Absolutely! I Woke Up This Morning - the last in the FRUGALITY series finishes just outside of Liverpool. Now I no longer have a car I intend to get the train up for my one and only piece of research. Even scousers can't nick a train ; )

[Katy]

Do you carry round a notebook or something in case you come up with ideas on the go?

[Lorraine]

Do you ever write while drinking water only?

[Stuart]

Katy wrote: "Do you carry round a notebook or something in case you come up with ideas on the go?"

I've always thought it would be an idea but it's never really come off. I am entirely disorganised and inherently messy. Countering that though I think about my books (when I'm writing them) more or less every waking moment - so that when I sit down to write it all sort of comes out in just the right way. Which is handy!

[Stuart]

Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Do you ever write while drinking water only?"

I never drink water. The closest I came once was when a barman that didn't know me put ice cubes in my whisky...

[Katy]

Which of your characters do you wish was real? (:

[Lorraine]

Last question from Mago

Should midget throwing be an Olympic or Paralympic sport?

I'm curious to know the answer too !

[Stuart]

I am very lucky that Ray, Alex, Danny and Little Jon in The Bird That Nobody Sees are my best mates. To be honest I'm not a great believer in reality. I believe, as it says in Tollesbury Time Forever, that Imagination is Life. So in that sense I guess they're all real!

[Stuart]

Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Last question from Mago

Should midget throwing be an Olympic or Paralympic sport?

I'm curious to know the answer too !"

I guess it depends on the condition of the thrower!

[Lorraine]

Lol that's a logical answer !

[Katy]

Stuart wrote: "Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Last question from Mago

Should midget throwing be an Olympic or Paralympic sport?

I'm curious to know the answer too !"

I guess it depends on the condition..."

Do you have a certain something that reminds you of each book? like a smell or a piece of music, or a food? (:

[Stuart]

Katy wrote: "Stuart wrote: "Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Last question from Mago

Should midget throwing be an Olympic or Paralympic sport?

I'm curious to know the answer too !"

I guess it depends o..."

I certainly do with Tollesbury Time Forever. Ironically it's nothing to do with The Beatles but it's the Elvis song at the end. As I previously mentioned I write the endings first so that song If I Could Dream still gives me goosebumps. When I think of A Cleansing of Souls I feel kind of amazed that I made it through. The Bird That Nobody Sees? Well every time I think of good people I think of that!

[Katy]

If you could, is there anything in your life you would change?

[Lorraine]

Are you the kind of person that tries to see the good in people?

[Stuart]

Katy wrote: "If you could, is there anything in your life you would change?"

Weirdly, in a life that has had many ups and downs, there is nothing at all I would change. My sons are wonderful, each day is an adventure and every night is a prelude to another day. If you could see the black Tollesbury sky and the bright white Tollesbury stars you could never wish for more. Life still astonishes me after 43 years and that's not so bad!

[Katy]

Would you want your children to read your stories? Would you encourage them to try writing too?

[Stuart]

Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Are you the kind of person that tries to see the good in people?"

I haven't had to try in years! I guess FRUGALITY was my way of understanding how I feel about people and life. It starts with Forgiveness and it ends with a belief that people are Wonderful. I truly believe that. We can give each other hope. There is nothing more perfect than that.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Stuart, Lorraine, I'm going to say Goodnight. Thank you both, it's been great!

[Stuart]

Katy wrote: "Would you want your children to read your stories? Would you encourage them to try writing too?"

My youngest, James (16), loves books and has begun writing a novel. He is incredible - peaceful, kind, wonderful. My other two lads - Daniel (17) and Matthew (22) are more chaotic but no less invigorated by life. They will do what they do and it will be the finest three films I ever saw!

[Stuart]

Rosemary wrote: "Stuart, Lorraine, I'm going to say Goodnight. Thank you both, it's been great!"

Goodnight Rosemary!! Thank you so much for your attendings!!

[Lorraine]

Night night Rosemary, thanks for joining in x

[Lorraine]

Mago's out of questions, and so am I :)

[Stuart]

And I am almost out of wine! Call it a day??

[Lorraine]

Well we're nearing the two hours, Stu, you've done great ! Thanks for being here tonight :)

[Stuart]

Thank YOU! You are very lovely - I can't thank you enough! Angels everywhere!

[Lorraine]

Thanks everyone for your presence, hope you've had a good evening, and that it will continue :)

[Katy]

Night Stu and Lorraine! It's been great (:

[Lorraine]

Stuart wrote: "Thank YOU! You are very lovely - I can't thank you enough! Angels everywhere!"

Lol you're just too sweet ♥ Hope you've had a good time

[Stuart]

Thank you so much Katy for your questions. Really, really appreciate it!

[Steve]

Top job, Stu and Lorraine! Night, night.

[Lorraine]

Night night Katy, thanks for all your questions, Lovely x

[Philip (sarah)]

Thamk Stuart Lorraine and everyone.Really enjoyed that!
Nite Nite!

[Lorraine]

Bye Steve, thanks for popping in !

[Stuart]

Steve wrote: "Top job, Stu and Lorraine! Night, night."

Cheers Steve for participating. Keep racking up those sales mate and writing those great books!

[Stuart]

Philip (sarah) wrote: "Thamk Stuart Lorraine and everyone.Really enjoyed that!
Nite Nite!"

Nighty night Sarah - and thank you!

[Stuart]

Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Stuart wrote: "Thank YOU! You are very lovely - I can't thank you enough! Angels everywhere!"

Lol you're just too sweet ♥ Hope you've had a good time"

as ever and always!

[Lorraine]

Good night Sarah, thanks for being here :)

[Lorraine]

Hope the rest of the evening goes well, Stu, thanks for your time ♥

[Stuart]

Thanks mate for everyithing!!!! Now go and find out what those angels are really about! ; )

[Lorraine]

Yes Sir !

[Stuart]

Dismissed!

: )

[Lorraine]

Lol ! Night night x

[Emma]

Only just catching up here. So sorry to miss the evening Stu and Lorraine but I had a WI thing to go to with my Nan (don't ask!) and after that packing. Looks like it was a great event. Love you both xx

[Mago]

Cheers Lorraine for asking and Stuart for answering my questions.
I wished I could have participated live. If I had I wouldn't have this almighty hangover now!

[Lorraine]

Awww Mago, strong coffee and a couple of paracetamols and you'll be better in no time !

Not to worry Em, have a great weekend x

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

I didn't make it last night as I was totally exhausted and had a sleep instead. Glad to see it wnet well.

[Lorraine]

We missed you Gingerlily ! hope you're feeling better now x