This interview with Jane Harris
was first published in January 2006. To find out even more about the author,
you must visit our Jane
Harris page.
What
was it that first got you into writing and when did you start writing?
Jane
Harris: Back in 1990 I was living in Portugal
when I got ill with a virus. I had very little money, no TV, no radio, hardly
any books. What I did have was pen and paper. I lay on a couch, sweating, and
wrote a story about an ex-boyfriend of mine who was a transvestite. I enjoyed
doing that so much, I wrote more stories. The stories were published in various
anthologies when I returned to Britain. And it went on from there.
Where were you born and raised?
Jane Harris:
I was born
in Belfast and raised in Glasgow. But I have lived in England for almost half
my life. I am a real mix-up. My accent doesn't know if it's coming or ganging.
Which writers have influenced
you the most?
Jane Harris:
Dan Brown
and Andy McNab. No, not really. I'd have to say Dickens, Austen, Wilkie
Collins, Charlotte Bronte, Mark Twain, JD Salinger, Anne Tyler.
Where
do you stand on the nature v. nurture debate? Were you born a writer, or were
there factors in your environment that enabled you to become a writer?
Jane
Harris: My mother's side of the family are all
great story tellers and letter writers. Nobody was an author, or ever would
have dreamed of being something like that. But they were brilliant at relating
anecdotes and dropping in witty one-liners to make people laugh. They are all
much funnier than me but I think I inherited some of the story-telling. I also
think certain life experiences made me an observer and listener, which are also
good for writing.
There are
a lot of courses teaching creative writing nowadays, but do you think that good
writing can be taught?
Jane Harris: I don't think you can make somebody who has no writing talent into a writer. But a good course might help to bring out the best in people who already have some talent.
Have
you entered writing competitions? If so, have you won any prizes?
Jane Harris:
Many
years ago, with short stories. Perennial runner-upper, from what I can
remember.
Do you
have any short stories or poems published online? (If so, please provide the
URLs):
Jane
Harris: Not really. There is some writing of mine
on a site called thesleevenotes…It's
a site where different writers have done pieces about music that has been
important to them.
What kind of things do you
write?
Jane Harris:
I have
just written a historical novel, ("The Observations")
something I never expected I would do. I try to make things funny and sad and
dark, all at the same time. I'm not so keen on writing that takes itself too
seriously, or goes all out to be funny. I like the territory in the middle.
What, for you, is the best
piece of prose that you have ever written?
Jane Harris:
My
novel, “The Observations”. Either that or a note I wrote to surprise my husband
on the very last sheet of toilet roll. It said over and over again so that the
whole sheet was covered: 'Now please change the toilet roll, now please change
the toilet roll'. I was very pleased with myself and excited when he went to
use the toilet and stayed in there a long time. When he came out he didn't even
look at me. I asked him if he'd seen writing on the last sheet of paper and he
said, 'Yes'. 'Did you not read
it?' I asked. 'No', he said. Which means that my husband discovered, on the
very last sheet of toilet paper a long note written in ink, WHICH HE DIDN'T
EVEN BOTHER TO READ. To me, that is the definition of incuriosity.
What are you working on now?
Jane Harris:
Another
historical novel, which is also set in Scotland, around 1888.
What is your writing day like?
Jane Harris:
Depends
what I'm doing. Trying to finish my novel, I worked all hours of the day with earplugs
in and the curtains shut. When things are a bit less manic I work best early in
the day so I start early and work until lunchtime. After lunch I might correct
what I've done, do a bit more, or do research and reading.
Where would you like to be in
10 years time?
Jane Harris:
What a
great question. I think I'd like to be in another country - France, probably.
Still doing what I'm doing now and (hopefully) selling lots of books.
What’s the most exciting thing
about writing for you?
Jane Harris:
Creating
characters and having fun with them. I also love playing with voice.
What’s the most frustrating
thing about writing for you?
Jane Harris:
You
have to let it go at some point. I could rewrite forever.
What’s
the best piece of feedback that you’ve had from your audience?
Jane
Harris: I haven't really got an audience yet, so
I don't know. My mother told me, upon finishing my book, that I am a genius.
But that doesn't really count (as she also kept telling me how like her I am).
My uncle, who is an Ulsterman in his 80s, read a proof of the novel. He told me
he hadn't read a book in years but that he couldn't put mine down because he
wanted to find out what happened to 'the wee girl' in it i.e. my heroine. That
meant a lot.
Do you
write for a particular audience, or is your first priority to satisfy your own
creativity?
Jane
Harris: I write for myself first. And then for my
sister - as she is my ideal reader.
How do you describe your
writing to new readers?
Jane Harris:
I go red
in the face and stutter and stammer incoherently until they wander off to find
someone more interesting and famous to talk to.
Do you have a homepage? If so,
what’s the URL?
Jane Harris:
My
friends are under strict instructions to kill me if I ever set up a website for
myself.
