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This interview with Kay MacCauley was first
published in April 2006. To find out even more about the author, you can visit
our Kay MacCauley page.
What was it that first got you into writing and
when did you start writing?
I started writing stories when I was very young -
perhaps around four or five years old. The pleasure for me then - as now
- from imagining other worlds where the usuual rules need not apply.
You worked for many years in the music industry. Did this
experience help you in any way when you were looking to get “The Man Who Was
Loved” published? How does the publishing industry compare with the music
industry?
Not really. Everything happened quite quickly. I did
not have to scout around and feel incredibly lucky to be working with the
people I have around me now. When I finished the book I sent off the first few
chapters and synopsis to four of the top literary agents in London. One
of these, Conville and Walsh, rang me the day they received my submission
asking to read the rest. Patrick Walsh is now my agent and the book is
being published in five languages. As for how the music industry compares to
the publishing industry, I don't think I know the latter well enough yet to
comment on that.
There have been many fictions set in Venice, many of which
seem to prominently feature death, such as “Death in Venice”, “Don’t Look
Back”, “Miss Garnet’s Angel”, and numerous crime novels. Why do you think
that Venice has this morbid atmosphere, and were you influenced in any way by
it?
The atmosphere is there I think because of the gradual
deterioration of the city itself - the once splendid palazzos and churches
slowly being eroded by the effects of the water and salt. I definitely was
influenced by this air of decay and crumbling grandeur. I was there about 20
years ago before the city had officially stopped sinking and there seemed at that
time a possibility that one day this extraordinarily beautiful place might no
longer exist.
Several male characters, such as Lelio and Agostino steal
the show in “The Man Who Was Loved”, but the fates of the female characters
seem to be somewhat less positive. Is this something that you did deliberately?
That most of the main characters are male is not something
I did deliberately. It is just the way the story came. But
regarding the fates of the female characters - at the end I hint that the
Contessa finds her happiness at last with Piero and also (subtly) that
Helisenne will end up with the man she loves.
Can you recall what it was that sparked Marin to life in
your mind?
I really can't remember. Suddenly he was just there.
My characters do tend to just suddenly appear.
How much research did you for “The Man Who Was
Loved”? Did you spend many hours reading books about alchemy, or did
you rely more upon your imagination to create this world?
I did quite a lot of historical research on Venice and
also on alchemy. But my intention was to hold it as background in my head
to create a mood for the reader rather than to try and cram in too much
documentary-style detail which would have been intrusive. Doing the research
was interesting but my aim was to create a certain mood and feeling. I
wanted this to be beautiful and mysterious - like Venice itself - with some
things only half-glimpsed so that the reader might feel as if they are watching
a glorious procession through the mists of 16th century Venice.
What, for you, is the best piece of prose that you have
ever written?
“The Man Who Was Loved”
What are you working on now?
I have almost finished my second novel.
What is your writing day like?
I like to have a routine to the day and my best time for
writing is in the morning. Usually I start at around 9.30am and work
through (with occasional breaks for tea and pacing about) until around 2 or
3pm, depending on how things are going. If things are going really well I might
do a few hours later on in the day. When I go out I always take a notebook so
that if something suddenly occurs to me I can write it down before the thought
goes. I always do my first draft by hand. I work sitting on the sofa with
piles of notes spread out on the floor around me. And I like to write
with something that makes a noise as it goes over the page. There is a
particular brand of fine-tipped pen that I use.
What’s the best piece of feedback that you’ve had from your
audience?
Regarding "The Man Who Was Loved" - That it was
the most extraordinary thing they had ever read and that it had moved them to
tears.
Do you write for a particular audience, or is your first
priority to satisfy your own creativity?
I always write with the reader in mind. The basis of
story itself and the characters just come but when I am putting all the
elements together and deciding how to present them I want to do so in a way
which I hope will move and interest the reader.
Writing only for myself would be like working in a vacuum.
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