Mavis
Cheek was
born and brought up in Wimbledon, London.
She failed her Eleven Plus twice, and she left her secondary modern
school with no qualifications, where she also failed in her bid to become a
good secretary. However, this did
not prevent her from getting a job at the contemporary art publishers, Editions
Alecto. She started off as a
receptionist, but then was then moved to their gallery in Ablemarle Street as
she learnt more about art. Her job
allowed her to mix with artists such as Allen Jones, David Hockney, Gillian
Ayres, and Patrick Caulfield. She
left this job after 12 years to continue her education, and graduated from
Hillcroft College for Women with a distinction in arts. She had a baby daughter, and decided to
devote her time to writing. She found
success with journalism, travel writing, and then short stories. Mavis Cheek did not have a great deal
of success when she submitted her first novel to agents. It was “a stream of consciousness”
novel about “a businessman and poet manqué in his early sixties, with lots of
high talk about arcane stuff”.
Imogen Parker, who was working as a literary agent at the time, wrote
back to Mavis Cheek to say that she would not be interested in publishing the
novel, but was willing to give the would-be author 5 minutes of her time if she
happened to be passing her door.
Naturally enough, Mavis Cheek happened to be passing Imogen Parker’s
door the very next day. They got
on very well, and Imogen advised Mavis to write the way she talked, as she
found her to be most entertaining. Mavis Cheek’s first published novel, “Pause
Between the Acts” came out in 1988, and won the “She”/John Menzies First Novel
Prize. The spark that brought it
to life was Mavis Cheek’s dismay at the discovery that the actor Ian McKellen,
whom she fancied, was gay.
Mavis Cheek has been prolific ever since, and has written
the following titles: “Parlour
Games” (1989), “Dog Days”
(1990), “Janice
Gentle gets Sexy” (1993), “Aunt
Margaret’s Lover” (1994), “Sleeping
Beauties” (1996), “Getting
Back Brahms” (1997), “Three Men
on a Plane” (1998), “Mrs.
Fytton’s Country Life” (2000), “The Sex
Life of my Aunt” (2002), “Patrick
Parker’s Progress” (2004), and “Yesterday’s
Houses” (2006). She is
currently working on a novel that features Anne of Cleves. She also works as a volunteer in
Erlestoke Prison, where she teaches creative writing. Mavis Cheek was one of
the judges that chose the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood for the Royal
Institute of British Architects Award. After years of living in London, Mavis
Cheek has recently moved to the West Country.
Heroes & Villains –
Mavis Cheek’s article about Ovid from 1995
Some
victory – Mavis Cheek’s article in “The Independent” from 1997
Touching
thoughts during National Sex Week – Mavis Cheek’s article in “The
Independent” from 1997
A
free vacuum cleaner, but don’t call it sleaze – Mavis Cheek’s article in
“The Independent” from 1997
I
don’t believe, but I still want to share the mystery – Mavis Cheek writes
about Christmas for “The Independent” in 2000
Making
Waves – this Mavis Cheek article appeared in “The Independent” in 2001
My
week – Mavis Cheek’s article appeared in “The Independent on Sunday” in
June 2003
Mavis Cheek interview – our
interview with her
This
is my life – up to a point – Mavis Cheek talks to The Guardian’s Geraldine
Bedell in 2002
The
world according to Mavis Cheek – Mavis Cheek reveals all to “The
Independent”
Women
on the verge of HRT – Mavis Cheek talks to Emma Hagestadt
The Key to Life – Mavis
Cheek’s article in “The New Statesman” about her teaching creative writing in
prisons, her own education, and her topical belief that prisoners should have
the vote
Woman’s Hour
– talks to Mavis Cheek about “Patrick Parker’s Progress”. They have also talked to her about “The Sex
Life of my Aunt”
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