'After Billy Reeves had survived a poverty ridden and violent childhood on a council estate in Newcastle he thought he had it all; a loving family, money and respect but a face from the past with a point to prove and muscles to flex is out to bring his world crashing down on him.'
Q1:Is 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' part of a series of books named after crap Beatles songs?
Ha ha - no mate, it just fitted the stuff I had in my head at the time. Mind you given this week's budget maybe I should have called it 'Taxman'...
Q2: Your Facebook page lists two of your interests as heavy drinking and theatre. Have you ever combined both activities?
Not as a rule - mainly because I want to know what's going on in the play I've paid for. Went to see a corker last night incidentally 'Apples' adapted from the book by Richard Milward and acted by a cast of younguns. Top bit of theatre - a sort of Trainspotting meets Skins!
Q3: How much of Maxwell's Silver Hammer is autobiographical?
It's not autobiographical as such (in that I've never killed anyone...yet!) but a lot of incidents and scenes in the book did happen to either me or people I know - one example being the re-arranging of letters on the cinema board every weekend... heh heh
Q4: Which soap operas do you watch?
Other than the one involving the England 'team' (i use that word very loosely) over the last few weeks none. I did once go drinking at Limerick dog track with Bradley out of Eastenders though!
Q5: How did you get mixed up with Byker Books?
Pure bad luck! :-)
Nah - I used to read (and try to get published in) 'Bullet' which went under and whilst casting about for something similar (I swear a lot and most publishers - particularly the established short story ones - aren't keen!) I discovered Byker Books so sent them some stuff for the 'Radgepacket' series, mentioned I was also from Byker originally (nepotism isn't a dirty word kids honest!) and that I'd written a couple of books. they asked to take a look and bingo, here we are two books later and me a multi-millionaire.....or not.
Nah - I used to read (and try to get published in) 'Bullet' which went under and whilst casting about for something similar (I swear a lot and most publishers - particularly the established short story ones - aren't keen!) I discovered Byker Books so sent them some stuff for the 'Radgepacket' series, mentioned I was also from Byker originally (nepotism isn't a dirty word kids honest!) and that I'd written a couple of books. they asked to take a look and bingo, here we are two books later and me a multi-millionaire.....or not.
Q6: Jimmy Nail, MC Hammer or The Turning Of The Screw?
Ain't no doubt it would have to be Jimmy Nail - I am a 'Big River(s)' after all man....
Bio: Andy Rivers has been a Butlins barman, pretend chippie on a Spanish construction site, coach holiday rep, mobile sandwich salesman and outdoor traffic cone washer to name but a few of his eclectic 'career' choices.
Originally from the East End of Newcastle he now lives in Oxfordshire where, as well as following Newcastle United around the country, he passes the time by indulging in his passion for ‘Professional Geordie-ism’ and lager.
'Maxwell's...' is his first novel but he is also the author of ‘I’m Rivelino’ , also published by Byker Books, a hilarious account of the thirty odd years of hurt he has suffered at the hands of the Magpies.
More about MAXWELL's SILVER HAMMER HERE
A much better interview with Andy is HERE at Radgepacket Online
6 comments:
Nice.
I've heard good things about Apples. It might be going to the Edinburgh Festival, so look out for it if you're in the vicinity.
I combined heavy drinking and theatre going a few times. Almost got thrown out of the Almeida for laughing at the swordplay between pirates (like kids playing on a stage).
"Crap Beatles songs?"
Other than that revelation of tone-deafness on the interviewer's part, great piece.
Oh, okay. "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" was crap -- but that's an exception.
Tim, Andy's next novel will be For The Benefit Of Mr Kite, followed by When I'm 64.
Pretend chippie doesn't sound like too bad a job.
Hi! Paul D. Brazill,
Nice interview and thanks, for the links (and info(rmation) on the upcoming books on your sidebar...
"It's not autobiographical as such (in that I've never killed anyone...yet!)"
Let us all hope that "yet" isn't the operative word.
...and for sharing!
DeeDee ;-D
Another great interview Paul. Now you should see Polythene Pam.
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