Helping me wrap up the week and kick off a new month is actor Brian J. Twiddy. We’re chatting about his debut novel Blessing.
Bio:
Brian J Twiddy was born in Kent, where success in a national young people’s story competition sparked his interest. He has been an actor for many years. Following the establishing of Arty-Fact theatre company in 2001, with Yvonne Peacock, he has written a published series of 20 history playbooks and 23 original plays and adaptations for young people.
Welcome, Brian. Please tell us about your new release.
Two young illegal immigrants, Dev, with aspirations and irresistible charm, and Adey, his amoral friend, who negates difficulties for money, are brought to London. Dev is happy to bend the law, Adey to break it. Whilst Adey lives in the shadows, Dev chases his dream of a business empire. Fate, love, and circumstance, aided by a dominating Pastor compromised over a Blessing passed down through the firstborn of a family for millennia, have other ideas.
What inspired you to write this book?
During a party, alcohol may have been involved, a conversation arose about whether a person could be wholly good or wholly evil, and would an evil person be redeemed by the good in them and vice versa. After a lot, a LOT, of research the Character of Ben Saphan came to life along with all that surrounded him.
What exciting project are you working on next?
Next and 50% written, is the introduction to the recently widowed, retired superintendent John Trilby. Trying to come to terms with the ways in which his life has changed, compensates by trying to help a homeless woman and finds that her circumstance is not how he imagined it.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
My wife and I started a theatre company but found a lack of suitable, royalty free, plays for young people that were not pantomime based. As there were only two of us and Yvonne , my wife, is dyslexic, it fell to me to write them. Since then I have written more than 20 hour long humourous, history based plays for primary school ages and a number of adaptations of classics, Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Dickens and Priestley for Secondary schools.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I do write full time, if sitting in front of a computer thinking hard and occasionally disappearing down social media rabbit holes whilst writing the odd coherent sentence, can be considered writing.
My working day consists of getting the kids up for school, breakfast and then disappearing into my garage/studio/man cave to write and also to record audiobooks as required until I am discovered. Then, as I’m married, I do as I’m told.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Particularly when writing plays, I need to visualise entrances and exits. Therefore, I use playmobil characters. A Roman Soldier, A Princess, A Pirate and an Old Prospector. They are moved in and out of scenes to make sure nobody is in two places at once.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a stunt man as I enjoyed nothing more than falling down feigning agony by being shot through with arrows by some pesky injuns. I was encouraged by my own sporting and gymnastic ability. As it turned out I became a chef.