Mike Gayle
Turning Thirty is about guy living in New York who reluctantly splits up with his girlfriend three months before his thirtieth birthday and ends up moving back to his home town in the UK to live in with his parents. While he's home he catches up with old school friends, reflects of reaching his first big milestone and falls back in love with an old on off girlfriend! I wrote Turning Thirty ten years ago but it's being re-released now because I've just written a sequel called Turning Forty, catching up with the same characters ten years on. I really love the idea of catching with characters and seeing how their lives are turning out. I think it makes their lives seem more real.
Please tell us about the character of Matt.
Matt is a worrier. He's convinced himself that there are a number of boxes that you need to tick off if you want to turn thirty 'with dignity' and the most important box is being in a relationship. So when he and his girlfriend split up it sort of sends him into a tail spin. Thankfully, his friends are there to help him out but, as is so often the case in life when you're turning thirty, they've all got problems of their own.
Why are you so adept at conveying both male and female characters?
I don't know how to say this without sounding cheesy. But the truth is I really like women. I think they're ace. In fact when I got married my best man was in fact a woman. Because of this I think I've got a good take on a wide range of female perspectives. Plus, my wife checks things over too! And as for the bloke stuff, well, I'm a bloke, that mind-set comes to me pretty naturally!
How difficult is it to blend humour and sensitivity?
Not at all because I actually think the two go hand in hand. Humour and tragedy are the greatest of the emotions and when you put them together you get this fantastic contrast that makes you almost feel like you're on a rollercoaster.
One review says that you have carved a whole new literary niche- so what are your thoughts on this?
Ha! Men who write about relationships? I think there are a few of us in there. Nick Hornby, David Nicholls and Jonathan Tropper to name a few. I think it's great though. Men write about relationships in a completely different way to women which I think can help give a little bit of insight into the "other side" in a relationship.
Why is Birmingham the greatest city in the world?
Ha! If you need to ask then you haven't spent a weekend here. Come up and we'll show you a good time!
You were an agony uncle for teen magazine Bliss, so how did you land this role?
When I graduated I knew I wanted to write for the teen press and Bliss had just launched so I started off writing articles for them. After a while the editor asked me if I fancied the magazine's agony uncle. I didn't need to be asked twice! It was a lot of fun. Teenage girls would write to me with the boy problems and I'd do my very best to explain to them what the boy in their life was thinking!
You have contributed to a number of publications- so which experience has been the most memorable for you?
I few years back I was invited by a women's mag to cover a Miss World Competition in the Seychelles. Whenever I tell this story to my mates down the pub they sit there slack jawed wondering how I ever got a gig that jammy.
What is next for you?
Next for me is my new hardback, Seeing Other People (out August 27th). I'm so ridiculously excited about it I keep counting down the days until it's out. It's a little bit of a departure from my usual stuff but just as funny and moving as always.