1- I was brought up in the Cotswolds and love the West Country. In my first novel 'Message from Joshua', I tried to use scenes based upon that experience albeit set into a drama and deep romance covering three generations over half a century.
Philip St Lawrence
2- I have always loved history ever since saving up my pocket money, all of 30 shillings, to indulge myself in H.E. Marshall's 'Our Island Story'. When I studied Alfred the Great, I realised the historical parallel with today, albeit in different circumstances, when leadership and liberation go hand in hand. The concept of a book within a book as our heroine studies Alfred and learns from him was born - and with it 'UNRESOLVED'.
3-I worry about our behaviour sometimes towards one another. I think of Jesus's exhortation, now often forgotten in Britain today, to 'love one another'. I believe no opportunity should be lost to pay a sincere compliment or provide encouragement either to our children or to a stranger. We each have it in us to induce happiness. As Mother Theresa said 'a smile costs nothing'.
4-I love a good heroine. In 'Message from Joshua' it is the vulnerable yet courageous Annie Spencer. In 'UNRESOLVED' it is Maggie Taylor, the conscientious Civil Servant supposedly on the same side as her rakish lover as they find themselves pitched into the maelstrom of negotiating Britain's exit from the EU. I cherish her character as she states in her final words that too many have discarded their moral integrity in their handling of Brexit.
5-Music is important to me. I trained as an operatic tenor but found I was actually a dreadful musician with an appalling sense of rhythm. I once hurled my partner and myself through a plate glass window as I got carried away with a quickstep spin turn. More recently in Majorca when demonstrating my flamenco, I was accused of doing a wartime salute! Oh well, at least I have a sense of humour.
6-Writing each book takes me over. It ignites a fire within me, compulsive and all consuming - a lonely experience which cannot truly be shared with anyone as like a composer the creation comes from deep down, exclusive and private, till the day of publication.
7-I believe that most of the best pieces of literature have never been published. Agents in my opinion, act like little gods selecting a tiny fraction of what is offered them according only to their particular taste or requirement. Nothing was going to get in the way of 'UNRESOLVED' though as I believe with a passion the book needed to be written on behalf of so many.
8-It is no coincidence I believe that Devon rhymes with Heaven. The beauty for me is constantly enticing. When photographing where the Vikings were beaten for my talks upon Alfred's darkest hour* in support of the book I was amazed at the majestic drama of the cliffs near Lynmouth. (*details in 'UNRESOLVED')
9-A good novel in my opinion should carry a message, should expose, should make a statement - and be cleverly endowed as a finely crafted piece of literature. In both 'Message from Joshua' and 'UNRESOLVED', I felt the need to appeal widely: to involve history, romance, drama and yes sex, though never gratuitously so.
10-My values are important to me. One of those is a love for my country. Thus the need to unload with 'UNRESOLVED'. The pen is mightier than the sword and unleashing a blurring between fact and fiction upon the handling of Brexit by our political masters seemed to me a challenge infinitely worth taking up!
