Today it’s an enormous pleasure to welcome my fellow Urbane author, the irrepressible Gina Kirkham, creator of Mavis Upton who appears in Handcuffs, Truncheon & A Polyester Thong, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot and Blues, Twos & Baby Shoes.
How lovely to see you in my virtual cocktail lounge, Gina. What can I get you at the bar?
G: Hi Anne, lovely to see you too, I’ve been excitedly waiting for us to have a catch up for ages. I’d love a Gin & Tonic please with lots of ice… (the ice is only to dilute the gin so I don’t fall over on the way out!)
I’ll join you in a G&T as we mull over where we first met in real life.
G: That was at The Phoenix Arts Club in London for the Urbane Authors Christmas Shindig in 2016, although we had struck up a lovely friendship via social media beforehand. I was so excited I skipped down Charing Cross Road like a child, much to my hubby’s eternal embarrassment. I had only ever been to London once before which was a “closed” visit to Downing Street, so I didn’t get to see London in her full colours that time. We booked a hotel in Leicester Square for this trip, so it was all bright lights, neon signs and theatres. I squealed every time I saw someone I thought was famous.
That was a great party and I’d had my launch for Dancers in the Wind there so it had happy memories. First impressions?
G: Gosh, after forgetting my glasses and mistaking a total stranger at the bar for Simon Michael, forcing myself on him for a good old fashioned northern hug which sent the poor guy scurrying for the exit to escape my clutches. I finally found you sitting in the corner with Pete Adams. I remember your huge, friendly smile the most and then Pete’s trademark hat. Within minutes of chatting, I felt as though I had known you all my life. You are such a warm, funny and very welcoming person and I loved your knowledge and enthusiasm for writing. I suppose being so new to the book writing world I was a bit of a stalker, I so desperately wanted to learn anything I could from you. Because I’d only just signed my first book contract and it hadn’t been published yet, I didn’t consider myself an author at all, so I was completely in awe of being in the company of a real one!
I trust you’ve learned to accept your author status now with three Mavis Upton books published! I am in awe of all the talks you give! Points in common?
G: Our mutual love of our respective grandchildren, books and writing, a good old fashioned womanly camaraderie and our wicked sense of humour… and the fact we can get on the phone for a “quick chat” and still be gabbing away 40 minutes later!
So far we’ve never met up at a festival so I’d love to know what your dream panel would be (at any event) – subject, fellow panelists or a Q&A with someone you have met or would love to meet?
G: I’m a huge Harry Potter fan, so I’d have to say my dream would be a Q&A with J.K Rowling, I could listen to her for hours. Funnily enough it’s been the magic of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts books and films that have got me through some of the not so good days on lockdown. It’s pure escapism, oh what I wouldn’t do to be young again and a pupil at Hogwarts! I’ve watched the films so many times my hubby now knows the scripts word for word and delights in pre-empting every scene. I’m currently listening to and enjoying the readings that are being broadcast on Wizarding World Harry Potter At Home as a serial. I’ve also had several trips to the Harry Potter Studio tours, so we could discuss that and what her input had been to the spin-offs from the books.
G: I’ll never forget my first visit to the studios when the tour guide asked if anyone had a birthday and would they like to open the doors to the Great Hall. The doors are a truly breathtaking sight for any HP fan, so I rushed to the front waving like an idiot whilst squealing “Me, me…” only to see I was surrounded by hordes of kids and a clearly amused tour guide who kindly informed me that his offer was for children only. I pouted and tried to explain that I wasn’t 59 for another week so did that not count but it fell on deaf ears and a lot of laughter.
Only you Gina! So what are you working on now?
G: I’m having a little break from the Constable Mavis Upton series. I didn’t want her to become boring and predictable for readers, so I thought now was a good time to try something a little different.
Murder at the Winterbottom WI (A Prunella Pearce Mystery) is my new work in progress inspired by the lovely ladies I have met at my talks for The Women’s Institute groups around the country. It’s still humour but with a twist and for the first time in my writing career, I’m having to think of several ways to murder someone. It’s not as easy as I first thought, crime writers definitely have my undying admiration. My poor hubby who is my research assistant has been shoved face first into a lemon drizzle cake to measure how long it takes to suffocate and has hung from a coat peg under the stairs to see if it would hold the weight of a body. I’m having so much fun writing it. I won’t spoil the plot but the tagline of “What wouldn’t YOU do to be the next President…” might give a hint. It is different to Mavis and her escapades but I’m becoming very fond of my new protagonist, Prunella. She is a survivor, sassy, funny, a little bit mischievous and a Librarian with a deep love of books to boot – so what’s not to love.
So what have you been reading lately?
G: Human Remains by Elizabeth Haynes. I met Elizabeth and Lisa Cutts when we did a panel together at the Rochester Lit Festival last September. We had such a giggle doing it, they are both fabulously talented, very funny and friendly ladies. Elizabeth had the audience howling with laughter over her character Colin, so I just had to get the book. I have also bought Lisa’s books too. They’re fantastic, definite 5* reading and of course waiting in the wings as my next read is the latest Hannah Weybridge book, Perditions Child written by a lovely lady I just happen to have the pleasure of knowing!
Thank you, hope you enjoy it. And we have to embrace the lockdown question – what are you most looking forward to when lockdown is finally lifted?
G: Seeing my grandchildren, definitely. Olivia 10, Annie 7 and baby Arthur have been on FaceTime and WhatsApp most days but it’s the cuddles, holding their little hands and our days out that I miss so much, it’s as you said in our last message to each other, it’s an actual physical ache. I’m a real hands-on Nan as I’ve always looked after them a few days a week whilst my daughter is at work, so it’s been a huge wrench not seeing them or having them stay over. I feel so sad when I go into their bedroom and see their empty beds, their toys and books but no children and no laughter. Our first outing after lockdown will be a trip to our favourite place, Chester Zoo with a picnic and a visit to the Bat House, which is my favourite… although Olivia is not so enthusiastic as every time we go in there a bat poops on her head sending her into an apoplectic fit as she wails “Why is it always me Nanny?” I usually can’t answer her because I’m laughing too much!
Is there anything lockdown has made you think about/want to do?
G: It has really made me appreciate what is truly important in life. I’ve quietly sat thinking about all the things I thought I wanted to have or do and quickly realised there were no possessions or places that could mean more to me than my family and friends. I have thought a lot about nature and the impact we have on our environment and the speed at which we live our lives and my own mortality. I’m considered high risk due to medication I take which has a massive impact on my immune system, so it was quite scary to realise that something unseen could so easily take my life.
G: I think I will come out of lockdown a calmer, more appreciative person… who is at least two stone plumper with a very heavy penchant for Parma Violet Gin!
Gina it’s been such a pleasure catching up with you and I look forward to that spa day we keep promising ourselves.
G: Thank you so much for the invite Anne, d’you fancy a bag of crisps before we call it a day? 😊
All Gina’s books are available from Hive with free delivery.