Interview with the author

As a new literary talent no one has got round to asking our Wilson any questions about himself, in fact it seems most of you are lucky enough never to have heard of him! Here at Bumble End Publishing we have (courtesy of Orphans Press Ltd) a specially assigned very pretty assistant, Ruth Gwilt. She is insistent that she wants to hot-link our Wilson's website to his e-sales platform and devote this special section to FAQs! So to humour her and at the same time let you have some irrelevant background we asked Wilson to provide answers to a few of her incisive and penetrating questions.

Q: Who are you and what is the back-story?
A: Jings steady on Ruth, that's a toughie! I am a Baby-Boomer Generation person who has made it somewhat confused into the world of silicone chips and fibre optics and now find myself in the App Generation via a career as a Midlands industrialist. With plenty of leisure time, I decided to indulge my love of farce.

Q: Do you find writing your novels cathartic?
A: In business I could not give full rein to my sense of fun and frolic because sophistry and imagination are not necessarily good foundations for commercial or financial success. In a highly competitive world where jobs and the livelihood of my workforce and their families were at stake there was no room for anything other than serious professional commitment.

Q: What inspires you in your private moments?
A: Hang on Ruth, when I agreed to submit to this cross-examination I thought we would keep 'personal' out of it. Look, sitting as I do everyday in the warm glow of my anglepoise lamp sucking on my pencil (they can't arrest you for it) I sometimes drift away but where I go you can't follow. Be off with you. Let's keep this website clean as a whistle, in case the 'taste' Police want to see it.

Q: Have you got any comedic literary heroes?
A: At last an easy question, my literary comedy heroes are the great English PG Wodehouse, the American SJ Perelman of Marx Brothers fame and the more modern-day humourist Tom Sharpe. I would like to think that my books with their savage fun and developed farce, have a distant echo of Tom Sharpe in their style and contain some of his great sense of the ridiculous. Sadly he died recently.

Q: Why do you think people will laugh out loud when they read your books?
A: I admit I was laughing out loud when I wrote the ruddy things, simple things amuse me. I hope people will laugh otherwise they might want their money back. That's a thought, I think I shall appoint a drinking chum of mine (ex 3 Para he's bristling with brasso, blanco and bull) to handle any complaints. He is to diplomacy what the Chieftain tank was to a china shop.

Q: Are you concerned about being politically correct?
A: Now let's not get silly, remember this is farcical fiction so get over yourself, it's only a bit of country fun! Lighten up a little and smell the roses. Don't go political on me just when we seem to be getting along fine. I'll give you a piece of unsolicited advice about politics that a young person like you would do well to remember. I say, "Put all the politicians on the minimum wage and then watch how fast things change."

Q: Will your readership be able to meet you as you travel round the country promoting your books?
A: At my time of life I want thrilling not killing so if it involves serious effort count me out. This late flowering of my literary talent is a sort of Lammas Flush (haven't had one of those for some time) so think of it as a long postponed delicate budding of either sorcery or genius. Be aware however it could disappear as soon as the wife finds out what I am up to, so definitely no photo-shoots or autographs!

Q: You are using the current editions of your books to fundraise for military charity, why?
A: I feel there are many deserving cases of badly injured young men and women in this country who have made sacrifices in the line of duty for all of us. I hope that my books with their barrack-room humour will be vehicles through which I can raise money to help them resume a normal life despite their disabilities. I will be delighted if my novels are successful and collectively we can send them a large cheque!

Q: Have you a message for your readership?
A: That's it, enough intrusion for one day! Who do you think I am, some great Yogaswami or someone equally exotic that my messages would be important? Don't answer that we don't have the time, let's keep the message simple. My message is unambiguous, "Get copies of my books today to feel the pain and the pleasure of handing money over! DO IT NOW. It will make you feel good and give you a laugh at the same time, now that's a bargain!"