Lucky 13 Interview With Antonia Honeywell

1 – Can you start by telling us a little about your current book?

The only book I have out there is The Ship, which was published in 2015. It’s the story of a society in collapse, and of a man who determines to give his daughter a safe environment in which to grow up. He hand-picks five hundred worthy people to create a community on board a vast, luxurious cruise ship and sails away. But of course, his solution to the economic breakdown is no solution at all, and when Lalla, the child for whom the entire world of the ship was created, begins to ask difficult questions, his house of cards begins to fall.

2 – Are you a plotter or a panster?

I’m a panster first and a plotter second - it takes me an entire first draft to work out what it is I’m writing about. I’ve tried working the other way around - planning first and writing accordingly - but it doesn’t really work for me. I need the freedom of chaos to allow my characters to find their voices. It’s not a very efficient way to write, but a very exciting one.

3 – Savoury or sweet?

Definitely savoury - unless it’s Twiglets, which I can’t bear, or turron (hard Spanish almond nougat) which is my crack cocaine.

4 – Three books to a desert Island. Go!

Three books to a desert island? Only three? I love the idea of being stranded on a desert island - I live a life which is very full of other people’s demands, and there are times I’ve found myself fantasising about breaking a leg simply to have a few days in hospital. I know this isn’t terribly healthy, but I’m willing to bet a large amount of money that I’m not alone in finding the (entirely fictional) prospect of gazing out over a changing sea, knowing that no one’s going to ask where their PE kit is or remember a crucial piece of homework the morning that it’s due in, very attractive. I’d take Middlemarch, because I love it, and Villette, because Lucy Snowe and I are separated only by a century and a half and the fact that she doesn’t exist, and the complete works of Dorothy L Sayers, which I am sure are available as a single volume, because I am and always have been in love with Lord Peter Wimsey.

5 – Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars. As a Gen X-er, Star Wars will always have a special place in my heart. I remember a time when no one knew that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker’s father, and nothing has ever equalled that moment of revelation. The prequels were unspeakable, but I’m enjoying the new ones. I miss Carrie Fisher.

6 – If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

My superpower would be complete fluency in every single language in the world. I’d love to be able to communicate with every single person I meet in their own language.

7 – Music or Silence when writing?

I love listening to music. If I choose to put music on, I have to listen to it; I can’t write at the same time. I do most of my writing at the kitchen table, and my family all love to play music, but I find I can shut it out if I haven’t chosen it. On the rare occasions when it’s just me and my notebooks, I choose silence. Silence is such a luxury; I revel in it.

8 – If you could live anywhere in the world, and take everything that you love with you, where would you choose?

If I could have everyone and everything I love with me, I wouldn’t really mind where I lived. But I live far too far away from the sea. A wild part of the British coast, where I could watch the waves crash on the rocks and walk back through a salt-laden, freezing wind to a fire and a hot cup of tea, would be rather wonderful.

9 - Your favourite karaoke song?

I’ve never sung karaoke in my life! Recently, though, when the children were getting fractious on a long car journey, I searched up some karaoke backing tracks on my phone. We had a marvellous time being Freddie Mercury and Ed Sheeran and David Bowie, and I discovered my inner Kirsty McColl, although I’m not sure I could repeat my star performance of A New England to a wider audience,

10 – One piece of advice to an aspiring writer?

I always hesitate to offer advice to aspiring writers. To do so suggest that there’s a time when you ‘arrive,’ when your destination is reached. In fact, the writing journey is more like climbing a mountain, in that whenever you reach the summit, all you see is another peak on the horizon. You just have to keep climbing. All I would say is that, published or unpublished, agented or unagented, alone or supported, you’re allowed to take your writing seriously. If you don’t, it’ll come as such a surprise to you when someone else does that you won’t know what to do. Every writing journey is unique; don’t sabotage your own by comparing it to other people’s. Honour yourself for every single step you manage to take. I’m cheering for you.

11 – You win £1 million, but you must give half to charity. Which charity do you chose, and what do you do with the rest of the money?

If I had half a million pounds to give to charity, it would be split between the Wegener’s Trust and Third Hope. The first is a charity my husband James and I set up ten years ago to fund research into a rare autoimmune condition called Wegener’s Granulomatosis, from which James suffers. And the second is working for the rehabilitation of former child soldiers in Northern Uganda, of which I’m a founder trustee. As for the half million I’m allowed to keep - well, I’d set up a retreat for aspiring writers with young children, and provide childcare alongside the lovely food and writing spaces. And if there was any change, I’d start a small press and publish beautiful editions of the wonderful writing of my guests.

12 – Horror films, yes or no? If so, any favourites?

It’s a big no to horror films from me. I’ve watched several and tend to find that horror prioritises situation over character, whereas character is what interests me. I loved the Netflix serialisation of The Haunting of Hill House because the horror elements were generated by the characters, rather than the characters being pure victims of some malevolent agency. However, the reason I hate horror is exactly the reason that James loves it, so I try and keep an open mind.

13 - What are you currently working on?

It’s been a tough few years since The Ship was published; too many projects completed and not finding an audience, too much blood spilled chasing that elusive second book deal. I’m currently working on a new novel, and if it finds a publisher you will be the first to know! But it’s also important to look up now and again and feel the breeze, look at the last roses still hanging on in the garden, the infinite shades of brown in a freshly-shelled conker. Before I was published, I felt that if I could just see one novel go out into the world with my name on it, I’d be satisfied. It’s important, I think, to remember that.