Lucky 13 Interview With Colette Snowden

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

Captain Jesus (published by Bluemoose Books in January) is a story of loss and a family learning to cope with the impact of something awful happening. It is told across two generations: Jim, a ten-year-old boy in the present, and his mother, Marie, in the 1997 when she was a teenager. The story begins when Jim and his brothers peg a magpie to the washing line re-enacting a resurrection and, as the tragedy unfolds, we learn about Marie's earlier life and how it affects her responses. I wanted to explore themes of faith and superstition, and the title is the convergence of the two, but the book is also about hope and healing.

2 – Are you a plotter or a panster?

Definitely a pantster - Captain Jesus started with the idea of a magpie pegged to the washing line and I just started writing. I had no idea until I was several chapters in that it was going to be a dual narrative novel - finding out where the story is going as it unfolds is part of the fun for me.

3 – Savoury or sweet?

Both...but not at the same time. I'm not a fan of pineapple on pizza or bacon with maple syrup.

4 – Three books to a desert Island. Go!

Can I have the complete works of Shakespeare or is that cheating? (I'll go for The Tempest if I'm only allowed one), Finnegans Wake because I haven't read it and desert island seems like the ideal opportunity, and Lord of the Flies because I LOVE William Golding and it would be the ideal reminder while awaiting rescue that: a. rescue is possible, and b. things could be worse.

5 – Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars, no contest.

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

To slo-mo and fast forward time - wouldn't it be brilliant to slow down the good bits and fast forward through the yucky bits?

7 – Music or Silence when writing?

Silence - I can't listen to my own thoughts and anything else at the same time.

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

The Northwest coast of Scotland - all of nature on my doorstep and the cities of Europe within a few hours reach.

9 - Your favourite karaoke song?

I have only ever done Karaoke once - it was Brittany Spears' Hit me Baby One More Time - with the voice I wish I had, it would be Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, sadly, with the voice I actually have, it's better if I stay away from the mic.

10 – One piece of advice to an aspiring writer?

Keep writing, even if you think it's not right and no-one will read it; the only chance it has of being right and being read is if you get it written.

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?

The charity would be the Red Cross because it's there to help anyone who needs it, whoever they are and wherever they may be. I'd spend the rest of the money travelling to amazing places. Top of the list is a train across Kazakhstan.

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

Not - I am a complete coward and ridiculously squeamish

13 - What are you currently working on?

I am working on a third novel - a third-person, multiple point of view narrative that explores how a single event (at the end of Chapter One) affects the various people connected to it. I'm interested in how people's individual stories connect and the challenging/enjoyable part on this one is retelling the same details from different perspectives.