Educationist, financial analyst, software guru, critically accailmed author - our guest for the month of August is a multi talented soul. Her first novel, The Killing Jar, was included in The Independent’s New Year list of ‘Rising Talent’ and went on to win a Betty Trask Award, the Authors' Club Best First Novel Prize and The Waverton Good Read. She has since published a second critically acclaimed novel, Starfishing, and a novella - The Okinawa Dragon. She is currently developing a script for The Killing Jar with co-writer/director Deborah Haywood.
Visit http://www.nicolamonaghan.co.uk/ for more information about her books and her views.
Team Okiedoks wishes her all the very best for her future pursuits. Lets know more about her.
You have achieved fame and critical acclaim with you first novel itself. Tell us something about ‘The Killing Jar’ and what made you choose this title/subject?
I lived away from my home town (Nottingham) for many years and moved back to do my MA in Creative Writing. Before then, I had been writing lots about the big cities I'd lived in: London and Paris for example. I realised when I moved home that there were other places, less well documented, that people would want to hear about. I decided quite soon that I wanted to write about Nottingham. I was staying with relatives near to the estate where I grew up and this reminded me of what it was like there when I was younger. More and more I realised I wanted to write about this estate, and the people who lived on it.
The book itself really started life during a writing exercise, where you had to draw a map then write about a place you remember from childhood. The close I'd lived on came into mind and the teenagers who lived next door and caught butterflies. When I came to fictionalise these ideas, the teenagers were replaced by an elderly entomologist. When I did some research into entomology, I came across the concept of a killing jar and couldn't believe how well it fitted as an image of what I was writing about.
How long did it take you to write ‘The Killing Jar’? Did you face any challenges while getting your book published?
It took me about a year to write the book. There were challenges to getting it published. The main thing seemed to be that many editors found the subject matter too heavy going and difficult. I did find a publisher prepared to take it on, which was fabulous. The copy editing was a bit difficult, though. Agreeing on how to keep it consistent and checking these consistencies was tricky, due to the dialect voice. Real people don't speak consistently but in a book the voice really has to remain consistent.
Coming to your second book, how different is ‘Starfishing’ from your other books?
Starfishing is very different from The Killing Jar. The setting is a world away, in the rich and glamorous City of London and Frankie, the main character, is much more ruthless and sure of herself than Kerrie-Ann. There are some similarities, though, like the way the characters rely on substances to enhance their lives and how this ultimately leaves them feeling empty. The strong female voice and lead character too, and both are incredibly bright girls are from council estates so have that in common.
Writers accept procrastination as a major issue. What’s your take on it?
I don't think I procrastinate that much. Mostly, I do sit down and get on with. Recently, I more or less finished a draft of a book in a fortnight. I do believe you need thinking and planning time sometimes and I don't beat myself up when I'm not getting the words down if I know this is what's happening. I wouldn't be happy, though, if I spent my whole day staring out of the window or tidying the house.
Are the words ‘reserved’ and ‘writer’ synonyms? If yes why? If no why?
No, they're not. They don't mean the same thing and it's not like all writers are reserved in any case. I'm certainly not at all. Like most people, writers come in all shapes and sizes, and all sorts of personality types. It's probably true that a bigger percentage of writers are introverted, sensitive people compared to the majority of the population but that doesn't mean we all are. I'm actually much more confident than your average writer, less sensitive and a bit of a show off in company or at events. I think the one personality trait that is absolutely necessary for a writer, a good one at least, is empathy. Without that you just wouldn't be able to get inside your characters heads and could only write about people who were similar to yourself, going through similar experiences. They say write about what you know, but that would be a bit much.
Tell us something about your future projects? Would we see you in any kind of non-writing fields?
I'm working on a third literary novel, as well as a treatment for ‘The Killing Jar’ as a film. I have a co-writer/director for the screenplay and a producer on board, so watch this space. I'm also dipping my little toe into the distinctly scary waters of film production, so it's possible that's a direction I might take. It's something that could fit my previous marketing and sales experience and the creative side of my personality.
Which is the most underrated book in recent times and who is the most underrated writer according to you?
I really liked Notes from an Exhibition by Patrick Gale and The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, which didn't seem quite as well received as some of her earlier books for some reason. I'd also mention Geoff Dyer as an underrated writer. I think he's brilliant and doesn't get half the acclaim he deserves.
Has social networking and fan interactions helped you as a writer?
Well, I've experimented with these things and I'm sure they've helped me build a profile. It's getting harder, though. There's just so much out there it's almost an information overload. I used to spend a lot of time reading blogs but these days I find I avoid them as I just feel too sad at the stuff I don't have time to get through – all of this great writing and interesting personal takes on life and experiences that I don't have time to read. It upsets me!
Do people around you react differently, now that you have achieved fame?
I sometimes get odd reactions. Once or twice I've met people who were very gushing, which can be a bit awkward as I don't feel I deserve that kind of reaction. Occasionally, I feel I get a whiff of jealousy from aspiring writers. But then, I remember being there and know how it feels so I don't mind. It goes with the territory.
Tell us something about Nottingham Writers' Studio.
The Nottingham Writers Studio was originally set up as a co-op, with the idea in mind that we'd try to work out a way to get reasonably priced office space for writers. Quite quickly, we realised that including more people with general membership and events was a good idea. It's really grown since it was set up about three years ago. These days it's involved in writing events, courses, mentoring, festivals and all sorts, and still provides reasonably priced office space for those people who require it.
We just came to know that you are working simultaneously on 2 novels. Isn’t it impractical? Won’t it affect a person’s writing?
Well, one of those took over and is actually finished now, which is how I thought it might go. I actually find working on two projects pretty helpful, as if you get fed up of one then chances are you can be re-inspired by the other. In this case, the two books were so very different, they really didn't affect each other or the writing very much. Well, other than that one took a backseat while I finished the other. I'd definitely consider working on two books again.
As you mentor to aspiring authors, what is the one thing or phase which most new writers have issues with?
I'd say the most difficult issue for most new writers is moving forward with their writing and not spending too much time editing and rewriting as they go. Once you've got a first draft, much more is possible and you have bones to build on. Lots of new writers feel uneasy as they write because their first efforts aren't very good. They rewrite and rewrite until they go almost mad with it, begin to believe they can't write at all and end up completely blocked. The truth is that first drafts are universally bad or, at least, not great. The real skill is getting them done and then editing and improving them enough once you have done.
Years after you are gone, what quote or thought would justify your life??
Gosh, I'm not sure anything would justify my life. But one quote I am particularly proud of is from The Killing Jar and that people have picked out too is:
“They reckon you feel love in your heart but that's bollocks. True love, the type what strikes you down and makes you change forever, you feel that kind of love in every fucking organ inside you. Liver, kidneys, heart and spleen. Every tiny cell what makes up your brain and your spine, your bones and blood and muscles.”
What would be your advice to your readers, young authors and other aspiring writers and poets?
Read loads, plan your work and write forward (holding your breath and not worrying about quality) as much as you can. And share your work to get feedback from people who are not your friends and family. That's the best way to improve. Don't be sensitive about feedback, either and really listen to it. The writers I know who've made the biggest improvement to their work are the ones who weren't defensive in the face of criticism and really listened. Every response is a potential reader and worth taking seriously.
If you have a query for Nicola, kindly email us at cs@okiedoks.com or d@okiedoks.com and we will pass on the questions. Alternatively, you can send your suggestions and feedback at the same email addresses.