IN THE WRITER’S CHAIR – RUPERT MATTHEWS
This week on ‘In The Writer’s Chair’, we put our questions to Wales, A Very Peculiar History and Danger Zone author Rupert Matthews.
1. Who is your favourite author? Ooooooo, tricky. I think either Terry Pratchett or Bernard Cornwell right now, but this can vary.
2. Who is the person who has influenced you the most? My Grandmother.
3. If you weren’t an author, what would you be doing? Probably teaching history somewhere.
4. What is the biggest obstacle you face when writing? I never have enough time to achieve all that I want to do.
5. Do you listen to anything when working? Yes, I have the radio on turned down low – usually Classic FM
6. What is the best thing about being an author? Being able to research really interesting topics.
7. What’s your favourite book? I really enjoyed reading Pyramids by Terry Prachett, but I’m not sure I have a favourite as such.
8. What’s your favourite film? Gosh, so many to choose from. The Dambusters, Zulu, A Knight’s Tale, Waterloo, Angels One Five, A Matter of Life and Death, The Great Escape, The Searchers. I am a real boy when it comes to movies.
9. What’s your guiltiest pleasure? Cream teas
10. What do you do when you are stuck for inspiration? Get out a bill that needs paying and wonder how I am going to pay it.
11. What’s your favourite holiday destination? Italy, just love the place as a holiday place.
12. Who / what makes you laugh? Carry on movies - especially Up the Khyber.
13. Which of the books you have worked on is your favourite? I am not sure that I have a favourite. Oh, not true. Whichever one I am working on at the moment is my favourite.
14. What time of day are you most productive? Mornings.
15. Do you have a motto? If so, what is it? Never miss a deadline.
16. Where do you do most of your work? At my desk in my garden office.
17. What’s your proudest accomplishment? Workwise, I suppose having published the first book that was my concept from start to finish – England vs Scotland
18. What has been inspiring you lately? My father. He was in the RAF during the Battle of Britain and I have been doing some work on World War II recently.
19. Any advice for budding authors? Get all the experience you can wherever you can find it. Local newspapers are a good place to start.
20. What’s the one thing you would take to a desert island? An endless supply of soap. I hate being grubby.
