Author Interview – James Court

Question 1: Who are you and what have you written (Most recent book, no synopsis).

I’m James Court, supposedly retired, but active socially and a full-time grandparent. My most recent book on Amazon is ‘Farewell to Peckham‘: the fourth in what was intended to be a series of three comic novels.

Question 2: If you had to paint a portrait of any author who would it be?

If I could work through a genuine medium I’d ask Thomas Hardy to sit for me. Otherwise it would be Michael Palin, although I doubt singing ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ as we worked would be be conducive to a steady brush hand on the canvas.

Wuestion 3: Why did you start writing?

I’ve always written from an early age, and as a child preferred reading to playing games. After a lifetime of watching adults being anything but adult, retirement meant I again had time to myself to indulge in longer works than the odd article and pantomime.

Kwestion 4: Where do you write?

Generally I sit on a sofa with my trusty laptop on my knees. A couple of hours in the early morning gives me about a dozen pages, topped up by periods when baby-sitting sleeping grandchildren.

Question 5: What is the most interesting thing you have learned recently?

Researching my historical works throws up all sorts of odd facts. In 1100, Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst, a pair of conjoined twins, were born in the Kent village of Biddenden. Joined at the hip they grew to adulthood, prospered as business women and both got married. They left behind a legacy to feed the poor of the parish that still flourished in the early 2000s.

Question 6: Have you experienced what psychologists call “The ultimate experience” ?

I often lose track of time when writing: especially if I have an idea at night and get up ‘for an hour’ which stretches until the dawn chorus interrupts me. At such times I find my output is phenomenal, but have to spend hours correcting the typos and grammar afterwards

Last question: Are you happy as a writer?

Yes! Very much so. I’m a naturally happy person, and I hope that my writing brings humour to the lives of others. Feedback from writers and readers of the ‘Peckham Novels’ led me to write a fourth when I originally only intended three volumes, so I guess that I’m achieving what I set put to do, and that always generates a satisfied feeling.

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Farewell to Peckham by James Court is available now on Amazon.