Award-winning short story writer Deborah Kay Davies talks about her passion for procrastination
Deborah Kay Davies
Deborah Kay Davies is a poet and short story writer. Her first collection of short stories, entitled Grace, Tamar and Laszlo the Beautiful, was published by Parthian Books in 2008. The stories capture the volatile relationship between two sisters, Grace and Tamar, growing up in South Wales. The collection won the Wales Book of the Year Award 2009.
What inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve never considered that question before! I read like a maniac from the first moment I learnt to read… Ultimately, this must have led to my own writing. But books were so revered in our house I would never have dreamed that one day I would write one or two myself. So the route, or inspiration, was a subtle and long one, so to speak.
When you were writing your stories about Grace and Tamar did you envision it as a short story collection?
Yes and no. When I wrote the collection it was much longer, and the characters were many and various, though usually odd, slightly nutty women. It was when I was putting the collection together with my editor, then my partner, now my husband, Norman Schwenk, that we realised the stories could be divided between two girls.
We allocated the stories between them, cut out maybe ten stories that didn’t fit, and added three new ones to help continuity and flesh out their characters. So yes, always short stories, but different.
Which of the two sisters is most like you?
I am most like Grace, but Tamar is me also.
Did you face much rejection initially?
I have not experienced much rejection! I have had one poem turned down. The magazine editor said he didn’t like my self-absorbed tone. I wrote back and said, bang goes most poetry ever written then.
You win some, you lose some. I suppose I have always thought that no one really cares whether I write or not - well, maybe my beloved - but I have to care. Rafts of brilliant artists have expired in garrets. So, if someone actually reads your stuff and will PAY for it - bonus!
I was very lucky. Parthian actually came and asked if they could publish my poetry, then they took Grace, Tamar and Laszlo the Beautiful as well.
How did it feel to discover you’d won the Wales Book of the Year Award for Grace, Tamar and Laszlo the Beautiful?
It felt absolutely freaking wonderful! I know it’s a cliché, but I could not take it in. Since then I have been approached to write short stories, do readings and so on. The nice thing has been that several agents have contacted me.
I have begun to feel that maybe I am a writer, after all! So, very positive, so far.
What do you find the most challenging aspects of writing?
Getting down to work. I am the world’s worst procrastinator. I feel ill when I have to write, and spend a lot of time grizzling, doing my nails, and skoffing Wotsits.
Then, the moment I sit down and start I’m off and away. Then there’sthe fantastic feeling when you look up and four hours have gone by and you’ve written something.
What do you enjoy most about the process?
See above. It is a mystery. I’m glad it happens to me.
Whose writing do you admire?
Annie Proulx, Laurie Moore, Nabokov (the best), E Nesbitt, oooh, so many, I can’t think.
What inspires you?
My own life. God, I AM self-absorbed
How would you describe your writing style?
Dark, funny, moody, surprising, icky.
Where do you carry out the majority of your writing?
At my computer. Never anywhere else.
What has been the highlight of your writing career so far?
Winning the Wales Book of the Year Award! Actually, probably when I wrote my first poem ‘Auntie’s Place’, and someone I admired greatly told me it was good.
What advice would you offer an aspiring novelist?
Keep on writing. Keep on reading. Lay off the Wotsits.
For more on Deborah, please visit www.parthianbooks.co.uk
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