13 shots of noir, Paul D. Brazill, a short sharp interview.

Short, Sharp interview - Paul D Brazill

At a good cafe, known by the local underbelly of artist, writers a musicians as The Write Room, he steps in from the brisk evening weather and strolls the stench of absinthe and opiates to my corner booth in back. I watch him walk and wave away the waiter.

It’s Thursday night and the only patrons are the truly dedicated, and whispering his name from the shadows and stealing glances at man, the myth, the legend; Paul D Brazill.

KLH: Brazill, what’s up, have a seat. Can you pitch your latest publication/ project in 25 words or less? 

PDB -13 Shots Of Noir is a collection of flash fiction and short stories in the vein of Roald Dahl, The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents ... Crime, horror and dark fiction are contained within the pages of 13 Shots Of Noir. 

KLH: Hey man...which books, films or television shows have floated your boat recently? 

PDB -Books:  I'm currently enjoying William Ryan's historical crime novel, The Holy Thief and I loved J J DeCeglie's Drawing Dead.Very different flavours. Both very tasty.

Films:  Kill List was a more than worthy follow up to Down Terrace.

TV:  The new season of Justified seems well on form so far. Sherlock was top stuff.

KLH: None a mine huh, nice. No, no, don’t worry about it, really. Listen, I was wondering; is it possible for a writer to be an objective reader? 

PDB -I'm not a particularly objective person, so ... Some people seem to be able to have critical detachment. I don't. I either like something or I don't and I don't really care why.

KLH: What about the screen. do you have any interest in writing for films, theatre or television? 

PDB -Television is more of a writers medium and there's a lot of meaty stuff being done at the moment, so that's very attractive. 

Films are mostly a visual thing, so the interest isn't so strong but I'd be more than happy if a very visual director wanted to turn Drunk On The Moon into a film. Guns Of Brixton would make a great, sweary, modern Ealing Comedy, actually.

Theatre is of no interest to me in any form. I've been to the theatre less than five times in my life and it wasn't a particularly enjoyable experience. A bit embarrassing, really. Although, I do enjoy going the opera so maybe I could write a musical like Guys and Dolls!

KLH: How about, Guns and Dames, that has ring. How much research goes into each book? 

PDB -Very little. It's the world as seen through my bleary eyes.It's not journalism.

KLH: Me neithier, I fake it. What about the web- how useful or important are social media for you as a writer? 

PDB -I have no real idea if they are useful or important but they certainly eat time. I suspect their importance could be an Emperor's new clothes situation. It could just be a bunch of  C and D list writers promoting their stuff to other C and D list writers. But it costs nothing and, for me, if I didn't waste time on them, I'd waste it doing something even more useless, I'm sure.

KLH: What’s on the cards in 2012?  

PDB -My novella Guns Of Brixton will be published by Pulp Press early this year.

Snapshots, a flash fiction/short story collection, will come out through Pulp Metal Fiction.

An anthology of Drunk On The Moon stories will be published by Dark Valentine Press.

And a couple of other things are hovering and waiting to strike, too!

KLH: Ok that’s a lot. I feel positively blocked. Now drink up mate, thanks for stopping by 

Paul D Brazill can be found at his blog You Would Say That, Wouldn't You?