About KT, AKA
@KTScribbles
on Twitter
I was born in the wilds of Yorkshire or ‘the North’ for all you southern
types/those with a ‘thing’ for Game of Thrones. I somehow blagged a 1
st
in literature and have worked variously as an actor, a scaffolder, a teacher,
and until fairly recently, a theatrical prop maker —
Look on my (past) works ye mighty and despair!
I have a lifetime membership of Club Nerd and play all manner of
computer/console game as well as the unplugged varieties which I sometimes
review for
SFcrowsnest. I also review books n’ stuff. As if that
wasn’t enough to prove I’ve earned my platinum geek credit card, I practice
medieval martial arts (occasionally on horseback) I larp, read comics and
wargame.
Interesting (?) factlets
I once fell down the highest mountain in Taiwan and was shown out of the
jungle by a couple of tribesmen in exchange for a packet of cigarettes.
I have been taught to wrestle by ‘Crybaby’ Jim Breaks. I’ve been stabbed in
a knife fight and I’ve got the scar to prove it.
Keeping me off the streets and (mostly) out of trouble is my partner, Ewan,
ably assisted by our kids, three dogs, and one very grumpy cat.
1. Tell
us three things about yourself.
I have a
weird fascination for baseball films. No idea why, I don't actually like
the game.
I've been
playing computer games since the days of dial-up modems— first MUDs; stuff like
Shades and Avalon, before moving on to shiny graphical MMOs like EQ, EQ2, DAoC,
City of Heroes, Secret World, Warhammer, TESO. (Beta'dVanguard. It was a bit of
a disappointment). I've cut back an awful lot, but for a good many years I
was my own computer games widow...when I wasn't larping, or playing
tabletop games, or wargaming...
I'm a
terrible cyclist.
2. What
was the first thing you had published?
The first
thing I had published was a short story called "The Deal" in an
anthology called Day of Demons. It's
a short story about Breed, the
eponymous protagonist of my latest novel which is a finalist for the Robert
Holdstock Award for Best Fantasy Novel 2015, which is nice.
3. Which
piece of writing are you proudest of?
That's a
toughy. I'm proud of everything I've had published, but I'm sure I could
re-write it all. Nothing is ever finished as far as I'm concerned.
4...And
what makes you cringe?
Nothing
really, although I could tweak everything endlessly. I've got a book of
angst-ridden poetry that I wrote when I was a yoof. It will never be published,
because it's rubbish, but it certainly makes me cringe.
5. What’s
a normal writing day like?
Pretty
boring really. Fall out of bed, launch the kids, do emails then write until
lunch. After lunch write until tea time, then maybe write a little longer on
how chaotic it gets. I might write in the evening if I've got a deadline and
I've fallen behind or sometimes if I have a 'burn' on for what I'm writing. I
try to avoid writing late at night because it's usually drivel.
6. Which
piece of writing should someone who’s never read you before pick up first?
All roads
lead to my second novel Breed at the moment. it's fantasy, it's dark and
yet quite amusing, so I'm told.
7. What
are you working on now?
A non
fiction writing job because I gots ta eats. When I get a bit of free time, I'll
be cracking on with Breed 2.
