Christopher Fowler interview

Christopher Fowler is a man of many talents. He has been, at various times, and often concurrently, a writer of urban fiction, detective fiction, horror fiction and even gay fiction.

And now he's written a play, 'Celebrity', which is all about our ever-growing obsession with those whose talents are less important than their public image.

I first discovered you through 'Spanky', as a writer of urban fiction. You've also written detective fiction and other genre fiction. Do you have a favourite genre?

'I've always loved what I'd term “dark fiction” writers, everyone from JG Ballard to Mervyn Peake and Philip Pullman. I'm not sure it's a genre, but it's what I like best. I don't divide my reading into demographic categories, any more than I'd divide my friends into groups along ethnic or sexual lines. The thing I look for most is a sense of literary rawness - bareback fiction, if you will.'

What about the term 'gay writer'? What does it mean to you? Do you embrace it?

'It's always been there in my reading tastes, but I wasn't aware of it in my own writing until a girlfriend said, “You write amazing sex scenes from a female point of view!” And I'm thinking: Are you sure? I'm pretty certain I'm a top! I'm not interested in portraying an exclusively gay world, because the world's not like that. When we suggested the cover of “Spanky” with the man in thigh-high boots and bat wings, the publisher was outraged until someone explained it wasn't that shocking an image any more. Although I think of the book as a gay-themed novel. And as I write more from experience now, I find myself increasingly embracing gay culture in my writing.'

How hard is it to be a gay writer now? Any advice for aspiring gay authors out there?

'If you're a lesbian, don't write poems about orchids. In other words, break the mould. Too many new writers dress up old clichés. I want to be shocked by young gay writers telling me how much things have changed, not have someone trotting out my worst suspicions about the shallowness of the gay world. I think you can write meaningfully about the modern gay experience in a fun way, as you did in “The Gay Divorcee”. Or you can produce what I call “base camp”. It takes real courage to write honestly. The temptation is to write for the market.'

'Celebrity' is your first play. What took you so long? And why now?

'Honestly? I had a book commission cancelled and thought: Shit, what am I going to do now? I was discussing the idea of a play with my friend Amber, and she offered to direct it. And suddenly it was really happening. It's based on the real-life adventures of a friend of mine who has been a press agent forever, looking after big stars with big egos. She can't talk about it - but I can!'

These days,everyone wants to be a celebrity. How did we get from Cary Grant to Jedward?

'What happened was the US press agents started to micro-manage their stars, pissed off the studios and accidentally cut their own throats. Reality TV has blown away the need for a roster of familiar faces in films. Plus, films became franchise and didn't need stars. But the real difference between stars and celebrities is that stars have training and talent, and celebrities just have exposure.'

What's next for you? Is your first foray into theatre the start of a new career path?

'This is one small step for me, because the play's a light comedy with a hint of darkness. If it works, it'll be because we have a really talented comedic cast and a great leading lady in Victoria Jeffrey, daughter of the actor Peter Jeffrey. If it works, I'd love to do another.'

www.christopherfowler.co.uk
www.phoenixartistclub.com
www.paulburston.com/Site/The_Gay_Divorcee.html