In Part One of Interview With...Ailsa Abraham, Ailsa discussed dancing around the kitchen to heavy rock, otters and her alter-ego Cameron Lawton.
Today we pick up with a few more tidbits from this nominated author.
Procrastination – top five, all-time favourite ways to avoid writing!!!
Social media – I use the excuse that it is all publicity. Making coffee – I'm thinking of cutting out the middleman and just having it intravenously. Sleeping – ever since my stroke I get quite tired and even when determined not to nap I end up nodding off in the afternoon when I should be writing.
Mmm…social media the bane of the writer. I’m a tea drinker myself but, yes, I try and find ways to get more.
Hollywood called and they want to make Shaman’s Drum into a movie….who plays Iamo and Riga?
Iamo is easy – physically I based him on the actor Laurence Fox and I'm sure he could handle it. Riga – not so sure – possibly the actress who plays Xena, Warrior Princess because it has been pointed out to me that Riga bears a strong resemblance to her.
Laurence Fox…yes, there is definitely something about the boy. Lucy Lawless – never watched Xena but I think she looks good.
Clearly Riga is a ‘strong, female character’ how is she strong without coming across as (as a scriptwriter/reader associate of mine calls it ) a ‘man with boobs’ (this term is used to describe the type of kick-ass females of the Lara Croft, male wet dream fantasy – usually written by men)
I don't know that she doesn't. She has been brought up in a predominantly male society but when she gets the chance she goes totally OTT on dressing up, she has a woman's sentiments but she has squashed them right up until the time she meets Iamo.
But wait…they also want to make your life into a movie too – yay – but, hang on they want Angelina Jolie to play Ailsa Abraham and she’s told big shot Hollywood Producer that she doesn’t want to play you as a motorbike riding punk princess in purple Docs…happy or not?
NOT. I think the only person who could play me at my age now would be Maggie Smith. In my younger days Emma Thomson (as in Nanny MacPhee) maybe, or Sandra Bullock. Nobody as glam as that could play me at any age.
So Dame Maggie has signed on the dotted line after Ms Jolie was told to take the pout elsewhere….and now the Dame wants to come over for coffee and a chat about how best to play you. What advice would you give her?
Just be yourself, Dame Maggie – we are very alike – right down to the Edinburgh “Morningside” accent! Play it as if everyone you meet is your best friend until proven otherwise and then go for the jugular.
What’s next for you after the trilogy?
I've been in France for over twenty years now and I've collected a great deal of material so the next thing I write after Book 3 Alchemy series will be memoir. Probably all funny ones with some observational humour thrown in. I also owe my other publisher the third in a series in their genre too as Cameron Lawton. Added to that, a reader suggested that one of my short stories that appeared on the blog would expand to be a great novella, and on reflection she is right! So that might happen too. My otter stories that have appeared from time to time on the blog will one day be added to and made into Otter and Company – a collection. So I have my hands full.
Lots of work on the horizon – it’s good to busy.
One last question before we sign off – would you prefer to live forever or have one action packed well-lived life?
So far it's been pretty hectic and I think I'd prefer to keep it this way. I don't want to live forever but I'll come back for another go! It has been a blast. Thanks so much for having me.
Thank you for sharing . If you want to know more about Ailsa’s novels and other works please check out any of the links here.
Ailsa Abraham retired early from a string of jobs, ending up with teaching English to adults. She has lived in France for over twenty years and is married with no children but six grandchildren. Her passion is motorbikes which have taken the place of horses in her life now that ill-health prevents her riding. She copes with Bipolar Condition, a twisted spine and increasing deafness with her usual wry humour – “well if I didn't have all those, I'd have to work for a living, instead of writing, which is much more fun.”. Her ambition in life is to keep breathing and maybe move back to the UK. She has no intention of stopping writing.