A: This book is about hoarding and nastiness as well as being about family and relationships. It's an obvious question, but why on earth would anyone want to write (or read) about hoarding?! L: Well, it's down to my own personality really. I'm a natural acquirer of unnecessary items but have always managed to stop short of becoming a hoarder. I'm more of a clutterer. Give me a wall and I will put things on it. Give me a shelf and I'll fill it. I wish I wasn't like this, but I am. Waste Not, Want Not. Make Do and Mend.
So this led me to begin watching programmes about hoarding and getting some deep compassion and understanding of the sufferers as well as those who must live with a mess not of their making. The main character of 'Past Present Tense' is Tanya, who discovers that the dad she thought was dead is actually alive, and is buried under his own clutter in his own hoarded house. I was able to put myself in her position. I was able to also put myself in his position. I hope that's come over in the writing. There is so much misunderstanding of the reasons behind hoarding. I know that one of the fallacies is that the people just need to get up off their bums and start to clean. But for the majority of hoarders, it isn't laziness that causes the collections and clutter, it is more a feeling of connection to the items, and to the memories and feelings those items hold. There are elements of anthropomorphism too. Hoarders don't just feel responsible for the items they own, but also feel compassionate towards them and often their relationships with the objects are more meaningful than many of the relationships they have with other humans. Like I say, I'm not a hoarder, but I do understand where the hoarding motivation comes from. I currently own 76 musical instruments. I play only 3 of them regularly, and play none of them daily. Why do I not sell them? Because I like them and enjoy the ownership of them. I like them to be there when I'm ready for them. And there are so many other reasons too: creativity, appreciation of beauty, appreciation of usefulness, and the desire to be able to entertain myself! I know I'll never be a minimalist. Blank spaces irritate me. But I really do need to have far less stuff. I hoped that writing about hoarding in this way might interest those people who live with hoarding, either their own or that of others. A: Is the writing based on the work of anyone else in particular? L: No. Just me, though one of my reviewers felt that the inner dialogues of the early chapters were reminiscent of Sartre's 'Nausea'. It's odd really, but in recent years my reading has definitely taken back place to my writing. On the plus side, it means I'm not overly influenced by new books I'm reading, but on the negative side, I'm also behind the times. But that works for me. I don't mind being retro. I can't imagine being anything else. A: That's your personality? L: It is. I don't really do trends. I am who I am. A: I understand you're working on another book at the moment. L: Yes, I'm finishing the manuscript for my novel, 'The Waggon'. It requires completion before September 2019 as I will be submitting it as the final assessment for my Masters Degree in Creative Writing. It's currently at the 65,000 word stage, but there's quite a way still to go. After that, I'm going to be starting on a book about teenage Aspergers, and will continue with my publication of other peoples' work through Scott Martin Productions. I have a few ideas for novelettes and many ideas for short stories, and will also be working on my blog. A: You're unstoppable. Do you still have time to attend writing groups? L: I do. Currently I go to two weekly groups, and two monthly groups. I also attend two monthly reading groups. Why do you ask? A: I was just wondering if you still find them of use, now you're published and have more writing experience. Isn't it something you grow out of as time goes on and you know what you're doing? L: In my case, no. My Tuesday group, in particular, is like family. I don't know what I'd do without them socially, and they give me great confidence creatively too. My advice to anyone who wants to write, is to engage with other interested souls online and in person. Once you get over the first feelings of fear at sharing your work, it really is liberating! A: I can see that. Thanks so much for answering my questions! L: Thanks. It's been fun :-)