Introducing Some Characters...

Kaye
Narrator.  Daughter of Brian and Jean.  Intelligent. Singular.  Disciplined. Voracious reader. Obsessive. The smallest girl in her class. Her imagination might be her saviour or her downfall.

Brian
Kaye's father. Idealistic. Political(ly naive?) Proud. Flighty. Well read. Dislikes authority. Frustrated. Probably involved in some kind of criminal activity. Adulation from his wife and daughter is not enough.  Desires greatness.

Jean
Kaye's mother.  Beautiful. Fragile. Dark horse. A tendancy towards self absorbtion and depression. Hidden strength. Will surprise some people.

Aunty Brenda
Jean's older sister. Independent. No nonsense. Sharp. Single. Knows disappointment but is not one to dwell on it.  Protective of Kaye. Fearless. Bemused at her younger sister's choice of husband. She is not without a few secrets either.

Sister Margaret
Head Mistress of St Agnes School (Kaye's primary school). Intimidating. Powerful. Shrewd. Patronizing. Unshakable faith in everything she does and says. Basically, a monster.

Amanda
Teacher's pet and school bully.  Basically, Kaye's nemesis.  But that might change. 




 

So...something about the plot

In a sense this is a novel about writing.  Writing that is motivated by a void or an absence.  After she is given a diary for her 11th birthday the main protagonist, Kaye, begins to keep a journal. Kaye's father has gone back 'home' to Northern Ireland determined to stand shoulder to shoulder with the nationalist community following the death of Bobby Sands. But his leaving is not straightforward and is viewed with suspicion by some people.

Kaye has always loved her father's stories - providing an eager receptacle for his political ideology and passion for Ireland. Following his departure, she makes him into an almost fantasy figure - worshipping him much in same sentimental and romantic fashion that he has worshipped his beloved Ireland.  This fantasy  father weilds a profound influence over Kaye and increasingly, she withdraws into her own private world, hiding up in the airing cupboard.  The airing cupboard provides a haven for reading, writing and dreaming, a space where Kaye feels she can become herself.  It is also a space filled with clues to the family's history and secrets.

Paperback Writer

I had been writing short stories, articles and texts for publication, and as part of collaborative projects with other artists. When I was invited to exhibit in group show at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery in the University of Greenwich, I decided to use the opportunity to make a piece of work about the process of writing and the strategies for generating text. 

Writing is usually such a private enterprise and I wanted my process to be less insular and more performative - to find a way of interacting with people, whilst also getting some writing done! I needed to set myself a task which would encourage a degree of endurance and commitment from myself, yet also incorporate a space for others to respond and give their feedback. I have always felt quite comfortable writing short fiction and felt daunted at the prospect of writing a full length novel (I still am, though perhaps not quite as much now).  I thought the whole process would be more intriguing and engaging for people if it involved me taking risk and stepping far outside of my comfort zone. Which is why I decided to make a clear and public statement that I was setting up a writing space in the University in order to embark on  my first novel.

The space I was given was more alcove than room. The only thing separating it from the corridor was a free-standing partition.  I decided to timetable times when the space would be open for visitors and when it would be closed. During closing time, I would pull the partition across and write. I just wrote whatever came into my head and tried not to judge it too much (which was hard). Everything that I wrote, every idea I came up with for plot  or character or narrative device which was good, bad, or downright embarrassing, was displayed on the walls of my alcove. During opening times, I pulled the partition back to receive visits from students, lecturers, visitors to the gallery, or anyone who happened to be passing by at the time.  Visitors were able to look at everything that I had produced, give their opinion and offer suggestions and ideas. Or just to have a cup of tea and a conversation.

That was two years ago. Since then, I have continued working on my novel - The Airing Cupboard Diaries, writing as much as I can on top of earning a living.  The usual story. I am fully committed now and due to exhibit a finished draft at Stephen Lawrence Gallery this November, this time as part of a group show on Narrative. The clock is ticking and I have still have some  way to go.  

I will use this Blog as a way of pulling the partition back again and to explore the narrative of writing a novel.  I will present the main characters from my story, post plotlines I am currently working on and hopefully begin a two way conversation with you out there.  Whoever you might be.  Wherever you might be.