Adrienne Silcock

Brought up in the south of England, Adrienne Silcock has lived in Liverpool, France, Lincoln and North Yorkshire. She has worked in community education and mental health services as well as travelling extensively over Europe. Her poetry and stories have appeared in a range of small press, including the anthology Miracle and Clockwork (Other Poetry) The Clock Struck War (Mardibooks), and The Other Side of Sleep (Arachne Press). She recently published her first poetry pamphlet with Mudfog Press, title Taking Responsibility for the Moon. She published her first novel Vermin (Flambard) in 2000. Her second novel Controlling Aphrodite was shortlisted for the Virginia Prize 2009. In 2012 she published her third novel The Kiss on Kindle. She has recently completed a fourth novel The Banning of Mr Bray. She has written two poetic sequences Flight Path and The Fibonacci Sequence.
Website: www.adriennesilcock.co.uk

Credentials

Adrienne Silcock in 60 seconds

When did you start writing?

Must have been Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. I compiled an "Alphabet Book" around the age of six.

What do you love about short stories?

You can lose yourself in a small world for a very short time, and carry the nugget of meaning around with you for ever.

Do you write in other forms?

Novels, poetry (both free verse and form) - oh, and I once won a playwriting prize...

What distracts you from writing?

The need to make a living, unfortunately. And baking bread.

Outside of writing, what are your other passions?

Walking. The outdoors. All forms of artistic expression. And travel, of course.

What is your favourite book?

God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. I still think it's a masterpiece.

Who are your favourite writers?

I'm not good on favourites, because I love so many: Atwood, Hosseini, Voltaire, Shakespeare..., also Isabel Allende ain't bad and the poet, Mary Oliver.

Where is your dream location?

Where I live currently. I'm in heaven!

What one item would you put into Room 101?

Selfish people.

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Keep at it, and observe...