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Alice loves to paint pictures of
fish. Her only problem is her addiction to cakes and pastries. To feed this
obsession, she steals ...and to rid herself of her spoils, she makes herself
sick. Stick thin, Alice puts her fragile mind into the care of a psychiatrist,
Professor Lucas, and tries to learn the rules people should live by. But her
recovery soon brings a new and dangerous addiction - Brendan. As Alice
struggles to cope with Brendan's violent outbursts, her dying father and
poverty, she takes solace in her job at a massage parlour where she finds
comfort with motherly Helen. But these are just temporary respites as her life
with Brendan spirals downwards becoming a nightmarish maze.
When I first met Fiona McClean I
didn't know that three years later her debut novel would win the rare double of
praise from literary critics and from readers who relate to the
anorexic character, Alice - but I am not surprised. Fiona turned up at the
writing group I supposedly run, in this small French village, and told me she
was following a distance course in Creative Writing but wanted to learn from
our group too. I was daunted at the prospect of being challenged over
everything I said that clashed with the university certificated voice of
authority but I needn't have worried. There are indeed clashes of opinion
within our group but it is typical of Fiona that she enjoys diversity and
certainly never claims the voice of authority to be on her side. She writes
instinctively and originally but wants to learn all of the craft that she can,
to improve her writing. From my point of view, it's like teaching anatomical drawing
to Van Gogh.
Fiona McClean - photo Jean Gill |
I have this fantasy that in the
future, some biographer will look back on the mix of writers and artists who
form our group, and marvel that such a small French village fomented all this
creativity. Our tiny bookshop venue will be as famous as the Left Bank Parisian
cafe where Sartre and de Beauvoir argued. If it is, it will be thanks to the
work of Fiona McClean, although I know she'd rush to contradict me and point
out the others' talents.
It was fitting that the launch of
Fiona's novel 'Under the Bed' was in that same bookshop, so crowded that people
spilled onto the street outside to hear Fiona read extracts and answer
questions, with Lesley, a friend from the group.
Book launch - photo Jean Gill |
Bonjour Fiona,
Your first novel is now out in paperback and had a
rave review from 'The Bookseller' so it seems a good time for me to interview
you for my Blog. Although 'From Under the Bed' is fiction, you've been open
that it draws on your own experience. What was it like for you to write about
those experiences, some of them very painful?
My experience of Anorexia Nervosa
and Bulimia happened a long time ago. I was curious to rediscover that
difficult period and see it in hindsight, with a new perspective. I don't
remember writing about it being traumatic, but yes I did feel tired sometimes
and I left long gaps between writing each chapter. It was not so traumatic for
me perhaps as the book is partly autobiographical and partly fiction. I saw my
role in writing it as a storyteller.
Alice intrigues me as a character because, as I see
her, she is so fragile and yet she doesn't want to be rescued. How do you see
Alice?
Alice doesn't
want to be rescued because her illness is her identity and she is afraid to
lose that. Without it she may feel empty and lonely. Alice at the beginning is
not mature enough to cope with responsibility and her illness provides an
escape from that. Like many illnesses bulimia and anorexia are addictive,
leaving the person helpless and if without resources, unable to give up the
addiction.
Like Alice, you are a talented painter. How did you
discover you could paint? How did you career as an artist progress? How does
your visual art combine now with your writing?
I discovered
painting at school and was encouraged to paint by my parents. Since school my
dream has been to be a painter. I had an experimental period at art college
when I specialised in performance for my degree, but afterwards I continued to
paint. After several years I was taken on by The Merriscourt Gallery and the
New Grafton Gallery, both of whom encouraged and supported me. Recently I have
concentrated on drawing a series of sketches based on life at the hairdressers.
I hope to do some paintings based on the drawings.
My writing is
visual, using metaphors and descriptions directly as an influence from
painting. My paintings are partly inspired by colours and the work of the
Fauvists
What do you hope readers will take away from reading
your novel?
I hope people who have read 'From Under
the Bed' will be aware of how fragile life can be.
When you've given readings, what questions arise? What
are your answers?
During readings people often ask
if its autobiographical.
It is so far as I had the illness
anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Some of it is fiction, though I often don’t know
where to draw the line between them both. Alice is not me nor does she
completely represent my experience of anorexia, but yes there are many
parallels, her love of painting being the main one.
Why are the characters in the
book written without depth?
Alice didn't relate to people in
much depth showing that she was not yet capable of mature relationships. Her
relationship with her parents was detached as she was unable to connect with
any real feelings for them. She was a person obsessed by her illness and art.
What is the reason for the
anorexia in Alices life?
There are many possible reasons
for anorexia including, chemical imbalance, problems in the family, fashion
related, work related- if you are a model for instance or a ballet dancer you
are already on a severe regime which may tip the balance. Alice was obviously
affected by what is fashionable. I did not want to specify any particular
reason and especially did not want to point a finger at the family.
In these changing times, how did you find a publisher?
I put my book up on an online
creative writing group created by Harper and Collins. It was read by the
publisher Roman Books who after seeing the manuscript accepted it for
publication.
You belong to a local writers' group. Would you
recommend other writers to join one? What are the advantages and disadvantages
of online writers' groups versus those which meet up in the real world?
The writers' group is a life line
and the once-monthly meetings the highlight of the month. You don't get tea and
biscuits and the chance to chat live in an online group but you do get many
more readers reading and reviewing your work. In my local writing group I find
it is more likely I will continue to attend; with an online group I am less
motivated. There is something to be said for seeing people rather than reading
about them.
What are your writing habits?
I often write in a friend's house
as at home I am distracted. To limit distractions when I do write at home I
write in the night or in bed even. Cafés are a good place to write too. I often
stop writing for the day, at a place in the story unresolved so that I have
something to work on the next day.
What are your other top tips for other writers?
Read books on how to write a novel, this
helped me a great deal, especially one book called 'Stein On Writing'. Go for
walks whatever you need to recharge your batteries. You need breaks. I allow
people to read my novel as I write because to some extent I lack confidence and
need good criticism and encouragement. Be careful who you show it to! And
definitely join a writers group.
What have been your best moments as a writer? Why do
you do it?
In the night, after a glass of wine – just one or two
though! Helps the writing flow and of course giving talks, nerve wrecking but
they are rewarding. I feel good though after finishing a chapter I am pleased
with. The best moments are when someone contacts me to say they like the book
and even better if they say why.
I am three-quarters of the way on
my second book called 'The Cappuccino Kiss'. It is about Juliet, a woman afraid of dust. I
am working on it every day and hope to finish by September. I have heard the
second book is the hardest and certainly I am finding it a challenge.
Thanks for dropping in, Fiona, and for the scoop on the new book. Good luck with 'From
Under the Bed' and with the next novel. See you at the Writing Group.
My review of 'From under the Bed'
Surprisingly enjoyable, given the themes of anorexia and domestic abuse. The central character, Alice, might be naive, and at times there is the urge to 'sort her out', but the reader learns to appreciate Alice as she is and question the society that wants to change her. It is a pleasure to see life through Alice's eyes. The style is very much that of an artist, finding exactly the right image to bring a character, a place or a detail alive for us. Highly recommended - a book that you won't forget.
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