What kind of stories do you write?
I write books and stories that entertain me, first and foremost. That generally means they are funny, sometimes darkly so – or they are dark in their entirety. On the silly end of the scale, I wrote a short story called That’s Magic about Hitler being thwarted in an attack on London by a team of 80s celebrities led by Paul Daniels. On the darker end, I’ve covered issues such as bullying, grief and suicide. Generally, all of what I write is grounded somewhere in real life, even if the tale goes off in a less-than-usual direction. I often try to make my main characters inconsistent, fallible and hypocritical – like us all – while still getting the reader to root for them. I also tend to write in the language that my friends and I use day-to-day, which can be a little crude and sweary, but it is relevant the characters in my books, which are generally set in and around where I live in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
Can you describe your writing why?
It’s purely selfish, really. I got started when some work colleagues set up a short story writing group. We would submit stories anonymously and provide feedback on other people’s entries anonymously. I got a massive buzz whenever I got positive feedback and it went from there. I just wanted to replicate that feeling. I’ve just realised I made that sound like I’m only in it for the adulation. That’s not the case. What I mean is that I get a buzz from people enjoying my stories. Number one on that list is me – it’s most important that I enjoy the story. When I know I’ve written something good, I want other people to get that same feeling. Luckily, in the most part, the reviews of my works on the likes of Amazon and Goodreads have been positive.
Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most
This is from the aforementioned That’s Magic and sees Hitler and Paul Daniels come face-to-face for the first time outside Buckingham Palace, which still makes me smile just thinking about it. I just enjoyed the daftness of the whole story:
Teeth gritted in fury, Hitler waved at his Panzer commanders again and they turned their turrets towards the little magician. But he just shrugged, smiled, reached inside the top hat and yanked out a 20ft white rabbit.
Hoppy then proceeded to leap over the Victoria Memorial and crush the tanks as flat as pancakes with its huge hairy feet. It then ejected four or five giant brown balls down The Mall that sent Nazi infantry scattering. Paul whistled and the rabbit returned to him, getting smaller with each bound before disappearing back into the hat, which he folded to the size of a playing card and tucked away in his top pocket.
He strode forward to where Hitler stood upon the bonnet of a swastika-clad jeep and the two stared one another down.
The Nazi broke the silence. “You are a very small and peculiar man. You also have very distinct hair. And you clearly have great power. I zink zat you and I have many things in common, yes?”
Daniels smiled and adjusted his white gloves before fixing his gaze back into the eyes of his enemy. “Not a lot!”
Tell us about your latest project
Ball Or Nothing is a daft caper about a bloke who tries to win back his estranged wife by becoming a Premier League footballer, despite being 42, overweight and terrible at football.
The main character, Richie Price, has experienced some traumas in his younger years but thought he had set himself up with the perfect life, but it all crumbles away and he’s desperate to get it back.
As a former sports journalist and football fan, I wanted to write a book that is based around football but not your typical “Billy’s Magic Boots” tale where some guy is working in a car factory one day and scoring in the FA Cup final the next. So while football is a huge part of the narrative, at the heart of it, it’s about a man who is trying to get his family back together.
I’m now working on a very dark children’s book, which will probably come out under a pseudonym, and I am plotting out a bit of an experimental novel that will (hopefully) have four or five or six very separate stories that plait into one singular ending.
What is your favourite cake?
Hmmm, does syrup sponge pudding count as a cake? If so, a generous helping of that with custard. I’m also partial to a Bakewell tart…and bread pudding. Can I have all three?
If I had my way, of course you can have all three! Connect with Greg here:
Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Suzanne Minae.
If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.
You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!
Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop.
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