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Live On-Line Chat with Debut Author Kerry Hudson

 Live Chat with Kerry Hudson(08/28/2013) 
3:44
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Kerry Hudson, author of TONY HOGAN BOUGHT ME AN ICE CREAM FLOAT BEFORE HE STOLE MY MA in about 15 minutes.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 3:44 Nora - EarlyWord
3:44
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Meanwhile, here’s the cover of the book…
Wednesday August 28, 2013 3:44 Nora - EarlyWord
3:44
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday August 28, 2013 3:44 
3:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 
It was published in the UK last year – here’s the UK trailer…
Wednesday August 28, 2013 3:45 Nora - EarlyWord
3:45
  
Wednesday August 28, 2013 3:45 
3:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
And, my brief audio interview with Kerry …
Wednesday August 28, 2013 3:46 Nora - EarlyWord
3:46
Interview  Play
Wednesday August 28, 2013 3:46 
4:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We’re happy to see so many chat participants gathering. You can enter your questions at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Kerry before the end of the chat. Don’t worry about typos – and please forgive any that we commit.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:00 Nora - EarlyWord
4:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I think Kerry is in the house. Say hi to everyone, Kerry!
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:00 Nora - EarlyWord
4:01
Kerry Hudson: 
Hi from sunny London everyone - very happy to be here!
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:01 Kerry Hudson
4:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
"Sunny London" -- not a phrase you hear often.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:01 Nora - EarlyWord
4:02
Kerry Hudson: 
Haha...we've had a glorious summer actually...lots of ice-cream.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:02 Kerry Hudson
4:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We received some questions and comments in advance. This is how one of our participants reacted to Tony Hogan:

“I loved TONY HOGAN, even though I tend to avoid tales of extreme poverty & childhood abuse. But this one has a voice that kept me reading, without wanting to skip a word.”

It’s the warmth and optimism that shine through in TONY HOGAN that makes it not just a ‘misery memoir,’ even though there is plenty of tough stuff in it. Did you consciously work to make it hopeful?
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:02 Nora - EarlyWord
4:02
Kerry Hudson: 
Thank you so much for you kind words regarding the book - that is really lovely to hear. Regarding making it hopeful...Absolutely. Partly because that's true to Janie - she's a hopeful person, one of the ways she survives is by finding the good in most situations. Also because there is hope from that sort of background. I intended for the reader to be able to see that optimism, the opportunity and will good things for Janie throughout the book.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:02 Kerry Hudson
4:03
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Below is another advance question from one of the First Flight participants:

“How long from the events at the end of TONY HOGAN until you got the idea to write about them in this fictionalized form? Had you considered a memoir at some point? It reads so TRUE, with the characters all balanced and evolving.”
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:03 Nora - EarlyWord
4:04
Kerry Hudson: 
Thank you - I'm so happy the book and the characters ring true to you. I started writing short stories based on my upbringing when I was twenty-seven (which was really when I started writing seriously or with intent) so almost a full decade from when the book finishes with Janie. I started the book about a year after I started the short stories - largely because I had interest from my now literary agent. Completely honestly, it took me that much time to deal with and process that upbringing (writing the book was very much part of that process actually) and to be settled enough to start thinking about it. I never considered memoir, partly because I don't think in itself - without those fictional smoke and mirror tricks - my story would stand up on it's own and partly because I love the freedom of 'creating' something.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:04 Kerry Hudson
4:05
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Another advance question:

“Did you go through many, many revisions?”
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:05 Nora - EarlyWord
4:06
Kerry Hudson: 
It was actually an amazingly 'fast' book to write. I wrote the version that went onto submission with publishers in six months in Vietnam while on sabbatical from my NGO job in the UK. I knew that time was precious and unlikely to be had again and so every day my focus was just on writing the book, immersing myself in the story. And I loved writing it (I still love writing first drafts!) so that was easy. Once it had been accepted for publication the redrafting was fairly light too. So about 7 drafts in total I would say but two of those were copy-editing and a 'read-aloud' to check the rhythm. They say your first is the book you've been writing all your life so it's not uncommon for it some flooding out...my second has taken much, much, MUCH longer though! You fly on your first and do all your learning on your second is what I've found.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:06 Kerry Hudson
4:07
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Wait; you wrote the book in VIETNAM? Why there?
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:07 Nora - EarlyWord
4:08
Kerry Hudson: 
I wanted to travel there anyway and didn't have much money so it seemed to make sense. It was actually the best decision though. I was able to completely dislocate myself from everything I knew and conjure my memories afresh (I had nothing familiar around me). I woke up, I swam in a dilapidated Communist Workers Party rooftop pool, cycled around, ate noodles, wrote my chapters longhand and typed them up in incredibly noisy internet cafes. I was incredibly, incredibly happy - and productive!
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:08 Kerry Hudson
4:09
Kerry Hudson: 
...so much so I went back to Hanoi to finish my second! It casts some sort of spell.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:09 Kerry Hudson
4:09
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Wasn't it strange to not be in the country you were writing about?
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:09 Nora - EarlyWord
4:10
Nora - EarlyWord: 
To those of you out there -- I see you lurking but not a single comment is coming through. This is very strange and makes me wonder if I've accidentally hit something that prevents comments. So, if you're trying to get through, hang in there -- I'm trying to figure it out.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:10 Nora - EarlyWord
4:10
Kerry Hudson: 
It was helpful I think. I think it helped with description...if I wanted to write about fish and chips I couldn't just go to the end of my road and buy some...I had to conjure the smell of vinegar, the flesh of the fish, the grease on my lips...everything had to be given so much imagination because I was so dislocated fro my normal existence.

Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:10 Kerry Hudson
4:13
Nora - EarlyWord: 
As I said in our interview, I was fascinated by the British junk foods you mentioned, like Great Aunt Aggies bag of Sherbet Lemons that she brings to the hospital after Janie is born. I had to look them up to find out what they were (photo coming) ...
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:13 Nora - EarlyWord
4:13
 Nora - EarlyWord
Sherbet Lemons
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:13 
4:13
Kerry Hudson: 
Delicious!! I still love those.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:13 Kerry Hudson
4:13
Nora - EarlyWord: 
The one that REALLY got me, was Angel Dream (screen shot of their Web site coming) ...
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:13 Nora - EarlyWord
4:13
 Nora - EarlyWord
Angel Delight Web Site
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:13 
4:14
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Did you grow up on these?
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:14 Nora - EarlyWord
4:15
Kerry Hudson: 
Yes, the food we ate was mostly processed, very cheap. When I was older my Mum became more aware of nutrition and cleverer about making the food money go further. I also still like Angel Delight (it;s a kind of pudding) but as a grown-up(ish) am aware it must be very unhealthy!
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:15 Kerry Hudson
4:16
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Just got the following via email from Linda, a librarian in Massachusetts:

Since the story is so true to life (even if it's actually fiction) what has been the reaction from your family and the people you grew up with? How do they feel about the way they were portrayed?
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:16 Nora - EarlyWord
4:18
Kerry Hudson: 
I told them before I'd ever written a word that I was intending on writing a novel based on my upbringing and asked if that was ok. My mum read it when it was published and said she thought I'd done a good job.

I think it's important to say that Iris, Tiny, Doug...they aren't my real family...they're fictional characters built on a tiny part of the reality so it's not about how they're portrayed really but how the characters are...how true they are within fiction.

My family are all proud of me though. People from where I grew up were never meant to write books - they became shop assistants or, at best, supervisors - it was very blue collar...the very idea I would get a novel published was unthinkable - books were something 'other people' did - so I don't think any of us can quite believe that this is now my job. I feel lucky every single day.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:18 Kerry Hudson
4:19
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Amazing; what made you feel you could write a book?
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:19 Nora - EarlyWord
4:21
Kerry Hudson: 
I had a very supportive partner who helped me see the value of what I had to say. Also, when I was writing it I really, really, REALLY (etc.) never thought it would be published. I wrote that book for myself mostly...to make sense of things. Because I have always tried to be the type of person who, if I want to do something, will do it and not be frightened of failing. Life is short....
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:21 Kerry Hudson
4:22
Kerry Hudson: 
...so it has been overwhelming to have it published. I had no idea it would be, that what I was writing in that little room in Vietnam would become a proper book in libraries...and published by Penguin in the US no less!
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:22 Kerry Hudson
4:22
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You wrote a lovely essay for the Guardian, “My Hero, Roddy Doyle." In it, you said you were 16 when you discovered THE COMMITMENTS in your local library. What did that mean to you?
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:22 Nora - EarlyWord
4:23
Kerry Hudson: 
Reading THE COMMITMENTS was the first time I had ever seen working-class life - and all its energy and colour and spirit - portrayed in a book. It suddenly made me realise that my story, my interior world and emotions, were just as valid as anyone else's. It's thanks to that book that years later when I began writing TONY HOGAN I felt I had something worth saying...
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:23 Kerry Hudson
4:24
Kerry Hudson: 
...I think, for me, literature should reflect the full spectrum of society...stories from poorer streets are just as important for understanding ourselves and the world around us as middle-class stories are. But certainly in the UK they are still under-represented sadly.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:24 Kerry Hudson
4:25
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Speakng of it being published in the U.K., here's the U.K. jacket...
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:25 Nora - EarlyWord
4:25
 Nora - EarlyWord
UK Paperback Jacket
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:25 
4:25
Kerry Hudson: 
Very different from the US cover (which I absolutely LOVE).
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:25 Kerry Hudson
4:26
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You got great response in the U.K., including being nominated for the Guardian's Best First Book prize...
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:26 Nora - EarlyWord
4:27
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Besides being totally gratified by that, were there in surprises in the response?
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:27 Nora - EarlyWord
4:32
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Just got this comment from Beverly:

Enjoyed the book and was intrigued by everyday descriptions - felt like I watching a film - saw the housing, food, clothing, etc. Also appreciated information regarding the British welfare system and the support/or lack of support for those needing assistance. The B&B's set up to "house" the poor and often how easily they could find a place to accept them was interesting from my American mind.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:32 Nora - EarlyWord
4:37
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I agree with Beverly's comment about the British welfare system, which seems to offer more safety nets than the US -- wonder if that is true?
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:37 Nora - EarlyWord
4:41
Kerry Hudson: 
Hi Beverly, great point! Yes, I think it's true that we have a greater safety net here - though that is changing rapidly unfortunately. But yes, we have free healthcare (and it's very good in my experience), unemployment benefit that's just about liveable on, access to education (though the debt might deter people from poorer house holds)...
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:41 Kerry Hudson
4:41
Kerry Hudson: 
...though Janie expereinces poverty in context she always has somewhere to sleep, access to to school and - of course!! - libraries.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:41 Kerry Hudson
4:43
Kerry Hudson: 
In response to Nora's earlier question one of the most surprising responses was people expressing surprise that that level of poverty exists in the UK though...well-educated city dwellers who apparently couldn't see disenfranchised kids on lots of street corners.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:43 Kerry Hudson
4:43
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Here's another question:

What in particular about the 1980’s made you set the book in that decade? How might Iris and Janie’s story been different set say in the 1990’s or 1970’s?

Jennifer
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:43 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
Kerry Hudson: 
Hi Jennifer! Great question...in absolute truth it's because that's when I was growing up so it was an era that was easy for me to reach (I was born in 1980). I think in the 90's it would have been much the same but in 2000's they would have been far less isolated thanks to the internet and mobile phones...
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:45 Kerry Hudson
4:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You worked for a children’s charity. How does it feel to work with kids who face many of the same challenges you did. Does it make you more or less sympathetic?

Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:46 Nora - EarlyWord
4:46
Kerry Hudson: 
...one thing I remember is my own single mum's absolute isolation when we didn't have a home phone - she literally had almost no contact with her family.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:46 Kerry Hudson
4:47
Kerry Hudson: 
Nora - It wasn't my intention to awaken people to the conditions around them but it's been gratifying to hear people say it's made them view that section of society differently...that they don't just write those kids on the street corner off as hoodlums anymore. That's made me really happy (and hopeful).
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:47 Kerry Hudson
4:50
Kerry Hudson: 
Regarding working for a children's charity and one which works specifically with vulnerable children. Yes, coming from that background made me very passionate about their work. I have huge compassion for how hard it is to be poor anywhere, not just in Britian....how hard it is to believe you won't amoutn to anything from a really early age. Working for that charity showed me that what Janie experiences is the tip of the iceberg unfortunately.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:50 Kerry Hudson
4:51
Kerry Hudson: 
I'm not going to generalise and say that is always the case but that was my experience and so that is what I reflected in the book. I think that there is a certain hopelessness which is easy to fall into when you have no prospects, feel marginalised, have constant worry about making ends meet...while men can try and seek escape I just think women have a stronger protective, maternal instinct which means they 'keep it together'. Lots of the women I observed growing up - women in the worst kinds of circumstances kept themselves going by hook or by crook for their children...like Iris does I suppose.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:51 Kerry Hudson
4:52
Nora - EarlyWord: 
However, the men in Tony Hogan are feckless at best; it’s the women who take care of things.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:52 Nora - EarlyWord
4:53
Kerry Hudson: 
Exactly...I thought there would be a backlash but I think people understood that I wasn't saying 'this is how things are' just 'this is how this story is for these women'...
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:53 Kerry Hudson
4:54
Kerry Hudson: 
...and you have to remember Iris is a fishwife - they're made of strong, strong (slightly terrifying!) stuff...she was always going to hold it together.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:54 Kerry Hudson
4:55
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I'm trying to think of something similar to fishwives in the U.S., but am coming up empty!
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:55 Nora - EarlyWord
4:56
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We're close to the end of the chat, so it's a good time to ask you about your next book.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:56 Nora - EarlyWord
4:56
Kerry Hudson: 
Imagine if there were female dock-workers...big-armed, foul-mouthed, handy with their fists and sharp with their tongues!
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:56 Kerry Hudson
4:57
Kerry Hudson: 

My second novel THIRST is a fragile love story set between Siberia and East London...it's out in the UK next July.



Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:57 Kerry Hudson
4:57
Kerry Hudson: 
Also, I'm more than happy to answer additonal questions via email is anyone wasn't able to ask!
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:57 Kerry Hudson
4:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How can they reach you?
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:57 Nora - EarlyWord
4:58
Kerry Hudson: 
They can email kerrythudson at gmail dot com or contact me on twitter (or just come tell me what you had for breakfast!) @kerryswindow
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:58 Kerry Hudson
4:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 
TONY HOGAN BOUGHT ME AN ICE-CREAM FLOAT BEFORE HE STOLE MY MA is coming out at the end of January and is available as a Digital Readers Copy via Edelweiss and NetGalley until pub date.
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:59 Nora - EarlyWord
4:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You are active on Twitter -- do you think that influences your writing in any way?
Wednesday August 28, 2013 4:59 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
Kerry Hudson: 
I work completely alone each day (unless I'm teaching writing which I do sporadically throughout the year for a few weeks at a time) so Twitter has become my office canteen, water-cooler and after-work bar all in one. It hasn't changed my writing but it has changed my career...I've made so many friends, gotten so much work just by being accessible and it allows people who read and like Tony Hogan to tell me so - and that's one of the best bits of the whole job!
Wednesday August 28, 2013 5:00 Kerry Hudson
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Thanks, Kerry. It's been fun talking to you.

Thanks to those of you who joined us and remember that this conversation will be archived on the EarlyWord site.


Wednesday August 28, 2013 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:02
Kerry Hudson: 
Thank you so much for having me...apologies on behalf of my glitchy brit internet but thanks for all of the fascinating questions!
Wednesday August 28, 2013 5:02 Kerry Hudson
5:03
Nora - EarlyWord: 
One final comment from Jennifer is a good reminder:

That comment about how isolated Kerry and her mom were without a phone is a foreign idea today…look at how we are chatting across the ocean in real time. It sometimes gives me pause and I wonder how much we are really saying is important and how much is just because we can, and how alternate ways of communication (notably letter writing) have really gone by the wayside.


Wednesday August 28, 2013 5:03 Nora - EarlyWord
5:04
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Over and out -- thanks everyone!
Wednesday August 28, 2013 5:04 Nora - EarlyWord
 
 

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