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Short Sharp Shocks! Book 6: Every Moon Atrocious by Emile-Louis Tomas Jouvet - Author Interview3/19/2019 Dean M. Drinkel met Emile-Louis Tomas Jouvet in a bar in Montmartre (Paris) nine or so years ago. A band was playing a song by A-Ha (Dean’s favourite band) and Dean (who more than likely had had a couple to drink at that point) attempted to wrestle the microphone from the lead-singer before literally bumping into Emile-Louis and his friends who – as it turned out – also had a fondness for our Norwegian heroes. More drinks followed and a friendship was born. At that time Emile-Louis was a student in Paris, studying history and literature. He had written several stories in French (and won awards for them) but never in English. As Dean was looking for stories for his first anthology Phobophobia, Emile-Louis promised he’d try and write one. Emile-Louis kept the promise. For the Short Sharp Shocks! Series, Emile-Louis’ Every Moon Atrocious is Book 6.
DEMAIN PUBLISHING: It’s good to sit down with you again my friend. It’s been a while. I know after graduation you’ve travelled a fair bit haven’t you? Asia, the Far East, South America... ELTJ: That’s true. I’ve been to so many places, seen so much of the world. I’m truly blessed. It’s not always been easy and it’s certainly not a free ride – I’ve worked in every country I’ve visited but I’m back in Paris now. Settling down perhaps...we’ll wait and see, there’s still a little fire in the belly I can tell you. I would like to visit Russia next and work my way around the old Soviet states. DP: I’ve always fancied the Trans-Siberian express if I ever get enough money ha ha – anyway, anyway, onto your story Every Moon Atrocious can you tell us a little about it. ELTJ: I’ve been fascinated for a long time by the fact that if you live in a city then you are constantly under observation, under scrutiny, under pressure but when you are out in the country you are free – well, for the most time I suppose – I wanted to write a story where the narrative was directed not so much by the characters / their words & actions but by the machinery which observes / records them. I liked telling the story ‘out of sequence’ too. I hope that makes sense. DP: Of course. ELTJ: In Cannes, so I believe, isn’t it correct that you are always on camera no matter where you go in public. Every centimetre of public space is being observed by somebody...very scary in my opinion. DP: That is true of Cannes yes and I suspect of many cities now...so with Every Moon Atrocious what were the challenges you faced when writing it? ELTJ: Getting the time sequences right – it took a little while but we got there in the end. The story did inspire me though to delve deeper into the ‘peeping tom syndrome’ and I think at some point I’d like to write a companion piece about the person at the other end of a cctv camera...I guess also I wanted to write something which was natural and too much contrived. Like you I’ve been very influenced by the Italian Umberto Eco and whilst not every reader might see them, there are several allusions to his work – particularly The Name Of The Rose. DP: Ah, a great author and what a cracking book that is – I enjoyed the film a lot and can’t wait for the tv series which should be out very very soon. It’s odd you mention that book today as I’ve been thinking a lot about it recently...you been spying on me Emile? ELTJ: Not recently no – why what have you been up to? DP: Moving on...did you use anything from your real life when writing your story do you think? ELTJ: Not that I will say everything here but a couple of years ago, not long after meeting you I did have some trouble with local law enforcers in Paris...it was a mistake on their behalf and nothing ever came of it – I did get a written apology which I framed and put on the wall of my parent’s home in Marseille...I suppose a little of that experience did go into some of the characters... DP: Tell me about your writing style. ELTJ: Right now I don’t believe I’ve got a specific style – I love experimenting and I’m working on a couple of stories right now which are very very different from each other. I have a great affiliation for William Burroughs and I was reading only the other day that he had four distinct styles / periods during his writing career and I think I’m a bit like that – I need to find my voice or voices and see where they go. I would also add that I think also what affects me is what country I am in whilst writing – for example, a story I wrote a few months back in Belize is very different to the one I’ve just finished in Paris...the world around you does influence you...I’ve found anyway. DP: Totally agree, I know my ‘voice’ changed when I started going to Paris a great deal and then when I moved to Cannes...these last few months while I’ve been in the UK working on the tv stuff, I’ve noticed another shift. For me I’ve also found that if I’m reading a lot by a particular author then they can invade my work too...with that in mind, which other writers (or books) influenced you? ELTJ: Well, we’ve mentioned Umberto Eco – I love Bret Easton Ellis too...can’t wait until his new book...the summer I think. Somebody else you told me about a few years ago was that English singer...Paul Heaton (I have that right?) his lyrics...wow, I don’t really know any British poets but his songs are amazing - The Housemartins, The Beautiful South, his solo work...I’ve got most if not all his albums on my MP3...I also love Rimbaud¸ Dumas, Hugo, Hemingway...I was going to add that guy from The Smiths I would be a liar... DP: Such an eclectic mix but I wouldn’t expect anything else...so any more stories in 2019? ELTJ: To be published? I’m not sure...I’m working on lots of stuff and perhaps one or two stories in my own language as it’s been a while...we will see...I know I will soon get the bug to travel again...you’ll be the first to know though. Let me know when you are in Paris my friend DP: Okay I will – we need to do some karaoke...I’ve been practising some Brel songs... ELTJ: ...do you want to talk Brexit now or then? DP: Brexit? What’s that...just a figment of all our imaginations...ha ha! Good luck with the books Emile and see you soon.
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CategoriesArchives
November 2023
AuthorDean M. Drinkel |