Rachel is a hilarious and witty writer – with a social conscience. She is a memoirist, and fiction writer, and is here with me. Check out Blown out of Proportion. Great to have you here Rachel!
THE QUESTIONS
Focus on the book: Blown Out of Proportion – Misadventures of a Glassblower in France.
Much as I hate the expression, ‘it does what it says on the tin’, it does describe the book.
Fine art – the craft of writing! Tell me about craft? What little nugget would you give another author? What have you learnt about writing.
Always walk away from the manuscript (ideally, for several months) when you think you’ve finished. Then, go back and read it out loud to yourself. Go through the manuscript using the find and replace tool and search for filler words, then get rid of them! You can do that with was/were too as a way of getting rid of the passive voice. If you write a novel, plan it first. I didn’t for my first novel, but I’m going to avoid that mistake in the future. When it’s in the planning stage things can be changed easily, plot holes filled, inconsistencies ironed out, and so on.
Fascinating you: What would people notice about you if they met you in person?
Hopefully my smile.
Fame: What’s your claim to fame?
1. I wrote quite a few articles about the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015,15,17,18… I was later contacted by readers, who had been inspired to volunteer in refugee camps. Given I couldn’t go myself (for health reasons) this was the next best thing. I’m really chuffed.
2. While working in Assisi on the 25th anniversary event for WWF, I became known at the restaurants in town for bringing the most entertaining people to dine. The Zambian choir was a particular hit. After the meal they all sang in thanks. “That was singing for the meat. Now we’re going to sing for the vegetables!”
3. I once served tea to the then-Prince Akihito of Japan (he later became Emperor).
Fortune: Have you ever made any money? Won a bet, a round of poker? Or been the beneficiary from a long-forgotten distant Aunt…
I once sold a painting by my grandfather, and promptly spent all the proceeds by living in Rome for two years. I probably should have invested in property. While I was indulging in la dolce vita, a friend bought a 5 story house in Brixton for 10 grand and sold it for 300k some years later. She’s gone on investing in properties, and I’m still struggling. The parable of the cricket and the ant springs to mind. I’m definitely a cricket… Unfortunately, I married a cricket too.
Fool: Just for fun: tell me about the time you made a silly mistake or found yourself the unwitting centre of attention…
I was 11 years old, a girl at school asked me if I was a virgin. I didn’t know what that meant, so answered, “No.” It took a long time to live that down.
In my first week of Art College, there was a party/performance. The guy on stage yelled out there would be a prize for the first person to get their arse up onto the stage. For the first time in my life, I won a race. He then promptly pulled my knickers down and shoved me onto the floor. “Now,” he shouted to the 500 students in the auditorium, “her arse is really on the stage!” I was mortified.
This other story is bad too, but I brought it on myself by being an idiot. When I was about 20, I managed to mislead the entire Japanese population of London. I can’t actually remember exactly how I managed to give the impression that Mr Soandso’s New Year fancy dress toga party was an orgy; but I did. Thanks to me, a rumour spread through the Japanese community, that Mr Soandso was holding a wife swapping party. He was fielding calls all week from people cancelling their attendance, or from others begging to be invited. He lost face and I got into trouble.
Frippery: how do you make your mark? It might be a favourite car, dress, jacket or scarf.
When I was younger (at Art College in particular) I dressed very outrageously. Then I moved to Rome and conformed to the Italian style. Now… I don’t give a hoot, really; although I do miss the days of being outrageous, and I’m sad to say, my expanded waistline can’t handle Italian chic any more. Nowadays, apart from underwear and shoes, I buy everything from charity shops. My personal style has gone out of the window.
Favourite books(or actors!)
Too many. I’m going to have to think… Same with movies… Too many to mention, really. So much depends on my state of my mind at the time of reading/watching, and also where I am in my life.
Steinbeck’s books all raised my political awareness and helped me become the person I am today, as did Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird.
When I was a teenager, The Count of Monte Cristo was a go-to read… don’t know what that says about me, though. Am I vengeful? I hope not.
Alexander McCall Smith’s series of books, N°1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, never fail to charm and cheer me.
Terry Pratchett was a writing god for me. I like his humour and incredible breadth of knowledge. Likewise, I find Carl Hiaasen also incredibly funny, and appreciate the clear environmental message in his books.
Tim Gautreax’s books are beautiful.
You see what I mean, I could go on for hours.
Off the top of my head, favourite actors include Jeff Bridges and Chris Pine (so I was delighted with the film Hell or High Water/ Comancheria, which featured them both). However, I think currently some of the best actors around happen to be black. Denzel Washington, and the late great Chadwick Boseman. Also: Samuel L Jackson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba, Jamie Fox (as Ray Charles!!!), and Will Smith (even though it may not be trendy to admit it), to name but a few. Actresses like Angela Bassett and Viola Davis are phenomenal artists too.
Returning to white performers, I’d happily watch Harrison Ford any day of the week too. I like the fact that during his career his characters have had a love interest named Rachel… I just had to shut my eyes to think he was addressing me. Robert Downey Junior is also fantastic. He’s fun as Iron Man but check out his portrayal of Chaplin. I also liked him in Tropic Thunder.
Actresses include Jodie Foster, Sandra Bullock and Tilda Swinton.
I really enjoy Marvel movies. I paint or make jewellery (nice gentile activities) while binge watching Agents of Shield or something. I also enjoy series like Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Ozark and most recently, The Last of Us.
Forgiveness – is it better to ask for forgiveness, or permission? Did you ever get into trouble at school? Or work?
I was Miss Goody Two Shoes at school. But I was fired from a job once for making a thirty minute phone call to my Japanese boyfriend in Tokyo. However, in general, I am the kind of person who always asks permission (except for that phone call). Politeness, respect, and tolerance, are all very important.
Stephen Malins, Author & Photographer 