Interviewed by J.B. Scott
|
|
JB
|
Hi
Robin! Thank you for joining us at the "E-Literate"
interview room. It is a privilege and pleasure to have you as our
guest. Now just to familiarize our readers with who is Robin
Marchesi…you were born in Hampshire England 1951. As a child you
lived in Malta, Ireland and Nigeria while being educated at
British Boarding schools. Later you studied humanities at London
University followed by Literature and Politics at Oxford. You have
published two books of Poetry, "A.B.C.Quest", (1991) and
"Kyoto Garden" (1996).
You have taught literature and still involved with Poetry
and Theatre Workshops, writing and producing a play on 'Alfred
Jarry', entitled "Suicide by Hallucination" (1998). Your
book 'A Small Journal of Heroin Addiction' is available both
online and in paperback with Clocktower Books.
So, tell us, who is Robin Marchesi?
|
Visit
Robin's Website
|
RM
|
Thanks for the invite JB. though
who is Robin Marchesi seems a huge question ! I'm not sure how to
begin. There seems so many angles to look at myself from. I've
travelled alot. My Mother was half English/half Jewish and my
father half English/half Italian. In 1980 I went to Los Angeles
and helped run a bar on Venice Beach where I met my wife to be. We
then lived in Manhattan at the Chelsea Hotel. We divorced in 1982
and I returned to London and like a true Poet fell in love and
lived with another woman. We moved to Ibiza a small Island between
Spain and Africa and had two children. I began working for a
Sculptor called Barry Flanagan. He makes gigantic bronze Hares in
various guises. In 1990 we returned to London and I had a 2nd Hand
Esoteric Bookshop in Notting Hill but in 1993 the childrens
Mother returned to Ibiza leaving me to look after the children.
She returned in 1995 and between 1996 and 1999 I continued working
with Barry Flanagan.
Now, as my present girlfriend,
Helen, tells me:
"You're a 50 year
old Poet with half moon specs and a good line in short sleeved
sweaters!"
|
|
|
JB
|
Share
with us now a little bit about how "A Small Journal of Heroin
Addiction" came to be. Are you still in contact with any of
those within the pages of your journal? Have you re-traced any of
that journey since?
|
|
RM
|
I must answer in regard to Part
One and Part Two here as they are written 25 years apart.
Part One, 'Los Rosales' is self
explanatory in how it came about. I've never returned there,
though my love affair with Spain began then. None of the major
characters I saw again. I imagine some may be dead.
Part Two, 'Mission'
also explains how it came into being, though I had no intention of
writing until I began that journey to California in 1999. In fact
both parts kinda wrote themselves. Most of the major characters in
'Mission' I still have contact with.
|
|
|
JB
|
At
what point did you decide that these personal memoirs or journal
of your experiences needed to be shared with others? Was the title
something that came to mind instantly or was it after you finished
both journals?
|
|
|
RM
|
'Los
Rosales' I knew instantly had a 'something' although the
Publishers at the time didn't agree with me. Someone introduced me
to a writer called Alex Troochi who read the manuscript, invited
me for drinks and told me it was 20 years ahead of its time. He
was right. After writing 'Mission' in California and returning to
London I saw the almost uncanny continuity of theme and style
between the two manuscripts. It was John Cullen who first
suggested I put them together. At first I was a little
apprehensive about 'A Small Journal of Heroin Addiction' as a
combined title, but both pieces of writing are fiercely honest in
content and hence should be in Title.
|
|
|
JB
|
How
did you go about submitting your non-fiction manuscript for
publication? Were you confident that it would be recognized as
worthy for publication? How many attempts did you make to get
"A Small Journal of Heroin Addiction" published?
|
|
RM
|
I
was always confident of the worthiness of publication. I always
thought it was a matter of timing. In some ways "A Small
Journal of Heroin Addiction", only came about with John
Cullen's input. I'd say it came about organically.
|
|
|
JB
|
Can
you relate to us now how it felt to finally see your manuscript
transformed into a paperback? What was the first thought that
entered your mind when you felt it in your hand? Saw the cover
with your name on it? What
is it like to read the book now, well after the years where your
journal began?
|
|
|
RM
|
It
was a great feeling to sense its physicality. My first thought was
for all the living and the dead who helped it come about. Its a
timeless book. The themes addressed have been explored by our
forefathers and will still be questions for future generations.
|
|
|
JB
|
How do you plan on marketing
"A Small Journal of Heroin Addiction"? Will you be
partaking in booksignings and/or book fairs?
|
|
|
RM
|
I will do all I can to
help. In fact I'm hoping to go this autumn to California to do
some readings.
|
|
|
JB
|
As
an author, what has been the most profound comment a reader has
made of your work?
|
|
|
RM
|
I
can't pick a particular phrase but I've had some incredibly
emotive comments made by those who have read the book.
|
|
|
JB
|
You
have published two other poetry works, "A.B.C.Quest",
(1991) and "Kyoto Garden" (1996), will you be submitting
more in the future? What else is in your "in-tray" to do
as far as your literary world goes?
|
|
|
RM
|
I
will have another book by the end of the year. Over the last 30
years I've managed to retain alot of writings
with value. The new book has a working title of : 'Patience
for Solitaire'. It will have short stories woven with commentary
on universal themes which I'll enable, as I did with 'A Small
Journal of Heroin Addiction', by merging Poetry and Prose.
|
|
|
JB
|
Looking
at where you are today, are you where you thought you would be
twelve months ago? Where do you see yourself this time next year?
|
|
|
RM
|
I've
made real inroads this last year and I'm expecting fruition . By
this time next year it will be Roses, Roses, Roses, no thorns nor
washing up!
|
|
|
JB
|
What
are your thoughts on the e-publishing industry? Are there certain
disadvantages and/or advantages in being published in that format?
|
|
|
RM
|
I
think e publishing is the future. It will alter the whole
structure of how one reads. I'm glad to be at the forefront of it.
I'd like to see someone, hopefully myself, bring POD/E/
Publication to the publics notice, as a medium for writers to
reach a large audience and not resort to traditional production
formats. It would streamline the business for all e-authors and be
a lesson for the large conglomerates. Once this happens the
'teething' problems of POD regarding say availability in bricks
and mortar stores, will be resolved.
|
|
|
JB
|
POD
seems to be the new kid on the block within the e-realm - share
with us your thoughts on this new format. Have you experienced
success in this format over the electronic formats? Are the local
bricks-and-mortar bookstores near you been co-operative in making
them available to your readers? Do you have any suggestions to
other published authors in this format? Where do you see the
future of e-publishing?
|
|
|
RM
|
I
hope I answered that one in the last question!
|
|
Click
Here To View the Sharpwriter Review
|
JB
|
Reviews
- You have received some truly excellent reviews, a couple of
which you have posted on your website:
How difficult has it been
for you getting your manuscripts reviewed? Have you ever received
a review that upset you in some way?
What advice can you offer our authors that have been in
this position? What role do you believe a reviewer has in the
literary process?
|
|
|
RM
|
A
reviewer can entice a potential reader into wishing to read more.
He can influence opinion but then 'good' and 'bad' in literature
is very much to do with whimiscal opinion. I've yet to receive a
disparaging remark on my book but I'm well prepared for someone to
try and tell me where I went wrong !
|
|
|
JB
|
Now,
this is where you let your hair down, and offer anything
further…yes a free plug is more than okay… Robin, I would like
to take this opportunity of thanking you for agreeing to do this
interview and I wish you well for all your future endeavors.
Regards JB Scott
|
|
|
RM
|
A Small Journal of Heroin
Addiction has something for everyone in it.
I defy any one not to be
stimulated into some new thought or emotion during the journey.
Its a timeless offering
containing some real truths for human society that
shouldn't be ignored.
I'm just very grateful that John
Cullen at Clocktower saw its merit, and gave my writings a chance.
From half way across the world,
in a very hot London, thanks to you JB, for the interview and all
your readers for joining us.
best wishes
Robin....................
|
