Paul Sharp
Beneath the Locust Tree
Paul was born in the same street as Julie Andrews. Once it became clear his lack of talent meant he was never going to follow her to Hollywood he went to Leeds University where he graduated in politics. After working as a researcher and speechwriter in Parliament he abandoned the toxic world of politics and helped run the email infrastructure for a major industrial company. This came to an end when he gave up work to help bring up his severely autistic son. When his son started school he began writing to fill up his spare time. Since then Paul has been a double finalist at the York Festival of Writing and has now been shortlisted for the Cheshire Novel Award. His only brush with fame was when his knowledge of West Ham United earned him second place in an episode of Mastermind. Deep down he still dreams of following Julie Andrews to Hollywood.
What made you enter the Cheshire novel Prize?
People were talking about the Cheshire Novel Prize on Twitter. It looked like a good competition run by people who were serious about writing and so I thought, why not?
What did it feel like when you were LL and SL?
I was hopeful of making the long-list because I think I’m a fairly good storyteller. The shortlist was a different matter. I felt like Charlie Bucket finding a golden ticket. Only he got a bar of chocolate out of it as well
My announcement on Facebook received more likes than anything I’d ever posted before so I guess my friends and family were very happy.
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
I’d already written one novel featuring Coleridge and decided to write a second. His Malta adventure contained so much incident and romance I felt it was a story begging to be told.
How long did it take you to write it?
I wrote the first three chapters about five years ago and then put it to one side to concentrate on other things. After stumbling across it again at the beginning of the year I wrote the whole thing in a fifty-three-day writing frenzy.
What’s it about?
It tells the story of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s tempestuous trip to Malta in 1804. During his time on the island he became deputy commissioner, played a huge part in the fight against Napoleon and had a torrid affair with an Italian opera singer. I’ve woven the facts of his time there with a fictional plot concerning spies, the Knights of St John and murder.
What’s your writing routine?
Wake up, have breakfast, write, nap, have lunch, write, nap again and then log off for the day. I try to do this five days a week but there are always temptations such as cricket, reading or pubs that can lead a writer astray.
What’s next for you?
As well as submitting the Coleridge Chronicles to agents I want to start researching and planning a sequel. I also have one or two unfinished projects sitting around on a cloud somewhere that require some TLC, and of course there’s always the temptation of writing something completely new.
Have you done any writing courses?
I have attended many seminars and lectures but not done a full course.
What are your two favourite books and why?
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. It’s hilariously funny and heartbreakingly sad.
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. Exotic locations, vivid characters and a fiendish plot. It’s the perfect crime novel.
What advice do you have for any aspiring writers?
Kill some people. One in three books sold in the UK is in the crime genre so if you’re not sure what to write about commit a murder or two. Not only is murder endlessly fascinating to read it’s fun to write as well.
Oh, and dedicate your first book to your parents. Unless you’ve got a really good reason not to.