Thematically - the individual and his/her struggles to survive in an increasingly homogenised society. Identity/loss of. Lack of control over one’s own destiny. Notions of reality/fantasy/dream/alternate worlds. Conjectures on the formation of the universe, evolution, creation, prehistory, and archetypes. Myths, fairy tales, urban myths. Love and death. I hope that covers it.
In the writing that you are doing, who would you say has influenced you the most?
People see certain influences in my work — Jorge Luis Borges, William Burroughs, Kurt Vonnegut, Michael Moorcock, Philip K. Dick, the “space poet” Robert Calvert — but if I had to name just one author, it would be J. G. Ballard. Ballard has cast a spell on a whole generation of British writers such as Will Self … and my self!
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
It’s the old cliché, but I’ve always written, even as a primary school child. Writing is what I always intended to do.
How have your personal experiences influenced the direction of your writing?
Oh God, there’s a lot of my own life in what I write. For example, I was unemployed and seriously poor for a few years and that never leaves me — so, often my lead characters are coping with suddenly losing things that they and other people mostly take for granted.
On the other hand, in a story such “There is nothing left to write” from my collection Urban Fantastic even though I actually appear as a character right near the end, the main protagonist “Jessica Stone” was completely made up. However, some reviewers and readers have totally believed in her as a “real” person. That’s quite flattering. The fabulous Welsh author Rhys Hughes once wrote, “Ashley is a master of character”. I’d certainly like to live up to such praise.
What will your next book be about?
I’ve got several books on the horizon. There’s Slow Motion Wars, under consideration by Screaming Dreams Press for publication later this year, which is a collection of collaborative stories written with Andrew Hook. There’s an updated version of my novel The Planet Suite, also due this year. I’m negotiating with a publisher regarding another novel and a couple of novellas. I will also be undertaking another editorial project for Elastic Press. This is “an open secret”, details of which will be confirmed around about June - so don't send me anything yet! That book is likely to see print in 2008.
Article comments
1 - T. Michael Testi
Wonderful interview! It gives real insight into the author!