TEN WORDS OR FEWER INTERVIEW: Jai Knight, author of Provincial Squinting at the Mercury Orgy

Jai Knight, author of Provincial Squinting at the Mercury Orgy, has been invited to take part in TriumphOfTheNow.com‘s “Ten Words or Fewer” interview format! (The word count is not strict.)

Read on below!

Q: What is the title of your book?
A: Provincial Squinting at the Mercury Orgy.

Q: Why did you choose this title?
A: It was inspired by the first lines from Bob Dylan’s Ballad of a Thin Man; “You walk into the room with your pencil in your hand, you see somebody naked and you say, who is that man?” Which I took as meaning the character in the song, Mr. Jones, is at a life drawing class. Wrong time, wrong place, wrong perception, but what did he expect?

Q: What’s the book about?
A: Jumping about in a poetry and short story genre soup, sci-fi, sleuth noir, sex, drugs, violence, connections, corruption and revenge. The theme of the book is- Notes on control and coercion, which are fears of mine. I’m sharply attuned to their prevalence.

Q: Why did you write this book?
A:  I couldn’t have written a different book at the time. Knowing what I was putting together was unique, several states of a determination-fever were passed through. Some pieces were made while working from home during the pandemic. I’d have two televisions playing with the sound down, side by side, one with the sci-fi channel on and one with the classic movies channel on, which leaked into the contents.

Q: Why do you write, generally?
A: Because I/we have little control over most things during our existence. I don’t have to compromise in my word world. There’s an addictive quality to writing and I’m a workaholic. It’s all about putting out fiction that I’d want to read, for readers who share similar tastes.

Q: Where/how do you write?
A: Anywhere. I’ve recently started refining ways of regular writing. On my laptop and on my phone, as well as writing by hand. These different approaches produce different results. I’m a rewriter really and work from a rough zero draft. I usually have the end of my stories in place first.

Q: What/who do you read?
A: Anything that takes my fancy, speculative stuff, I’ve read a lot of the classics. Adventure stories and comics from childhood are still very much an influence. I like Charles Dickens, mostly for the characters and atmospheres. One of my favourite books is Hubert Selby Jr.’s Last Exit to Brooklyn. Giles Goat-Boy by John Barth is a book I’d recommend.

Q: Why do you read?
A: Entertainment. Literature has that great one to one quality when you are reading. A book will show you what is unsaid in the day to day, prepare you and remind you of the drama that life really is, and always has been.

Q: Where/when do you read?
A: Anywhere, whenever I can these days- waiting for the kettle to boil, take a book to the coffee shop, on the tram. In bed.

Q: What are your politics/values?
A: Leftwing. Pro-coolness, anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-ageist, anti-royalist, anti-litterbugs.

Q: Why might someone with oppositional politics/values enjoy your book? If
they wouldn’t, do you regret that?
A: There’s not many of my political beliefs in it overtly, although it’s definitely anti-establishment. The last thing I’d feel is regret if my style didn’t sit with anyone, my only focus is with those who it does chime with. I put the world to rights a bit in a story called Swaddling those Scouser Sawns.

Q: Describe the ideal reader of your book.
A: Outsiders, underdogs, everyone, intelligent folk. I’d like to develop a two-sided relationship with my readers. I’ve experienced indie writers who won’t follow back on social media or answer messages, and small presses/reviewer bloggers who can’t be bothered to reply to emails etc: all laughable. I would never be so cheesy or treat anybody like that.

Q: How do you relax?
A: I have to listen to ASMR to tune out my thinking before sleep. Try to get an eight-hour trip to the land of nod. I’m a city dweller. Shooting the shit. Making my partner laugh. There’s no marijuana in my system.

Q: Are we alone in the universe?
A: There could be lifeforms on other planets but they aren’t necessarily on the same timeline as our world is.

Q: Do you listen to music?
A: Every day. A never ending discovery zone. I also listen to Late Junction, Stuart Maconie’s Freak Zone, Music Planet, John Kane’s Northern Soul, Composer of the Week and Words and Music every week. All on BBC radio.

Q: What differentiates us from the animals?
A: Well, we are animals too but with questionable egos, toxic self-awareness, a sometimes lack of honour, opposable thumbs and hair gel.

Q: Do you have a mantra? If willing, please share.
A: No mantra, but I will say- it’s wise not to get wrapped up in your perception of who you think you are. Be aware of categorising yourself and others. Don’t be a prat.

Q: What is your preferred breakfast – something you could have every day?
A: Not normally a breakfast eater. French breakfasts are nice, croissants, orange juice and a cup of tea.

Q: What’s the highest altitude you’ve been to on land? (i.e. not in a plane)
A: Maybe Kinder Scout in the Peak District. I’ve camped up there.

Q: What’s the largest animal you’ve seen running free?
A: Initially, I thought a horse, like a shire horse, but they weren’t running free, so it might be a fox.

Q: Which film/movie[s] from the past five years do you think will be future classics?
A: Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, which is a simple film with a lot of depth to it.

Q: Do you have any pets? Why/why not?
A: Would love to have a dog or cat. The reason I don’t presently, is because it would restrict when I can go away, what with feeding them and them getting stressed out when I’m not around.

Q: Where is somewhere you’ve been to that you will never return to? Why?
A: Calverton, where my secondary school was. Never had a need or want to go there again, but I’m not against the place.

Q: Would you like to suggest a new question for future interviewees?
A: You could ask writers what they are working on, this one’s working on a sci-fi fantasy novella, (grim, grim) dark mode.

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Bio:
Jai was born in Nottingham on Burns Night 1977 and now lives in Manchester UK.
​He is the author of Provincial Squinting at the Mercury Orgy available from Anxiety Press.

His website is jaiknightwriting.weebly.com

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“Ten Words or Fewer” gives writers (novelists, poets, essayists, playwrights, screenwriters, anyone writing anything else) the opportunity to introduce themselves and their work. If interested in taking part, email triumphofthenow@gmail.com for more details.

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