TEN WORDS OR FEWER INTERVIEW: Harry Legge, author of Friend or Suspect

Harry Legge, author of Friend or Suspect, has been invited to take part in TriumphOfTheNow.com‘s “Ten Words or Fewer” interview format! (Harry is someone I’ve met a few times on London’s comedy circuit!)

Read on below!

Q: What is the title of your book?
A: Friend or Suspect

Q: Why did you choose this title?
A: To capture the uncertainty over character motives

Q: What’s the book about?
A: It’s a humorous kind of mini whodunit with psychological suspense.

Q: Why did you write this book?
A: I usually do humourous short stories and this originally was a short story, but it slowly evolved into a short novel. I had an idea which I hope subverts the typical expectations for a main character and ran with it.

Q: And why now?
A: I started this book around 10 years before publication. It’s the only novel I’ve written so far. I didn’t like the idea of it sitting there, so I wanted to put it out there in some form and see if hopefully others like it.

Q: Why do you write, generally?
A: To get down any funny crazy ideas. To make others laugh. Sometimes I have political frustrations I want to get down. I feel a lot of diverse characters are often overlooked, reduced to background characters or rely on stereotypes, so I want to focus more on characters from underrepresented groups and hopefully challenge stereotypes as much as possible. I always want to do plots which happen to be inclusive. Often I can be shy, so writing is a way I can express myself and it can be good for my mental health to get things down.

Q: Where/how do you write?
A: Randomly. I always aim to sit down and write at home but it rarely works out that way. Ideas mainly pop into my head randomly out and about. I don’t get to write as often as I’d like.

Q: Are you working on any new projects?
A: Kind of. There are unfinished short stories and I’m open to a sequel.

Q: What are your politics/values?
A: I’m a Lib Dem member. Definitely left-wing. Progressive. Fairness. Anti-nationalism.

Q: Describe the ideal reader of your book.
A: Hopefully someone with a good sense of humour and doesn’t take life too seriously.

Q: How do you relax?
A: I try mindfulness though it’s not something I currently practice enough.

Q: Do you listen to music?
A: I love music. Mainly pop, though open to anything uptempo or fun.

Q: When was the last time you climbed a tree?
A: As a child. Apparently I used to climb a lot.

Q: Do you like routine or spontaneity?
A: It’s nice to have some routine, though having spontaneity thrown in makes life more fun.

Q: How do you nourish yourself on a psychological level?
A: Mindfulness, socialising, music, sport, writing.

Q: What makes you laugh?
A: Ridiculousness. Bizarre unlikely situations. Puns. I sometimes get inappropriate laughter.

Q: What don’t you eat?
A: Bread, onions, mushrooms.

Q: How did your oldest friendship begin?
A: Literally from birth. I’m still in touch with some people who I became friends with as our mother’s met at a mother’s group.

Bio:
Harry Legge has written comedy short stories for most of his life. More recently he has started to experiment with self-publishing. A real life experience on holiday prompted him to write and self-publish a modern Fawlty Towers inspired short story, ‘Rude Café’. More recently he also self-published his first short novel, Friend or Suspect. He has spent the last three years trying out standup comedy. Outside of writing and comedy, his main interests are motorsport, music, psychology and politics.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hlegge 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hlegge07/

Click here to read more about Friend or Suspect

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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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