The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Getting to know you
Meet bestselling author Sara Sheridan, who will be visiting Kirkcaldy for Book Week Scotland.
Q Which writers, alive or dead, inspire you?
A My favourite historical novelist is alive – TC Boyle, who wrote Water Music. He totally inspires me. Recently I’ve discovered some amazing female Scottish writers – Lorna Moon, for example, whose short stories are just the best. They are gems of structured storytelling. Beautiful.
Q What was your plan B, careerwise?
A Ha! I never really had a plan but, like many writers, I’ve had loads of different jobs. I worked as an administrator, in the box office of a theatre, I ran an art gallery and a restaurant and I worked in a property company.
Q Your house is on fire, what one item do you save? A Just the people. Honestly. Things don’t stick to me...
Q Theme song for your life?
A Cabaret, as sung by Liza Minnelli.
Q Last meal on earth?
A Rare roast beef, salad and homemade chips, please. And rose and lime dark chocolate fondants with coffee.
Q Dream dinner party guests?
A Mary Brunton (brilliant 18th Century Scottish novelist from Barra), Lorna Moon (see above), Jeanne de Clisson (17th Century French female pirate), Lady Nithsdale (one of my Jacobite heroines – she broke her husband out of the Tower of London in 1716) and my daughter, Molly.
Q First thing you’d do if you won £1 million? A Laugh myself silly!
Q If you could rule for a day, what would be the first thing you would do? A Get us out of this Westminster Brexit hotpot.
Q Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
A A lot of people don’t know that I co-founded Scottish feminist perfume brand, REEK. I love great smells and feminist chat. I love the smell of sherbet at the moment, and coal tar.
Q Favourite holiday destination?
A Amsterdam. It’s a city that grows with you over the years. I love it.
Q What was the last book you read? A Stonemouth by Iain Banks. It was great!
Q If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? A Mangoes.
Q Happiest memory?
A Swimming in an outdoor pool in London a few years ago. It was a sunny day. I could hear the traffic and the air smelled of the city in summer and I could have stayed there forever.
Q Describe yourself as if you were a fine wine? A Euch! I don’t drink wine.
Q What makes you happy? A Chitchat, great perfume, cheese and good books.
Q What makes you sad?
A Bad art that isn’t quite bad enough to be funny.
Q Do you believe in aliens?
A Yes, on the balance of probability. The universe is huge, though I don’t believe in little green men.
Q Have you ever had a paranormal encounter?
A Me and my friend Gemma once saw a ghostly nun in my bedroom when I was about 18. It was two in the morning – she was staying over. We were terrified and hid under the covers.
Q What was the first album you ever bought? A Billy Joel. An Innocent Man.
Q If you could go back to any point in history, what would it be?
A Swot answer. If I’m allowed to meddle, I’d love to be able to go back and stop the First World War. It was a hideous waste of life and the Treaty of Versailles led almost directly to the Second World War. If you’re going to go back, it makes sense to me to do something worthwhile while you’re there.
Q What do you do to unwind?
A Watch movies, have a walk, go for a swim, do some perfume shopping and hang out with friends.
Sara Sheridan... and Tea Too!, Saturday November 24, 4.30pm at Kirkcaldy Galleries.