10 Questions for Claire Askew
Born in Cumbria, multi-prize-winning poet Claire moved to Scotland at the age of seven. She’s now writer in residence at the University of Edinburgh, and has written her first novel, All The Hidden Truths, a crime story which introduces Detective Inspector Helen Birch who has to explain why a gunman carried out a mass shooting. It is published this week.
WHAT’S THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POETRY AND NOVELS?
I ended up on my 10th draft for this novel, so it takes longer to put together. Also, the audience is bigger. My last book of poems had a print run of 800.
DO WE NEED ANOTHER FICTIONAL DETECTIVE?
I wanted to get away from the typical male, hard-nosed, isolated policeman. DI Birch is an everyday woman doing what others think is a man’s job. Also, all the main characters, apart from one, are female.
WOULD YOU LIKE IT TO BE MADE INTO A TV SERIES?
I’m tempted to say yes, but more to see what others do with her and the story rather than for the cheque. My publisher and agent have said: “Don’t get your hopes up. Manage your expectations.”
WHO WOULD PLAY DI HELEN BIRCH?
No idea. This will sound odd but I have no clue what she looks like beyond her brown hair and fringe. You’ve made me realise I know her mind but not her face.
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?
My tutor, Professor Colin Nicholson at Edinburgh University, said: “Every piece of writing should have something at stake.” Ideally I’d like people to think when they read me that they hadn’t thought about something like that before.
IS THE PROFESSOR PROUD NOW YOU’VE BEEN PUBLISHED?
I don’t know because we lost touch after he retired. But I’d love to hear from him again.
HOW POPULAR IS POETRY TODAY?
I’m told it’s gone from 1% to 2% of the publishing market over the past 10 years. Instagram poetry is now popular, and even Glastonbury has a poetry stage. And adverts on TV seem to be in verse a lot of the time.
DO YOU ENJOY PERFORMING YOUR POEMS?
No. I learned that I have to do it, and I’ve now done it so often I’m good enough at it. But I get terrible stage fright. I don’t enjoy it at all.
WHAT DO YOU READ YOURSELF?
Poetry, obviously, but I also love fiction, like zombie stories, or things about witchcraft. I also listen to true crime podcasts.
YOU HAVE 24 HOURS LEFT TO LIVE. HOW DO YOU SPEND IT?
I think of myself as a Cumbrian in exile so I’d climb Loughrigg in the Lake District with a nice bottle of wine, look at the view, then die at the top of the Fell. I’ll go back eventually but, meantime, it’s nice to yearn for somewhere.