PD Chegwin
What made you decide to become a writer?
I lost my father who was seriously ill and hanging on for our wedding, but Covid took his life away and our wedding. I lost my job during covid, and everything seemed lost. During this low time in my life I reflected on my youth. I was in several bands in Liverpool in the 80’s and wrote many songs for may bands, recording them and playing them live, but I never wrote lyrics.
The savings we made pre-covid meant that we needed to make a big decision. My wife’s anxiety over the potential loss of the wedding, and losing dad gave me a jolt into live again. The wedding and the honeymoon must go on…and it was the best decision of my life.
Roll on forward to the beach in Mauritius, 10am, second day, sky is azure blue, temperature 30 degrees, the lagoon in front of us glistening in my eyes and I am distracted by two dogs running past us and flicking sand into our eyes and they bark at a bout with a picture of a Dodo on it in the distance. This happened for three days, and it set my imagination racing.
They barked until the boat was too far out to see, then they shook themselves of and trotted off. What would they do if the boat never returned, I thought? “Hey Em, you got any paper and a pen?” I asked by new bride, who scrabbled around in her beach bag frantically. “What’s it for love?” she asked. “Oh, I am going to write a book love” was my response.
The laughs from my wife were turned into a big question...”Can I read love?”
I wrote that book, The Lost Dogs of Mauritius, in three weeks, with most of it written in the Dovedale Towers pub in Liverpool where the Beatles played, and Freddy Mercury lived for a time. Writing that was one of the most enjoyable moments of my life.
How do you decide your plots? Are they taken from events that have happened to you? Do you base your characters on real people – or do you prefer to be fully creative and make them up?
Both of my published books were taken from events but the main plots came from the titles in the end.
What comes first for you – the plot or the characters?
It’s the title that comes first for me. Once I have it, the plot follows in waves.
How many books have you written and/or published and which is your favourite?
I have published two books, written four more that are in a state of typing (hate that as I hand write them first).
Tell me more about your favourite book – the plot, characters, setting, POV, tense…
This is a question not for my books, its for the books that may have inspired me. The Cronacles of Thomas Covenant I read whilst recording an album I was recording. My Family and Other Animals still inspires me. The Old Man and the Sea blew my mind.
What is your favourite genre to write in? Tell me why.
Kids books as I am a big kid!
Would you travel to the area where your book is set? Do you already know the area? Have you written about that area because it’s a place you know? Have you used the original name of the area or manipulated place names?
My first book, The Lost Dogs of Mauritius was based on where we went on our honeymoon. Doras Day is based on my volunteering as a tour guide at Leasowe lighthouse on the Wirral in Merseyside, and its based on a real mother and daughter. Ocean, my next book is based on my good friends daughter who lives in Cornwall.
How do you feel about killing off popular characters? Is it something you enjoy doing in your own books? Have you done it?
I have in one book half written. Not a kids book either, but I had no problems with it.
Would you write any genre or do you stick to one?
I have a psychopathic murder in mind for a book. I need my amazing editors help for that one as I will be in a dark place writing that!
Do you write under a pseudonym or your own name?
My own name but will be advised by my editor on the dark book I want to write.
Does your family read your work? If not, would you like them to? Are you books their thing? Would it bother you if they weren’t interested in reading any of them?
My family have read my books. My sister in law, Claire (character in Dora’s Day) is my biggest supporter, and always asks me how I am getting on.
How many hours a day or week would you say you spend writing? Is it a potential career for you, is it something you do outside your day job?
It is hard to write with a full-time job for me. It’s difficult as I can’t type and write, I have to hand write and then type. Then I want to write more and neglect the typing.
Is writing therapeutic for you, or does it cause you to stress out?
When I write, I am in another world. Stress does not exist. Writing in such a historic pub allows me to glance up at people walking in, wee faces, imagine, then get my head back down with a smile on my face.
How do you react to reviews? Would you prefer just good ones or are you okay to receive a bad one occasionally? How does this make you feel?
Any feedback is good. I write my books for me, my enjoyment and my sanity. If anyone else enjoys them then I am so happy. If they don’t like them, then I am so happy they took the time to read them.
