Interviewed by J.B. Scott |
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JB |
Hi
Robin! Thank you for joining us at the "E-Literate" interview room.
It is a privilege and pleasure to have you as our guest. Now just to
familiarize our readers with who is Robin Marchesi…you were born in
Hampshire England 1951. As a child you lived in Malta, Ireland and
Nigeria while being educated at British Boarding schools. Later you
studied humanities at London University followed by Literature and
Politics at Oxford. You have published two books of Poetry,
"A.B.C.Quest", (1991) and "Kyoto Garden" (1996). You have taught literature
and still involved with Poetry and Theatre Workshops, writing and
producing a play on 'Alfred Jarry', entitled "Suicide by
Hallucination" (1998). Your book 'A Small Journal of Heroin
Addiction' is available both online and in paperback with Clocktower
Books. So, tell us, who
is Robin Marchesi?
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Visit Robin's
Website
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RM |
Thanks
for the invite JB. though who is Robin Marchesi seems a huge
question ! I'm not sure how to begin. There seems so many angles to
look at myself from. I've travelled alot. My Mother was half
English/half Jewish and my father half English/half Italian. In 1980
I went to Los Angeles and helped run a bar on Venice Beach where I
met my wife to be. We then lived in Manhattan at the Chelsea Hotel.
We divorced in 1982 and I returned to London and like a true Poet
fell in love and lived with another woman. We moved to Ibiza a small
Island between Spain and Africa and had two children. I began
working for a Sculptor called Barry Flanagan. He makes gigantic
bronze Hares in various guises. In 1990 we returned to London and I
had a 2nd Hand Esoteric Bookshop in Notting Hill but in 1993 the
childrens Mother returned to Ibiza leaving me to look after the
children. She returned in 1995 and between 1996 and 1999 I continued
working with Barry Flanagan.
Now,
as my present girlfriend, Helen, tells me:
"You're
a 50 year old Poet with half moon specs and a good line in short
sleeved sweaters!"
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JB |
Share
with us now a little bit about how "A Small Journal of Heroin
Addiction" came to be. Are you still in contact with any of those
within the pages of your journal? Have you re-traced any of that
journey since?
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RM |
I
must answer in regard to Part One and Part Two here as they are
written 25 years apart.
Part
One, 'Los Rosales' is self explanatory in how it came about. I've
never returned there, though my love affair with Spain began then.
None of the major characters I saw again. I imagine some may be
dead. Part
Two, 'Mission' also explains how it came into being, though I had no
intention of writing until I began that journey to California in
1999. In fact both parts kinda wrote themselves. Most of the major
characters in 'Mission' I still have contact with. |
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JB |
At
what point did you decide that these personal memoirs or journal of
your experiences needed to be shared with others? Was the title
something that came to mind instantly or was it after you finished
both journals?
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RM |
'Los
Rosales' I knew instantly had a 'something' although the Publishers
at the time didn't agree with me. Someone introduced me to a writer
called Alex Troochi who read the manuscript, invited me for drinks
and told me it was 20 years ahead of its time. He was right. After
writing 'Mission' in California and returning to London I saw the
almost uncanny continuity of theme and style between the two
manuscripts. It was John Cullen who first suggested I put them
together. At first I was a little apprehensive about 'A Small
Journal of Heroin Addiction' as a combined title, but both pieces of
writing are fiercely honest in content and hence should be in
Title.
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JB |
How
did you go about submitting your non-fiction manuscript for
publication? Were you confident that it would be recognized as
worthy for publication? How many attempts did you make to get "A
Small Journal of Heroin Addiction" published?
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RM |
I
was always confident of the worthiness of publication. I always
thought it was a matter of timing. In some ways "A Small Journal of
Heroin Addiction", only came about with John Cullen's input. I'd say
it came about organically. |
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JB |
Can
you relate to us now how it felt to finally see your manuscript
transformed into a paperback? What was the first thought that
entered your mind when you felt it in your hand? Saw the cover with
your name on it? What
is it like to read the book now, well after the years where your
journal began?
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RM |
It
was a great feeling to sense its physicality. My first thought was
for all the living and the dead who helped it come about. Its a
timeless book. The themes addressed have been explored by our
forefathers and will still be questions for future
generations.
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JB |
How
do you plan on marketing "A Small Journal of Heroin Addiction"? Will
you be partaking in booksignings and/or book fairs?
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RM |
I
will do all I can to help. In fact I'm hoping to go this autumn to
California to do some readings. |
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JB |
As
an author, what has been the most profound comment a reader has made
of your work? |
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RM |
I
can't pick a particular phrase but I've had some incredibly emotive
comments made by those who have read the book. |
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JB |
You
have published two other poetry works, "A.B.C.Quest", (1991) and
"Kyoto Garden" (1996), will you be submitting more in the future?
What else is in your "in-tray" to do as far as your literary world
goes?
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RM |
I
will have another book by the end of the year. Over the last 30
years I've managed to retain alot of writings with value. The new book has
a working title of : 'Patience for Solitaire'. It will have short
stories woven with commentary on universal themes which I'll enable,
as I did with 'A Small Journal of Heroin Addiction', by merging
Poetry and Prose.
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JB |
Looking
at where you are today, are you where you thought you would be
twelve months ago? Where do you see yourself this time next
year? |
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RM |
I've
made real inroads this last year and I'm expecting fruition . By
this time next year it will be Roses, Roses, Roses, no thorns nor
washing up! |
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JB |
What
are your thoughts on the e-publishing industry? Are there certain
disadvantages and/or advantages in being published in that
format? |
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RM |
I
think e publishing is the future. It will alter the whole structure
of how one reads. I'm glad to be at the forefront of it. I'd like to
see someone, hopefully myself, bring POD/E/ Publication to the
publics notice, as a medium for writers to reach a large audience
and not resort to traditional production formats. It would
streamline the business for all e-authors and be a lesson for the
large conglomerates. Once this happens the 'teething' problems of
POD regarding say availability in bricks and mortar stores, will be
resolved.
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JB |
POD
seems to be the new kid on the block within the e-realm - share with
us your thoughts on this new format. Have you experienced success in
this format over the electronic formats? Are the local
bricks-and-mortar bookstores near you been co-operative in making
them available to your readers? Do you have any suggestions to other
published authors in this format? Where do you see the future of
e-publishing?
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RM |
I
hope I answered that one in the last question! |
| Click Here To
View the Sharpwriter Review
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JB |
Reviews
- You have received some truly excellent reviews, a couple of which
you have posted on your website:
How
difficult has it been for you getting your manuscripts reviewed?
Have you ever received a review that upset you in some way? What advice can you offer
our authors that have been in this position? What role do you
believe a reviewer has in the literary process?
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RM |
A
reviewer can entice a potential reader into wishing to read more. He
can influence opinion but then 'good' and 'bad' in literature is
very much to do with whimiscal opinion. I've yet to receive a
disparaging remark on my book but I'm well prepared for someone to
try and tell me where I went wrong !
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JB |
Now,
this is where you let your hair down, and offer anything further…yes
a free plug is more than okay… Robin, I would like to take this
opportunity of thanking you for agreeing to do this interview and I
wish you well for all your future endeavors.
Regards
JB Scott
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RM |
A
Small Journal of Heroin Addiction has something for everyone in
it.
I
defy any one not to be stimulated into some new thought or emotion
during the journey.
Its
a timeless offering
containing some real truths for human society that shouldn't
be ignored.
I'm
just very grateful that John Cullen at Clocktower saw its merit, and
gave my writings a chance.
From
half way across the world, in a very hot London, thanks to you JB,
for the interview and all your readers for joining us.
best
wishes Robin....................
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