20 questions with author Merryn Corcoran
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
To complete whatever I begin. At the moment, I’m focusing on launching my current novel The Silent Village in the UK and completing my next novel. Writing seems to engulf me so finding a balance between my working life and my personal life is vital.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all” However, I sometimes slip up.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2014?
The fact that forms of slavery are still alive and well in our society and that the Internet perpetuates this with access to ‘sex for sale’.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
Daily life in London. The French Riviera town of Menton where we spend around six months of the year is wonderful for writing but I miss the buzz of London and need a ‘fix’ at least once a month.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
The health of several of my friends who have cancer and other long-term diseases.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
Get rid of your personal debt as soon as you can then the banking crisis won’t affect you.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
‘Have a nice day’ with an American accent.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I support UNICEF. I was made an honourary fellow of UNICEF (UK) in 2007 as over a 10 year period I ran a committee that raised £1 million. We did this via an annual celebrity ball. UNICEF has the lowest administration costs of the big charities. What I now understand is that people will attend a party and part with their money for a charity so much more willingly than just handing it over.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
It does my head in when you’re sitting around the dinner table with a group and people are texting on their phones. I believe it’s the height of rudeness. They are banned at our dinner table.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
In addition to my husband, daughter and son in law, I’d love to have Piers Morgan, Prince Harry, P. D. James, Damian Lewis and Richard O’Brien.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Organic roast chicken and vegetables in our New Zealand home on a balmy evening looking out over South Pacific Ocean.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
6pm as a rule. When on official holiday, midday.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A cup of tea.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
Richard O’Brien (writer of the Rocky Horror Show) as he always has an eclectic mix of characters and great music in both London and New Zealand and my own parties as my husband is the best cook in the world.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Myself.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
A hot bath surrounded by fragrant candles sipping a glass of champagne and having my back rubbed.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
‘Made in New Zealand’ logo.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A vintage two door Jaguar.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I left school at 16, I’m dyslectic and I originally trained as a nurse.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
A stunning antique Italian vase I found in a junk shop in Menton and several framed photos of my extended family.
Merryn Corcoran is a businesswoman and author. Her first novel, The Silent Village, will be launched in the UK on Wednesday 2nd April at Waterstones in Notting Hill.
The Silent Village is available at Waterstones, Foyles and on Amazon in both printed and Kindle formats.
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