Writer Unboxed

What’s all the fuss over Gods Behaving Badly? This high-concept story has created a lot of buzz and even spawned a new television series. Check out debut author Marie Phillips‘ fun YouTube production about her novel.

Now it’s our turn.

If you missed part one with the author of this frolicsome novel about the Greek gods, click HERE, then come back. In the final part of our interview, Marie Phillips discusses what made Gods Behaving Badly the story that had to be written, how she took a risk to make her writing aspirations come true, how she feels about Gods being made into a TV series and more.

Enjoy!

Interview with Marie Phillips: Part 2

Q: There’s been a lot of hype about GBB, some of which began pre-publication. How, if at all, did that affect you? Were you surprised by the breadth of the (international) attention?

MP: I was, and remain, completely astonished by the hype around GBB. I worked as a bookseller while I was writing the book so I’m familiar with how the industry works. The sad truth is that most books that come out are ignored by the media, sell very few copies and sink without a trace. That’s what I expected to happen to me, and I didn’t mind, I was just excited at the thought of my book being published at all. And then suddenly there were all these press stories about the book, and we started selling it to all these different countries, and I started doing interviews, and it all took off… I admit that I wasn’t at all prepared for the attention and I did find it quite intimidating. Before the book came out I remember locking myself in the loo at the gym and crying, thinking I’ve changed my mind, I don’t want it to come out! I was so scared about so many people reading it, judging it and judging me. But the response has been overwhelmingly positive, the press on the whole have been very kind to me, and my publishers and agent have been unbelievably supportive, so now I really appreciate how lucky I am, and how amazing it is to have the opportunity to get my book so widely read all over the world. I still don’t know why it has had such an impact, I have read better books that haven’t been picked up on at all. I’ve just been very lucky.

Q: You talked earlier about how the concept for GBB hit you over the head and you knew you’d have to write the story. You said you’re not sure why others latched on to it as they did, but I wonder if it’s the same thing that made you hang on to it? It’s a high-concept that promises loads of fun. What do you think of high-concept in general, and do you think it could be high concept that propelled your story into the limelight?

MP: I think there’s something in that. I certainly think the reason we’ve been able to sell the novel in so many different countries is that Greek mythology is at the bedrock of Western civilisation, it’s something we have a shared cultural understanding of that transcends national boundaries. So the concept of Greek gods being amongst us now resonates as much with a Swedish or Polish reader as it does with a British reader. And there’s something about the idea that is like a game; everyone immediately starts playing along, thinking about what they can remember about mythology from their own reading or schooling, and then imagining how that might play out now. I certainly think that there’s something about the idea that’s very easy to catch onto and to share. That’s the advantage of a high concept, as you say. The disadvantage of a high concept is that it can be one-dimensional and a bit obvious. But you just have to make the execution of the idea as lively and original as you can.

Q: According to your website, you worked in TV before leaving to write full time, but before you were published you worked at a bookstore. Have you always wanted to write? When you get to the point when you thought, “I have to commit to writing novels,” and how confident were you in your direction and the concept for GBB when you left television?

MP: Looking back, my love of writing has been a constant through my life and I think I always knew that one day I would write a novel. But for long periods of time I never considered the idea of being a full-time novelist. It seemed like an insane idea and hardly a way to support yourself. So there were always other careers that I had in mind, most notably working in TV. But as I advanced in my TV career, I increasingly couldn’t ignore the fact that I wasn’t fulfilled, I didn’t actually want to do any of the jobs further up the ladder, and really I just wanted to be writing. And so I quit. It was the maddest decision I ever made and I knew it was a huge gamble. But I said to myself that this was the time to do it: I was young, unmarried, no kids, nobody depending on me but me. If it all went wrong the only person who would suffer would be me. I didn’t have any confidence that I would be a success at writing, but I did know that it would make me happy, and it does. I soon realised that I could get by with a far smaller salary if was happy in my daily life. I made certain sacrifices - I didn’t go on holiday, didn’t buy new clothes, but I didn’t really miss those things because they were usually what I did to cheer myself up, and I didn’t need cheering up any more! Looking back on it all now, I can’t believe I had the fortitude to continue - when my previous novel was rejected by every publisher I sent it to, I just thought, oh well, I’ll have to write another. There was never any question of stopping writing. I thought: well, I’m not starving to death, so who cares. I am a great believer in doing what makes you happy…

Q: I’ve read that your story is going to be translated into a television series here in the U.S. As someone who used to work in TV, how do you feel about that? Do you have any say in what happens with that series? Any concerns over how it’ll be interpreted? Any idea when it might air?

MP: I’m incredibly excited about the sale of GBB to Red Hour, which is Ben Stiller’s production company. I’m a huge fan of Ben Stiller, just looking at a photo of him can make me laugh. I’m sure he and his team will do an amazing job with it - everyone I’ve spoken to so far has been great. I don’t anticipate having a huge amount of involvement in the making of the series, which I think is as it should be: I want to be getting on with new work, and sometimes you just have to let go. A TV series is a very different thing from a novel and there’s a risk of me spoiling it if I try to hang on to it, try to force it to remain faithful to this or that idea of mine. What excites me is the thought of the interpretation, of my vision being presented through this new beast. I’m sure that they will consult me, but they should also overrule me if it’s to the good of the programme. Mainly, I just want it to be funny. If it’s funny, they can do what they like with it. As for when it will air, that’s impossible to say, given the writers’ strike at the moment. Your guess is as good as mine.

Q: Who are your literary inspirations?

MP: They change all the time. For some reason, at the moment, I am mainly inspired by certain children’s authors, even though I am not writing for children. Particularly, right now I am inspired by AA Milne and Roald Dahl. I think it’s the quality of imaginative thinking that they display, plus their books are just so funny. Something happens when people start writing for adults, it’s like the boundaries of what you can write about shut down. People get hung up on what is “realistic”. I don’t care much about what is realistic, as long as it’s real within the rules of your book. What I’d love to be writing is books as magical and hilarious as “Winnie-the-Pooh” or “The Witches”, but for grown-ups.

Q: What are you working on now?

MP: I have recently started writing a new novel but I am being very cagey about it at this early stage. I’m always starting new novels and then not finishing them, or putting them aside for ages and then picking them up again later. So a friend will say “How is the book about the space pigs going?” and I’ll reply “Space pigs? Don’t you mean the eighteenth century librarian story?” I’ve learnt that it’s best not to be too specific… But I am writing and I’m really enjoying it, so hopefully something will come of that!

Thanks so much, Marie, for a great interview!

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