This is the first of two Mouse-related posts over the next week or so; the second is a review of Mousey activities during 2010 and what is to come in 2011. But today we catch up with Gladstone McWhiskers, Mouse Of Commons and Lords himself to see how his year has been...
Q. Gladstone - how was your year? Did you take part in any of the 10th anniversary celebrations?
A. I kept a close eye on them, sure enough - but didn't actually attend anything in particular - at least if I did then nobody saw me? Being a mouse means having good qualifications for doing such things...
Q. Are you saying that you attended them in disguise?
A. That would be telling - but unlike my friend Charlie Grrr I don't actually enjoy too much undue attention; limelight just isn't my colour! At any rate - this is more an anniversary for Mr Chandler... After all it is ten years since he began writing about me; but no particular special anniversary for my self as far as being me is concerned.
Q. Have you read Paul's latest book - POSTCARDS FROM MCWHISKERS?
A. Why, of course... But don't forget that I lived it before he wrote it!
Q. In a way he is your official biographer?
A. Well, absolutely... Although not just mine; which is why it is so much better - the stories are written after consultation with all of us. I am happy for the stories to be told - and I don't even mind that they are centred around me; but I wouldn't like them just to be about me alone. I like the big picture to be told and how everyone was involved...
Q. A good deal of POSTCARDS FROM MCWHISKERS is set in Spain; have you been back recently?
A. Not recently... I think that perhaps I saw quite enough for a while after my various jaunts around Barcelona and Majorca.
Q. Can we expect any further stories set overseas?
A. Actually yes... There are two I can think of off the top of my head; I believe they will be novellas - they are stories from a little while ago that I told Paul about but which he has yet to complete work on...
Q. And where are they set?
A. One is set in Amsterdam and involves a rather horrific cheese that can do all sorts of untold damage and the other concerns an attempt by Charlie Grrr to stop Venice from sinking by using giant inflatable pies... But I'm afraid that I can't say any more about either of those for the moment.
Q. Are there many stories yet to see the light of day?
A. At least two books worth, I'd say - maybe even three - not to mention the next novel...
Q. We'll return to that in a moment... Two or three books, you say!? Any hints about what the stories involve?
A. I try to avoid spoilers - but I will say that one of them involves a gang of shelving-imps in the library, another involves the story of a fox called Fleabag and a third involves Charlie Grrr giving up pies!!
Q. A bear giving up pies! That's unbelievable...
A. Especially when it's Charlie!! That fellow lives and breathes pies...
Q. Going back to the next book; we believe it's called GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE COUNTERCLOCKWISE CONUNDRUM... What is that all about?
A. To a certain extent it's about time-travel and also about how altering time can effect what we believe to be true about our everyday lives... It's probably the most complicated Mouse novel to date and has taken Paul since 2007 to get to the stage where it will hopefully be ready for publishing in 2011; I believe that Paul is working on the final few pages even as we speak... However it always takes quite a while to proofread; so it may well take until the autumn before anything is ready.
Q. Any other clues about what it involves?
A. Well, part of the story is set in the past and part of it is set in the present day - Ollie and I are back in the past, but are separated - and it's about how we attempt to be reunited; whilst back home some of our other friends are attempting to get us back whilst being involved in problems of their own. Charlie Grrr is also involved; as are a band of highwaymice...
Q. We believe this book may also involve a direct sequel?
A. Could be... Well, let's just say that this particular adventure was quite a problem and took far longer than most that I've been involved in - and yes, it wouldn't be wrong to say that the first book leaves matters on a bit of a cliffhanger which will eventually be resolved; but not immediately!
Q. May we ask how Oliver and Charlie are doing? Are they well...
A. In Oliver's case, yes - very well... Busy following me around, whilst dealing with his increasingly growing louse fan-club. Charlie I have seen less of; but he is always involved in some project or other - usually involving either pies or making money to buy pies.
Q. Finally, we believe that Paul returned to Vegas this month - where most of the first draft of MOUSE IN A BOTTLE was written back in 2000. Will there be photos?
A. I believe so, yes - there may even be one with this post... I believe he also recorded a video there which has a small section about the writing of this book - so watch this space - there is lots more to come in 2011 and beyond...
Q. Thank you for your time, Gladstone - may we wish you, your family and friends a very happy Christmas and a troublefree 2011.
A. Thank you! And the same to you... Although when you're Mouse of Commons and Lords trouble is never too far away! It's fine - we can cope with that - it's better than life being dull, after all!?
Thank you to Charlie Grrr's Pie-Star Agency for arranging this interview...
Labels: "MOUSE OF COMMONS", comedy, Gladstone McWhiskers, HUMOR, HUMOUR, MICE, Mouse of Commons
posted by Paul Chandler @ 9:28 AM
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