'Being able to say whatever you want'
Keith Adamson Interview
With our recent publication of My Margaret, Your Toshie by Keith Adamson we invited Keith to partake in our quick-fire Q&A!
What is a quick-fire Q&A?
We have our interviewee pick a number at random (between 1-42) and we ask them the general question listed next to it. Shortly after we switch to asking book-specific questions (1-22), to give you a brief insight into our wonderful writers and their books.
What are you reading currently?
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
What are your three favourite books?
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
What were you like in school?
A bit introverted, I think.
What's your favourite thing about being an author?
Being able to say whatever you want to say.
What inspired you to start writing books?
Wanting to get things out.
I started at age ten, and it's taken me 64 years to get published.
It’s a hard time out here.
What was the most emotional part about writing this book?
I think the discovery of the letters, and the voice of Macintosh that came through the letters is very evocative.
Why should people read this book?
Because it gives a new insight into the life of Macintosh other than through his work. There is a lot about his work. They should also read it to get a new angle on his life and his relationship with his wife.
f you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?
I would ask Mr Macintosh for his advice as an architect.
If you were to make a film based on this book, who would you cast?
It would be quite nice to have Tom Conti and Kara Wilson be husband and wife again. But I think maybe we're too late for that because they're kind of in my age bracket now.
What is the main message you would like people to take from this book?
It’s never too late to reinvent yourself. Don't give up on life.
Who is your least favourite character from the book and why?
I suppose it would have to be John Keppie, because he and Macintosh didn't get on well,
which is a pity, because it started off well, and then they diverged. It's.
It often happens in architectural partnerships that there is a split, but I think John was very tough on Charles.
What was your favourite thing about writing this book?
I think it was such familiar territory that all the time I was writing it, I thought that there is an audience for this. There will be interest because Macintosh is so popular in Scotland and in particular Glasgow,
It was nice to think people will read this while I was writing it.