THIS week reporter Alistair Mackay talks to physicist and award-winning author Andrew Crumey.
Andrew (44), lives in Newcastle with his wife and two children but stayed in Kirkintilloch for many years, attending Oxgang Primary and Kirkintilloch High. The former teacher has a BSc (Hons) in mathematics and theoretical physics, a PhD in theoretical physics, was nominated for the Man Booker Prize and is the Scotland on Sunday's literary editor.
Why did you make the leap from science to writing fiction?
I used to write stories while I was at school and really enjoyed them, so I've always known that I would write novels one day.
It wasn't a masterplan or anything. I just felt I would do physics for a while and then become a writer.
I could have just thought: 'when will I have the time to write?' But you have got to make the time, which can be tough to do sometimes.
But I can't complain. I'm being paid for my hobby, which is nice.
Did doing that surprise a lot of people?
At first. People say to me that it's strange to go from being a physicist to a novelist.
But I've come across a lot of examples of people who started out as scientists and became authors or writers who had a close involvement with science.
In the past, people took a broader view of things and people weren't compartmentalised into certain things because of their background.
If you have an interest in the world around you then you can do pretty much anything.
Is it difficult to convince people not to be scared off when they read the word 'physics' on the back cover?
People respond to books of mine like Mobius Dick in different ways.
Some looked at it as a science fiction book, but where then maybe a bit disappointed as it's not.
But a lot of people who do like science fiction like the book, and others who can't stand it, really enjoyed it.
Does it help that your writing has a strong sense of humour?
It wasn't a conscious decision it's just really the way I think and write.
Life sucks, but I tend to see the funny side and a lot of writers I enjoy have a very funny vein running through them.
People like Dickens and Voltaire, for example, could be hilarious.
What's next for Andrew Crumey?
I'm working on a non-fiction book about writers influenced by science.
There are more recognised science authors like HG Wells and Mary Shelley, but also people like Edgar Alan Poe, Emerson and Dante.
The book will partly be about being able to learn a bit about physics, but also about these writers.
Does that mean you'll be making a permanent move into non-fiction?
My heart is really in fiction. There is a pleasure in just making things up.
All of my novels have a research element, but only because I had to look into something I was going to write about anyway.
I don't constantly research. I'm much happier going out and writing what I want to write.
What are your memories of Kirkintilloch?
My family moved to Kirkintilloch when I was four and I stayed until I went to university, so an important part of my life was spent there.
I love the place and had a lot of great times there.
So have you been back since?
My mum and dad still live in Kirkintilloch and I still go to see them quite often.
They were pleased when I told them I was going to be in the local paper.
I think the town is like anywhere else. Some things change and some stay exactly the same.
But I get a feeling there probably won't be many teachers from my era still at Kirky High.
Getting to Know You
First record: The Monkees by The Monkees
First car: Nissan Sunny
Book currently reading: Engels' Dialectics of Nature
Favourite holiday destination: Lanzarote
Favourite film: The Terminator
Famous person most like to meet: Albert Einstein
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Weather for Kirkintilloch
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
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