Paul Kavanagh Interview
Tell us about the process of writing The Killing of a Bank Manager – was it a difficult book to write? Did you come across any stumbling blocks?
No, it flowed like the Thames, sweetly.
What would you like your readers to come away with after reading The Killing of a Bank Manager?
Sore eyes and a bad back.
How do you explain the debauchery in the book?
Debauchery? Did you know that P. J. Thomas played Peter in the movie Jesus Christ Superstar? He had a great singing voice. Now that is Debauchery!
The Killing of a Bank Manager – what were you hoping to achieve with the title?
I stole it from John Cassavetes. The title The Killing of a Chinese Bookie is the best title a movie could ever have. I wonder how many times John Cassavetes standing in line for a movie had it ruined by some idiot who had blurted out the ending. It happens every time with me. I wanted to make sure the reader just didn’t skip to the end of the book. What’s the point you already know the ending. It’s in the title.
Is TV evil?
No. It’s the people watching the television. I never heard of the Benny Hill Show jumping out of the television and committing rape.
Who are your favorite writers and why?
Stefan Themerson. The grass was green and then Themerson showed me it could be blue. There are many many more but for this I will just say Stefan Themerson.
How do you view other writers?
With my eyes. I suppose that’s how you see them too.
What’s your opinion of writing for a market?
I hate the word market. The word stinks. I once had a date with a girl. She reeked. I didn’t want to say anything, but the reek was bad. I said something. I tried to be sensitive. She slapped me across the face. It turned out she worked at the fish market. I heard that people who work at the fish market get a few extra pounds because of the smell.
The most honest being is…
There is nothing honest in this universe, nothing, babies, children, men, women, the other animals, trees, flowers, bacteria, microorganisms, things made out of plastic and rubber, even the air we breathe is dishonest. And I love them all and I am very happy that they are dishonest.
Tags: john cassavetes, paul kavanagh, stefan themerson, the killing of a bank manager, the killing of a chinese bookie