On the verge of a new anthology, we are celebrating IN THE AIR with a behind the scenes view of authors and their stories. Here’s a look at Tim Jeffreys and his story “The Birdman of Bishopsbourne.”
ABOUT THE STORY
Tell me a little about your story and the world you’ve created.
The story is about a man who, as a child, was obsessed with flight and who as an adult is presented with the embodiment of that obsession in monstrous form.
What came first, the plot or the characters?
The unusual thing about this story was that the title came first. I had a vague idea of the story I wanted to tell, but getting it down on the page turned out to be quite difficult.
If you had to describe your protagonist in three words, what would they be?
Earthbound. Dissatisfied. Dutiful.
What is something about your protagonist that only you know?
I can’t think of anything that isn’t stated or implied in the story.
What were you trying to achieve with this story?
To show how our childhood dreams and aspirations sometimes have to be sacrificed and how there are times when that’s actually for the best.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
My favorite thing to do when I’m not writing, or stuck in the office at work, is to get out of the house and spend some time outdoors with my two children.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your stories?
You don’t need to use a lot of words to evoke an image effectively!
Do you have any suggestions to help others become better writers? If so, what are they?
Think of something you feel passionate about and write about that.
What do you think makes a good story?
A good story for me is one that you’re still thinking about a few days after you read it.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
First a comic book artist, then an illustrator. It was a long route to realizing that I wanted to tell stories.
What is your favorite writing tool or technique?
Brainstorming – helps you push your ideas into interesting new areas.
How would you describe your general writing voice and tone?
Urgent?
Share something fun or interesting (pick one)
Here is a song by a little-known but brilliant band called Golden Death Music. There was a period of time when I listened to this song every day. This band is basically a one-man Radiohead or a one-man Pink Floyd. I honestly believe that in an alternative reality this song is a number one hit!
Tim Jeffreys escaped the north of England more than a decade ago, and now lives in the greener surrounds of Bristol. Despite valiant efforts including studying Graphic Arts and Design at University, his original career plans went completely wrong and he ended up working in a tiny office in a Dental Hospital. The screams he sometimes hears from the clinics occasionally make it into the strange stories he writes when no one’s looking.
His short fiction has appeared in Weirdbook, Not One of Us, and Turn to Ash, amongst various other publications, and his latest collection ‘The Real Rachel Winterbourne and other stories’ is available now.
Transmundane Press 