Announcer: For the first time in over a year, the World of the Tiger Princess has returned! So put your hands together to welcome the wonderful lady herself, The Tiger Princess!
Audience gives a standing ovation as the Tiger Princess appears onstage, accompanied by a large white tigress and a handsome dark haired man.
Tiger Princess: Thank you so much everyone! I’ve been so busy that I’ve not had much time to interview anyone so it is fitting that I return with a writer who is almost as busy as I am!
Audience: Ooooo….
Tiger Princess: He’s written a crime novel based on personal experience and has dipped his toe into the fantasy waters with a series of stories which explore the role of women in fantasy as well as being an excellent example of why dragons can be really nasty…
Audience: Ahhh…
Put your hands together to welcome Paul Trembling to the World of The Tiger Princess!
Holding out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler plays as the tigress and man leave the stage and return with Paul.
Tiger Princess: Welcome to the show, Paul.
Paul Trembling: It’s lovely to be here.
They sit down and the man and tigress go back stage.
Tiger Princess: Where do you live, were you born and bred there?
Paul Trembling: I currently live in Brownhills, which is near Walsall in the West Midlands. I was born inGuildford, inSurrey – and I still have a bit of the accent to prove it!
Tiger Princess: Do you have kids? Please tell us a little about them?
Paul Trembling: We’ve got three boys. The oldest one, Tom, is just completing his course at University, where he’s been doing something very clever and technical to do with computer animation. He’s a wiz at things like Photoshop – the cover for my crime novel ‘Can of Worms’ is his work. (Please excuse the little plug!)
Matt is the second lad, just turned 15. Like me, he’s very creative (we’ve collaborated on some writing) and he’s also been involved in some drama. Unlike me, he’s very talented musically – plays guitar and keyboard, writes his own songs, etc.
The youngest is Andy – 12 years old and, like Matt, has inherited some music gifts from his Mum! He plays piano / keyboard. Also regularly beats me at anything we play together on the X-box (but they all do that).
Tiger Princess: Do you have another job apart from writing? For how many hours? How do you feel about the ‘other’ job?
Paul Trembling: I’m a full time Crime Scene Investigator. Which (as I say every day) is nothing like CSI on TV! Still, not a bad job as jobs go, and on some days can be really good! But I can’t deny that there’s many times when I’d rather be writing instead.
Tiger Princess: Which character trait do you like best about yourself and why? Which trait would you rather do without?
Paul Trembling: Tough one! To change the question slightly, I like myself best when I’ve managed to be unselfish, and put someone else first. And obviously, when I get that back to front is when I least like myself!
Tiger Princess: How did you start writing?
Paul Trembling: I started story telling before I could write. Some of my earliest memories are of laying in bed at night making up stories. At school, of course, ‘Write a short story’ was one of my favourite classes – though I had trouble sticking to the ‘short’ format. What was supposed to be a one lesson exercise frequently turned out to be an epic that took several lessons to complete – though that did include the illustrations! I feel sorry for my teachers.
Tiger Princess: How do you structure your writing day?
Paul Trembling: Structure?
I wish I could manage such a thing! I write when I have the time, and the space, and when the need to write drives me to it – which is quite often! Mornings are often a good time, but when an idea really takes over it can be anytime. If I’m not actually writing, I’m probably thinking about writing. Most of what I put down on (virtual) paper has already been written several times in my head.
Someday – when I’m not working (or at least not working shifts) and I can take control of my life, I might be able to actual put some structure in place. Dream on!
Tiger Princess: If you could meet any writer, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Paul Trembling: I remember answering this one before somewhere. I think I said C.S. Lewis – and he would still be my first choice. For his creativity and imagination and honesty and clarity and depth of thought. Particularly for the way he tackles questions of Christian apologetics – which still seem to me to be fresh and original, even after all these years.
Another candidate might have been the Christian writer and speaker Adrian Plass, for many of the same reasons. Plus his brilliant sense of humour. However, I have actually met him – albeit briefly – so I can tick him off the list.
Tiger Princess: What is your favourite music to write to and does it inspire your work?
Paul Trembling: I don’t listen to music while I’m writing. The quieter the better, for me. Music is something I have on while I’m doing something else, like driving. I can’t think of anything I’ve written that was directly inspired by music.
Tiger Princess: Are you a Paper and Ink or a Computer and Keyboard writer?
Paul Trembling: Keyboard, always. My handwriting is abysmal!
Tiger Princess: What is your pet hate in books that you buy for yourself?
Paul Trembling: I try and be forgiving of all faults, because I may be guilty of them myself! Clumsy sentence structures, obvious anachronisms – they all break the flow of a story and detract from the readers experience, but even with extensive editing, things like that can sneak in.
I do find it irritating when characters or circumstances are juggled around to fit the plot. It feels very contrived, but even some top selling writers have done it! (Or at least, I thought they had!)
Tiger Princess: What books do you like to read?
Paul Trembling: Mostly Fantasy and Science Fiction. Some historical fiction and history, a bit of crime, a few thrillers. I’ll have a go at almost anything.
Tiger Princess: And Finally – if you won the Booker Prize, how would you celebrate?
Paul Trembling: I’ve no idea! Such dizzy heights are way beyond my aspirations. I have quite a few competition entries in the pipeline for this year, and if I win any of those I’ll be stunned!
Tiger Princess: I’m certain that you’ll do well and we’ll all will you onward! Thank you for being so patient and answering my questions.
Paul Trembling: Thank you, you’re welcome!
Tiger Princess: (To audience) Tune in again soon and we’ll bring another wonderful writer or artist to you!
The World of The Teigr Princess 