Where did Kerosene come from?
I used to have ‘Cal days’ back then when I was just too low to meet anyone’s eye in the street and so on, so the protagonist grew out of that. People tell me they really identify with Cal’s shyness, which is good. I certainly do. Q: So, you were a published author at nineteen. What’s that like? A: It was brilliant, obviously, but more because I had finally achieved what I’d been trying for all my life up till then. I had a frighteningly sharp focus on what I wanted to do and be ever since I can remember. Plus I was at University at the time, and there was finally post-University light at the end of the tunnel that didn’t involve me joining a bunch of faceless suits in an office block. I made it my mission from then on to become a full-time writer. It was kind of a squeeze at first, but I think I’ve pretty much got it down now. Q: If you sat down to write Kerosene today, do you think it would be a different book, since you’re more removed from high school? Do you still want to burn it d
