CL: What is your favourite part of the book and why?
SP: I've got lots of favourite parts! I'm particularly fond of some of the back stories -- e.g., Mrs. Ross's time in the asylum, and Francis's memories of the relationship with Jammet. And I'm very proud of the ending.
CL: Are any of the characters particularly close to your heart?
SP: Mrs. Ross, because it all started with her. Francis -- who I loved writing -- and Sturrock, probably because he first started out as a character in the original screenplay, who was then axed. A nice thing about writing is that you can bring people back from the dead! He's also the only character who's based on a historical person -- an Irish journalist who wrote about the Highland Clearances in the 1840s. If Sturrock's life sounds far-fetched, it isn't half as extraordinary as Thomas Mulock's…
CL: If you were organizing a book club reading of your novel, what are some questions you would like to see discussed?
SP: That's a really hard question to answer! I don't think I'd want to impose an interpretation on anyone else. Whatever anyone takes from the book is valid. In fact I'd probably learn something…
CL: What are some authors and books you're inspired by?
SP: I love crime novels, particularly ones that push the boundaries of genres. For example the Swedish writer Kirsten Ekman, who writes brilliantly about landscape and character. Someone I find hugely inspiring is Barry Lopez, the natural history writer. Arctic Dreams is possibly my favourite book of all time. He somehow manages to combine history, philosophy and poetry with the migrating habits of muskoxen! He has taught me to see in a new way.
In a different field I love the Aubrey-Maturin novels of Patrick O'Brien -- there's a beautiful humanity to his characters, great wit and a mature wisdom about life -- all allied to incredible adventure. Just wonderful.
CL: Can you give us a sneak peek into any future projects?
SP: I'm working on two screenplays at the moment -- one, "Nova Scotia," the aforementioned story of Mrs. Ross in Scotland, is still "live" and being cast at the moment. The other is "Metal Heart," a road movie set in contemporary Lapland, but in summer, so there's no snow in that one. And I'm starting my next book, which I'm reluctant to say too much about at the moment! It also has a mystery -- and a search -- at its core, but in a very different setting to Wolves.
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