February 28, 2008
writer nikki gemmell
Success is a funny thing. Publication of The Bride Stripped Bare - with the teasing author note: anonymous - threw Nikki Gemmell onto the world publishing scene. As journalists hunted her down as the actual author of this racy book, Nikki became anything but anonymous. Bride was an instant bestseller and her name will be forever known. That was how I first came to read the works of Nikki Gemmell. But I had heard her voice many times before - on the radio station Triple J. Surely, this couldn't be the same woman. That girly voice couldn't be the author of a book about a woman's ferocious sexual needs and desires. It was. And I was intrigued. So I read Shiver then Lovesong and realised what a disservice the whole hoopla about Bride has been for this incredibly talented author - focussing on the sex rather than the words. She writes in such a poetic way that each dreamy sentence requires your attention and many times I've reread passages because they've brought so much pleasure. So while I'm thrilled for Nikki's success, I hope people look beyond Bride and read some of her other works - she's truly an inspiring woman, as her answers below demonstrate.
Oh, and check out the May 08 issue of real living, on sale Monday 7 April, which will feature Nikki's tips to success.
What's your proudest achievement? Combining fulltime motherhood with writing. But God I'm tired.
Who inspires you? Anyone who risks. "Explode it all" said Beckett - I live by that in terms of my fiction.
What are you passionate about? My family, bold writing, Australia, sunlight.
What's the best lesson you've learnt? Don't let the heart-sinkers win.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Martin, a friend.
What are you excited about? My next novel - almost there, if the baby just sleeps a little bit longer for me.
What's next? Coming home to Australia - to live, and to write a novel set in it.
Who inspires you? Anyone who risks. "Explode it all" said Beckett - I live by that in terms of my fiction.
What are you passionate about? My family, bold writing, Australia, sunlight.
What's the best lesson you've learnt? Don't let the heart-sinkers win.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Martin, a friend.
What are you excited about? My next novel - almost there, if the baby just sleeps a little bit longer for me.
What's next? Coming home to Australia - to live, and to write a novel set in it.