Bev Spicer, author of Stranded in the Seychelles
Can you start off by explaining a
bit about the Bev and Carol series in general and why you decided to write
them?
Like most things in my life, Bev and Carol were sort of
accidental. I was talking to a friend
who also writes, and when she found out I had worked at a London Playboy casino
as a croupier in the early 80s, she said I would be mad not to write about it.
People would be interested to know what it was really like dealing blackjack in
the not so glamorous world of Playboy. That was the beginning of Bev and Carol,
two friends with larger than life personalities and not a great deal of common
sense. So, Bunny on a Bike
(Playboy croupiers in 8os London) was the first humorous memoir I wrote,
but the second in the series.
Confused? All will become clear...
Are there any more Bev and Carol
adventures in the pipeline since they were last seen jetting off towards
Bangkok?
Aha! Well, there are three so far: One Summer in
France (two girls in a tent)Book one, Bunny on a Bike
(mentioned above) Book two and Stranded in the Seychelles
(teachers in paradise)Book three.
I’m very, very tempted to go off piste with Bev and Carol next
time. Perhaps a hilarious sci fi
adventure: Black Holes and Poptarts for example. If you remember the 70s and 80s, Poptarts
were a kind of mass produced flat cake with synthetic jam in the middle. These delicacies were responsible for many a
toaster fire as young people everywhere fed their addiction for sugar and
animal fat. Yummy. They do feature in
the Bev and Carol books. Perhaps
Seychelles was lucky enough to escape them?
Stranded in Seychelles is a very
tongue-in-cheek look at the islands back in the late 1980s - what would you
want Seychellois readers to know before they pick up the book?
Glad you asked this one! Stranded in the Seychelles, like all the books in the Bev and
Carol series, is meant to be entertaining but also interesting. Hopefully, readers will see that the laugh
is generally on one or other of the protagonists rather than at the expense of
other characters who appear in the books.
The portrayal of Seychelles is from the point of view of two young women
who are exploring a new and exciting culture where, for the first time in their
lives, they are exposed to a society which is evolving at a fantastic
rate. There are aspects of Seychellois
life that Bev and Carol find charming, laudable, refreshing and, at the same
time, they come across social practices that test their moral and political
yardsticks, sometimes leaving them baffled or overwhelmed. During their time on the islands, Bev and
Carol are delighted, challenged and terrified in turn. Above all, I hope that the deep affection
and pride I felt for Seychelles and its people will come through loud and
clear.
What kind of person was Bev Spicer
in those days?
Incorrigible, unstoppable, dozy, blonde, less wrinkly, and
on the lookout for adventure. I
remember never wanting to settle in one place for too long because I might miss
something. The world seemed like a huge
treasure chest and I wanted to dive in and pull out as much sparkle as I
could. I suppose I was lucky to have
received a free university education, trained to be a teacher and to have had a
father who only wanted me to follow my heart and be happy. And so, in those days, I was a traveller,
first and foremost. I’ve lived in a lot
of different countries and feel privileged to have encountered so much that is
new to me. Wherever I have been, I’ve
always found amazing people. People who
smile no matter what life throws at them.
I had very little in terms of possessions in those days. I felt free and unafraid of the future.
Have you been back to the Seychelles
since your departure from the NYS? If so, what can you say about how the
islands and the people have changed since then?
No, I’ve never thought about returning. Do you know how rich
you have to be to holiday in the Seychelles?
I’m so pleased to have found your site, though. Now I can keep up with what’s happening at
the click of a button. Amazing!
You say that the book is partly
fictional and partly a true account of your experiences in Seychelles - how
much/what parts of the book has been embellished with fiction and why?
Now this is a very leading question! I would say that practically all of the
events are based on my own experiences, with the occasional exaggeration for
dramatic effect. Fiction comes into
play with the characters, who have been made as unrecognisable as possible from
the real people I met. ‘Carol’ is an
entirely fictional character in all of the books. The person who accompanied me to France, London and Seychelles,
was nothing like Carol. What is
absolutely real, and what I have endeavoured to convey is the profound and
treasured friendship that comes from knowing someone well and enjoying their
company in a way that is effortless and genuine. I sometimes think that Bev and Carol are probably more like two
sides of my own rather strange personality.
Are you still close to Carol (is
that her real name)? How did she react when you told her you wanted to write
this series?
I am in touch with my friend, yes. Her name, as you’ve probably guessed, is not Carol. How does she feel about the books? I think she is quite impressed, and very
happy for me.
Is the book only available on Amazon
or do you have print versions available as well?
All three memoirs are available on Amazon as kindle versions
or in paperback.
Are you self-published?
Yes. I like being
self-published. I have total control
over content, cover, pricing and publication dates.
When was Stranded in Seychelles released?
The kindle version was released on February 27th 2014. The paperback version on October 17th 2014.
How has the book and the series in
general done in sales and have you received any interest from publishers?
All my books are gradually reaching a wider audience, which
is very exciting for me. I try to spread the word using social media, but I try
not to overdo this. Most readers who
buy my books do so after reading reviews on Amazon or by recommendation from a
friend. Interviews like this one
generally help too! I am always
thrilled when someone chooses to buy a copy of one of my books and I’m lucky
enough to have received excellent reviews for all of them.
Publishers? I’ve had
a great deal of interest, but nothing concrete, as yet. I’m quite happy being an independent author
for the time being.
How many other books have you
written in total and what kind of genres do they cover?
Apart from my three humorous memoirs, I have three published
novels and three published short stories, all kindle versions. I’m aiming to get all my work into paperback
by the end of the year. Wish me luck!
My Grandfather’s Eyes is a psychological drama
featuring a strong female protagonist who some readers have described as evil.
A Good Day for Jumping is set on the island of
Crete where I spent two years teaching, and is more of a character driven
mystery involving a multilayered plot, a handsome libertine and a glamorous
woman who has led a very unusual life.
The Undertaker’s Son is set in France, where I
now live, and is rather more of a soap opera, with lots of local detail and a
collection of rural and international characters. There is romance, deceit, croissants, and a terrifying twist at
the end.
I have also published three separate short stories: Angels
is a metaphysical horror story, Strings is an apocalyptic sci fi
and Peaches in the Attic is a rather disturbing tale about a
grandmother and her granddaughter.
You now live in France with your
husband and children - would you say your days of adventure, binge drinking and
reckless abandon are over?
I don’t binge drink any more, although I do have a glass of
wine with dinner - this is unavoidable given where I live... and very
enjoyable, too. Would I give up
adventure and reckless abandon? I don’t
know if I could ever do that!
To go to Seychelles News Agency's online journal, click here:
Lovely interview, Bev. I need to read more of your Bev and Carol books. I enjoyed One Summer in France, but I barely have time to read my emails and blogs these days….when the Masters is over…I will!
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