Hi everyone!
This week’s #SJsTwitterBookClub featured author and lyricist Polly Samson (@PollySamson), chatting about her wonderful book A Theatre for Dreamers.
Polly introduced the book to us. “A Theatre for Dreamers is set on the Greek island of Hydra in 1960. It is about Erica Hart's coming of age, at an interesting and transitional time for women, set among the real bohemian colony there. The real people include Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen and Charmian Clift.” She told us that the book began for her when she read Charmian Clift's memoir Peel Me A Lotus, “on Hydra in 2014 and after that there was no thinking or reading about anything else until the book was written.”
“many of the "in-character" walks were taken on Hydra while I was researching.”
@susanW1F asked Polly which characters she finds hardest to write, and how she tackles the challenge. She told us “I do a sort of method for each character before I start writing. It involves going for very long walks but by the time I get to the writing I don't find any of them too resistant” and revealed that though the book was written in her shed, “many of the "in-character" walks were taken on Hydra while I was researching.”
@Steven_Stokes asked whether those who live on Hydra recognise the part their island has played in so many extraordinary creative journeys. Polly replied, “The Hydriots are incredibly cool about their formers inhabitants. You don't really hear Leonard Cohen being played in cafes and those Those who knew Charmian and George remember them with great warmth.”
We asked Polly about her method.
It was a fascinating discussion about a really beautiful book. If you haven’t read it, it’s highly recommended!
Next week, #SJsTwitterBookClub is taking a week off (I’m going away for a few days to refuel and recharge), but the week after is a very special event indeed! On Thursday 22nd July at 7.30pm we welcome author, musician, curator and host of the #TimsTwitterListeningParty (and therefore unofficial godfather of #SJsTwitterBookClub) @Tim_Burgess, who’ll tell us all about his memoir, Telling Stories.
Don’t miss it!
Happy reading…