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At Christmas, Alan gave me some perfume: Rose by Paul Smith. (I’d squirted myself with some on my way through duty free and loved it. He’d remembered.) It smelled exactly like roses, and therefore like summer, like gardens, like all of the peace and happiness which (for me) goes with those places. I’d spray it on on the morning and really enjoy the scent. And then, at different times of day – maybe getting on the train, or halfway round the supermarket – I’d get another whiff of the roses, delicate and bright.
Reading Nik Perring’s book, ‘Not so Perfect’, has had a similar effect on me. It’s a tiny little book full of tiny little stories, printed on smooth, thick paper, illustrated with charm and quirkiness. These are stories you can read in a minute (and I do mean sixty seconds, not the “I’ll be there in a minute when I’ve finished this” sort of a minute). I first opened it while finishing breakfast one morning. I read the first story, about a bad tempered older man who gardens and is a trial to his younger wife. It made me smile, and it made my heart tighten a little, and I put it down and went on my way.
As I queued for (de-caff) coffee later that morning, I found myself thinking about this little story again, and mulling over how bad we can sometimes be at explaining what is really bothering us. On the train home, I looked out of the window and wondered what the woman did next. In the bath, I thought about the many different ways that we humans have to tell each other that we love each other.
Yes, these are stories that cling like perfume. These are words brought together which care and craftsmanship, and tales that make you laugh, and think. I especially liked ‘Lump’, in which a woman finds a lump in her breast but it doesn’t stop her having a whole lot of fun.
I liked this book so much I invited Nik over to say hello and answer some questions. And Nik liked it here so much that he’s giving away two copies of the book to Bah! readers. I’ll tell you how you can get hold of one in a minute, because Nik’s waiting.
SB: Hello, Nik, and welcome to Bah! to cancer. I really enjoyed reading your short stories. They really are short – they’re almost micro-stories. How did you come to be interested in writing in such a way?
NP: Hi Stephanie. Thanks so much for having me here. I’m thrilled you enjoyed the stories in Not So Perfect.
I think I’ve always been drawn to the shorter form. I think I’m naturally inclined to write that way. I like the idea of being able to tell a whole story, or moment, in a space short enough for it to be read in one sitting. I like also that first drafts can be written in a short period of time too. I think it must have something to do with my rubbish attention span!
SB: Do you need different writing skills for short stories than for other types of fiction?
NP: I think that there are a number of skills any writer needs: a good imagination, dedication to writing, the ability to interest readers and (hopefully) to affect them with their carefully chosen words. The only different skill I’d say someone who writes very short pieces needs is the ability to say what needs to be said in the most efficient way possible and to be able to get rid of everything that isn’t absolutely needed. Now, I’m sure that is the case for most other writers, though I’d guess (without being disrespectful) that people who write longer things have the freedom to be less sparse.
SB: Do you enjoy being a writer?
NP: That’s a really good question! The pay’s lousy, I’m at my desk usually seven days a week, I’m constantly worrying that people won’t like what I do but I honestly absolutely love it. There aren’t many jobs where your work is being you.
SB: What’s your favourite short story by another writer? (Mine is Pigeon Feathers by John Updike, closely followed by The Storm by Kate Chopin.)
NP:I’ll definitely be looking those up!
I’m sorry, I’m going to have to cheat here because there are so many that are absolute favourites and I really couldn’t only give you one.
So: Breaking The Pig by Etgar Keret; The Meeting by Aimee Bender; Babycakes, by Neil Gaiman; Toad in the Hole by Sarah Salway; My Lover’s Name by Michael Czyzniejewski; Miss Temptation by Kurt Vonnegut; The Angel in the Car Park by Tania Hershman and On The Tram by Franz Kafka. And even in a list as long as this I feel bad for leaving so many out!
SB: What are you working on now?
NP: I’m just doing what I do – and that’s writing stories (as well as trying to promote Not So Perfect as best I can!). I do have a few ideas for future projects but until I start them it’s difficult to know exactly what they’ll be!
SB: The BBBB is all about uplifting books. Can you tell me about a book that lifts your spirits?
NP: Any good book lifts my spirits. I guess when I’m feeling in need of a pick-me-up I’ll usually go back to books by Aimee Bender or Etgar Keret because I love them so much and because, even though I’ve read them many, many times over, the stories still feel fresh.
‘Love That Dog’ by Sharon Creech is a brilliant feel good book. Reading that always makes me smile. I’d definitely recommend that.
SB: And what’s your Desert Island book?
NP: Hopefully someone’s published something called, ‘How To Survive on a Desert Island and Find an Accessible Library or Book Store’ or something similar. If not it’d probably be Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender.
SB: Thank you!
NP: No, thank you! And keep up the splendid work!
*
If you’d like one of the two copies of Not So Perfect then all you have to do is leave a comment telling me what your favourite smell is. I’ll pick two at random on Sunday. And if you miss out, don’t worry – you can buy the book here or keep an eye out for a signed copy showing up in the next BBBB.
Nik blogs here and his website is here, and you can follow him on Twitter here.
You can hear Neil Gaiman reading a short story here and find one by Aimee Bender here.
On holiday in France I walked into a perfume shop of all natural scents. The exuberant owner tried to pin down my favourite scent and came up with this: one squirt of passion fruit with one squirt of “orange douce”. It smells gorgeous. When DH wandered in wondering what I was up to, she doused him in the mix of the 2 and I followed him by scent alone the rest of the day.
Last time the man and I went to Fort William (north-west Scotland), we stopped along the west coast at a little seaside restaurant. Needing to stretch our legs, we walked down a trail that led down a hillside to a small inlet. I remember a smell, made crisp by the chill spring air: the salt water and sandy soil, the scrubby flowering plants, the moss and trees… a combination that must be unique to that spot. But even a year later I remember it vividly.
Favourite smell has to be either fresh coffee or fresh bread.
N
I love the smell of fresh washing that’s been hung out on the line to dry. Ozone. Can’t beat it.
My daughters’ necks when they snuggle in for a hug. They smell of crayons and grass and lemons and little girl.
Oh I have so many. Most of which are food based. As the weather is lovely today my mind is wandering towards food for the weekend. A barbeque always has an unlifting smell. It is the smell of family time, of warmth and laughter. With a sprinkling of herbs on the hot coals.
My mother’s house: a mix of her body lotion, childhood memories and lingering smell of my favourite dish that she always prepares for my homecoming.
The smell of fresh flowers always perks me up … especially peonies! My new laundry liquid is also pretty fabulous … when I walk into the house, it smells like tropical flowers.
Hmm,
I think it has to be the smell of Grandma’s hallway when I’ve turned up for my traditional Polish tea of Bigos and Pierogi. [/memories]
Rain on tarmac or the old roses grown from a cutting from my grandmother’s garden.
My favorite smell is that of fresh coffee after my boyfriend has made it and brought it to me when I’m just waking up. I only get to see him once every few weeks (long-distance -I’m at a university 200 miles from home), so it’s always really special when I can wake up to that scent.
This looks like a great read -awesome giveaway!
baileythebookworm at gmail dot com
Fresh paint! Mmm, that Brilliant White emulsion – gets me every time!
Thanks again for having me on!
And what brilliant entries and smells. Must admit, I’m a sucker for wood smoke. Or frying onions.
I love that ‘new book’ smell, myself – which isn’t a completely unsubtle hint towards wanting a new book, it happens to be true!
The first thing I do upon buying a book is to open it up and take a good, deep sniff of it! Yes, I may be wrong in the head.
I hate to sound like an addict, but I love the smell of petrol almost as much as aviation fuel. Fortunately I work beside an airfield.
In the real world I like Charlie Red, which has good memories for my wife and I. Hmmm, I fear I’ve said too much…
I love the smell of Jovan Musk. It was my dad’s cologne and he was the only man I knew that wore it. Every time I smell something that even comes close, it’s like my dad’s standing next to me again. Definitely one of my favorite scents in the world.
My favorite smell is basements, church basements, creepy old house basements (especially ones with cellar doors), dirt floor basements, all kinds. They smell like mystery and old things waiting to be discovered.
No petrol, thank you! My family had a wee service station and I had to help fill up the cars. In those days there was no automatic cut off as the tank filled so I spent many days immersed in stinky petrol…
My favourite smell is that of Mansion polish and pink Windolene cream which reminds me of the big Saturday house clean with my Mum when I was growing up. I can’t say I’ve inherited the cleaning gene though!
I love the smell of Jovan Musk. It was my dad’s cologne and he was the only man I knew that wore it. Every time I smell something that even comes close, it’s like my dad’s standing next to me again. Definitely one of my favorite scents in the world.
vanilla – and Chanel 19
daughters coming up for a cuddle- clean washing- husband in clean washing (or in clean sheets) are all great bust best of all is the scuffy old cat who greets you when when you come if from a hectic day.
My favourite smell is freshly washed laundry, it just reminds me of when I was a child.
Beth
Not sure if I should be worried but I love the smell of Creosote! It reminds me of summer as everyone is painting their fences but don’t think they’ll ever be making it into a perfume!
My favorite smell… what a great question! It is hard to pick just one! I would say that my favorite is Jasmine. I wore it when I was pregnant with my son (I was told it was supposed to make you calm and that I should sniff it during labor – lol – it did not work – labor was still, well, labor!) But, when I became pregnant with my daughter I wore it again! It reminds me of the amazing power and wonder that my body has! to be able to grow a child and bring it into the world! The ongoing power of new life and the beauty of it all! I have strong memories of Jasmine from vacations in the past too as it grew outside our friend’s home. It reminds me of sunshine and beaches and laughter! and the steadfastness of friendship and love.
As I travel deeper into my recovery (my one year anniversary of finding the lump passed last week, not without tears)… I am planning to go out and buy some Jasmine essential oil and wear it as a statement that dark times have passed, spring is here and I am surrounded by joy and life and goodness!
Joy
Great interview!
My favourite smell is the smell of my mother’s hair after she just finished taking a shower. Oh, and the smell of the grass after the rain! ^_^
Thanks so much to you all for entering. I’ve loved reading these! And congratulations to the winners.
(There might possibly be other giveaways (hint, hint) – you can find out about them, when they’re announced, over at my blog: http://nikperring.blogspot.com ).
Nik