Yesterday, we learned some vital information: A very cool book was born. As per last time, here’s the shameless plug: Alpha Redemption is now available from Splashdown Books. Here is the link to the bookshop. I wish you would buy it, because it’s only $9.95 USD and it will be tremendously meaningful to Paul if you do.
And now, without further ado, let’s continue pestering Mr. P.A. Baines about his global adventures, English culinary quirks and other miscellany. This time around, we visit England and Africa, and discuss spirituality and the quest for understanding.
And Now, The Silliness Continues
Cat: Do you have any pictures of England? Can we see them? Are there bobbies and Yorkshire puddings? (I love puds.)
Paul: I was born in the north of England in a town called Blackpool. They call it the “Las Vegas” of England, probably because of the sheer number of light bulbs that illuminate the seafront at night (they even call it “The Illuminations”). They also have a few casinos here, which probably helps. Yes, there are bobbies but the famous helmet is no longer mandatory for every region (or so I believe). And police women wear a slightly different version.
Yorkshire puddings are among my favourite things in the world. I am told they were originally designed to make use of the fat from the dripping pan, and were served before a meal to fill guests up so that they would go easy on the expensive meat. We tend to eat them only on special occasions, such as Christmas.
Cat: I know, us too. Isn’t that weird? Oh well. At least we get them once a year. My grandparents are from Mersey/Wirral, you see, and came over in the mid-fifties. (For the non-English: the obvious conclusion is that of course those delectable puds would emigrate with my grandparents…) Unfortunately, being a native-born Canadian, I’ve never turned out a successful pud in my life.
May I see that other photo album? Thanks…
Nasty roaches and slithery snakes? You scared me. I was calmed by the science tough. Great interview. Doughnuts, cheesecake and anvils to top it off. Yippee!
Well, fancy that. And no one said a word! Congrats are in order for the whole team, it seems. Knock me down with a cheesecake.
Ha!
That would be a waste of cheesecake, though…we should eat it instead.
Marc excels at keeping things under his hat (plenty of extra space for it) and Paul has an Englishman’s discretion.
“Yorkshire puddings are among my favourite things in the world.”
Hey Paul, is it true that if you don’t eat your meat, you can’t have any pudding?
“P.A. Baines’s first guest post will run next week.”
Excellent.
“I have always enjoyed science and marvel at the discoveries that make our lives easier and safer.”
Though I’m no science expert, I thought Alpha did a stand-up job with the challenging science aspects of the story. All bets are off at light-speed, of course, but the plausibility level was high for such a difficult topic.
“Hey Paul, is it true that if you don’t eat your meat, you can’t have any pudding?”
That might be true for some families, but it’s never been an issue with us. I vaguely recall hearing someone saying that to me when I was very young, but can’t remember who. I think it was a teacher at a school dinner and it wasn’t meat but sweet corn, and the pudding that day was particularly nice. I only remember because the sweet corn made me feel nauseous!
“Though I’m no science expert,”
Me either, but I love doing research and learning new stuff when preparing a novel. I just wish I’d been this motivated to learn at school. As my science teacher once said to me: “Baines, you know nothing, but you know it extremely well!”
“I thought Alpha did a stand-up job with the challenging science aspects of the story. All bets are off at light-speed, of course, but the plausibility level was high for such a difficult topic.”
The challenge for me was trying to keep the science in the background. I tried to sneak a little in but lapsed into “telling”, which Cat spotted immediately
. I was planning to stick to the currently accepted idea that speed-of-light travel isn’t possible, but it was the perfect opportunity to provide a trigger for Brett’s genetic reversal. Also, the story isn’t hard sci-fi, but a drama in space. I didn’t want to get bogged down in the science, but preferred to keep it well in the background. No doubt some sci-fi readers won’t like this, but it was a choice I felt needed making.
I think it’s good that you did it that way. It’s a story that goes above genre. A person doesn’t have to be a sci-fi fan to fall in love with it.
I’m pretty sure Marc doesn’t even know what a proper Yorkshire pudding is. But then, is there really any explaining a pud?
It’s not a pudding as you’d think of it, Marc…
Ah yes. The perfect Yorkshire pud does indeed defy description… I like them cup-shaped, crispy around the top, and with a splodge of gravy for dipping. Okay, now I’m hungry.
Ooh I haven’t had one of those for years. Not since I was living in Ireland I think. Though my old friend Dave (the one from Faith Awakened, and yes that’s his real name) is really good at making them; a real shame he and his family moved to London again.
1am again! How did that happen! No wonder I’m rambling about novel characters being real. But in this case, they are. No, really! Really! They just signed in to Skype…
Well I shall have to quit annoying you with irrelevancies now I think. Thank you for letting me say my piece, as always
Paul, only a splodge? I guess it’s my Mennonite side, but I prefer ‘drenched’ in gravy. Totally agree with the rest.
You see? We’ve got the Mennonite converted…honey, a “splodge” can be a goodly amount. You know. You just have to fill the cup the right amount so that it all blends together when you take the cutlery to it.
Paul, my mother makes hers in a muffin tine, and they puff up delightfully. I know exactly what you mean about crispy round the top. There is such a thing as an overdone or underdone pud, and part of the magic is getting them just to the right point.
Grace, you’re hilarious at 1 am! Certainly never annoying…!
In my mind, a splodge is what you get when you smack the bottom of a ketchup bottle towards your plate. It can vary widely depending on the consistency of the ketchup, and how hard you smack the bottle
.
See? Splodges are negotiable.
Grace, the Tiger Lily saw your picture and said, “Grace!”
You are a known entity…