Backstories- Simon Van Der Velde - Literary Fiction
This is a book of short stories each with a fictional theme of a well known
person. Guitars (which you can read on www.simonvandervelde.com)
tells of one part of a famous singing duo. Past time tells of a woman, the POC
who defiantely remained seated at a time when POC by law had to stand
if a causcausian required a seat. Some of the stories we are almost told
who they are, others we have to work out for ourselves. From Historical
figures through serial killers to dictators and icons . There is an element
of trying to work out which each is about before any clue as to the reveal.
some I guessed, some I didn't and some took a little more thought. Some
I got early on, others I found myself covering the last line hoping I was
right and that's where the final clue would be. (The answers are on the
website but don't peek!)
It's an eclectic mix which works really well and the whole thing is engaging
and well written with that added pique of interest and fun as to whom
each one is about. I loved this- it's fun but very much with meaning and
a message. Of thinking about others and being considerate and above
all else #bekind.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
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Publication Date: 25th March 2021 Price: Kindle – £2.99, Paperback – £7.99, Audible – £6.39 Genres: Literary fiction, short stories, biographical fiction, myster y,contemporary fiction, recent cultural history.Themes: Diversity, nostalgia, music, crime, social justice. Blurb :Dreamers, singers, talkers and killers; they can dazzle with their beauty or their talent or their unmitigated evil, but inside themselves they are as frail and desperate as the rest of us. But can you see them? Can you unravel thetruth? These are people you know, but not as you know them.Peel back the mask and see. Synopsis : Backstories is a unique collection of stories each told from the point of view of a famous,(or notorious) person at a pivotal moment in their lives. The writing is literary but accessible and the voices vividly real. The settings are mostly 60's and 70's UK and USA, and the driving themes are inclusion, social justice and of course, nostalgia - but the real key to these stories is that the protagonists' identities are withheld. This means that your job is to find them, leading to that Eureka moment when you realise who's mind
AUTHOR’S QUEST “Whatever happened to, all of the heroes” The Stranglers 1977 I was twelve years old when I first heard this song and although there was something in the feral tone that grabbed me, I didn’t really understand it. I do now. I get the angst and the loss and the emptiness, which why, in Backstories, I aim to answer the question. So join me on my quest, and together we’ll uncover the fears and passions and prejudices that made our heroes what they were, and perhaps catch a glimpse of ourselves along the way. Whatever happened to all of the heroes? They turned out to be human beings, in all their diverse glory. Simon Van der Velde January, 2021 ps. I am proud to be sharing 30% of all profits from Backstories with Friends of the Earth, Stop Hate UK and The North-East Autism Society. See www.simonvandervelde.com for further details.
Q & A: By Kate Horsley, Editor of Crimeculture Magazine
The good news is that Backstories looks set be your real
breakthrough book. But tell me, Simon, what makes Backstories so
special?
Hi Kate, Backstories is a collection of stories with a famous, (or
infamous) person hidden in every one. They are all characters you
know, or as the tag-line says, characters you think you know – but
what makes the reading experience so unique is that I don’t tell you
who they are. This means your job is to find them. That’s the game.
It’s what gives you that Eureka moment of discovery, when you realise
who’s mind you’ve been living inside for the last twenty minutes. It is
also what gives these stories their particular resonance.
What do you mean by, ‘their particular resonance’?
What I mean is – I could’ve just told you a straight biographical story
about some little known moment in the character’s life, but if I tell you,
here’s a story about – Madonna, for example, you will inevitably bring
your preconceptions with you into the story. By withholding her name,
I can take you on a journey into the life of a young Italian American
girl, show you her difficulties and anxieties and drives and allow you
to rediscover her wholly anew – which in turn means that when you
do realise her identity, your existing view of Madonna is overlaid onto
your fresh insight into the character in the story. This leaves you with
two different but equally valid truths to take away - and that is the
source of Backstories’ resonance.
Who are these characters?
Most of them are my childhood heroes, (and villains), famous people
from when I was a kid and even from a little before. For me, there’s
something about people from an earlier time that carry an extra aura of
mystery, and makes unravelling them all the more compelling.
What led you to write Backstories?
It began with an urge to understand my heroes, to cut through the
shiny, public image bullshit and get to something more meaningful -
and maybe get back in touch with how it felt to be seventeen.
The real trigger though, was going to see a musician from way back
when. The truth is I was a bit concerned. Would he still be any good?
Or just a bit sad? I mean the guy’s well into his seventies.
In fact, he was utterly and completely brilliant. Great voice, great music
and above all, great honesty. That gig was my inspiration for this book,
and for anything I write. To get to the emotional truth.
So the next day put aside my novel and wrote a little piece about this
guy’s life. That might’ve been that, but my wife, Nikki loved it. I told
her there was no market for short-stories, but of course, as happens far
too often in our house, she was right and I was wrongIs there any point
to Backstories, beyond just entertainment?
In fact, Kate, there are two. Entertaining people is, I think, a valid reason for any book – but as I say, the point for me is always to seek emotional truth, and the two things are, of course linked. There’s nothing more compelling than heartfelt truth – and nothing more utterly tedious that fakery. Clearly, the truth of people is that we’re very much closer to our childhood selves than we like to believe. Really, we’re all just kids - with a thin veneer laid on top – fighting our childhood battles over and over again. Why is Trump a narcissist? Why is Elon Musk obsessed with outer-space? Why was Janis Joplin so unable to cope with stardom? Psychology 101 tells us that the answer lies in their childhood – what Backstories does, is, make that truth 'explode into the reader’s consciousness’* (as someone said). And that’s the point. I want to make you feel this truth, rather than merely understand it. Beyond that, of course, there’s another obvious truth that I highlight through the revelation of these characters – that black or white, gay or straight, neuro-typical or not, whoever we are in the great diverse spectrum of life that is who we’re meant to be. We’re all human beings, and with a little effort and a willingness to put aside preconceptions, we can all be understood. That, in turn, is why my characters are so deliberately diverse. So you're saying you write from the point of view of BAME characters? Isn't that rather presumptuous, to claim to speak for them? In a way, yes, I guess it is – but that’s my job as a writer, to step into other people’s shoes – and lives – and minds. I need to do that in order to say what I need to say. So no, I don’t buy the idea that I, as a white man can’t write black or female characters, for example. On the other hand, I acknowledge that, in the shadow of history, I have a duty to do so sensitively and respectfully, and above all to do a good job – and I’ve worked hard to achieve that. Hard as I’ve tried though, I do acknowledge that there’ll always be somebody who might be upset by my writing – and that’s their right. The safest, easiest course might be to avoid controversy of any sort, but then what? All I can ever write about is the experience of being a white, middle-aged man. That doesn’t interest me. Growing up as one of a few hundred Jews in the north of England, I feel I understand prejudice and the damage that it does – and that’s why I have something of value to say about it. In the end, if I have made presumptions, at least let me say that they are sincerely held. And you're giving 30% of all profits from Backstories to charity?
Yes, I’m really proud to be sharing 30% of all profits from Backstories between Stop Hate UK, The North-East Autism Society and Friends of the Earth. Stop Hate UK came out of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, and Baroness Lawrence’s response to such wickedness with education is just humbling. I have great admiration for her. I should also add to an element of guilt. There are criminals amongst the characters in my book, and whilst crime is compelling on page, it is anything but that in
real life – so I felt giving to Stop Hate UK was a meaningful way to show respect for the victims and their families.
My second charity is The North-East Autism Society. This is more personal. My twelve-year-old son is autistic. That’s why I feel I have to give voice to autistic people who are so badly misunderstood. Autistic people’s brains work differently from the rest of us. This means that they have a lot to offer - Bill Gates is autistic, Albert Einstein and probably Leonardo Da Vinci, amongst many, many others - but because they are different, autistic people can sometimes find our chaotic world so stressful that they just can’t function, and all that potential is lost. So if only for reasons of self-interest, we need to understand and listen to the autistic community - not least, Greta Thunberg. Which brings me to my third charity – Friends of the Earth – because without the Earth, obviously - nothing else matters...
And finally, Simon - what’s next? As you know, Backstories II will be out in summer, with work in progress on Backstories Crime, Backstories Jews, Blackstories, Backstories History and Backstories Musicians. I feel that the variety in Backstories adds an element of surprise to the stories, but equally, I understand that for real music aficionados, (for example), there’s an advantage in having all their heroes in one place – so hopefully, there’ll be something for everyone. Lots to look forward to. Thanks so much for your time, Simon - and from a personal view, having read the proof of Backstories, I can’t wait to get my hands on
BACKSTORIES CHALLENGE
The Guitar: No doubt about it, he was a bright kid, talented even. He was
quick on his feet and with his mouth too, and he could smack a baseball out
of the park. But he was a Jew, and he was short. I mean like really short.
The kid was the size of your average third grader when he was twelve years
old. When he was taking those first steps towards manhood. When it
mattered most.
And this was back in the fifties, with Sinatra top of the charts, John
Wayne High and Mighty on the big screen and New York thrusting itself
into the heavens, one skyscraper taller than the next. It was a one-size-fitsall
sort of time, but it didn’t fit him.
Think you can name this guy? Then enter the Backstories Challenge at
www.simonvandervelde.com for your chance to win a copy of this brilliant
new collection.
Not sure? No problem. Visit www.simonvandervelde.com to claim the rest
of this story for free. The Guitar is available in both print and audio formats,
to enjoy as you please.
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