Q&A with Gareth Brown

 

 

 

Gareth Brown is the author of the new novel The Society of Unknowable Objects. He also has written the novel The Book of Doors. He lives in Scotland. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Society of Unknowable Objects, and how did you create your character Magda?

 

A: The Society of Unknowable Objects was inspired by two things—or two places—to be precise. I really wanted to write something set in London. My first novel was set primarily in New York and this time I wanted to do something in a different city. I love London as much as I love New York so I wanted to spend time there with my characters. 

 

Secondly, I wanted to write about Hong Kong and the experience of someone arriving there for the very first time and dealing with the sort of culture shock and discombobulation I recall feeling the first time I was there. Places and cities really inspire me!

 

Magda, like many of my main characters, appeared almost fully-formed. I always wanted her to be an author, to be a short redhead with quite a big personality, a woman comfortable with her own emotions. 

 

The only thing that fell by the wayside was the fact I originally thought she would be Scottish, but that didn’t work with the plot for a few reasons. Other than that, Magda was always Magda. I don’t even know why she’s called Magda; it’s not a very British name.  

Q: What intrigues you about secret societies?

 

A: It all comes down to secrets. I want to know what the secret is, and I want to know who knows and why they are keeping it secret. I think I am just nosey— maybe that goes hand-in-hand with being a writer, trying to understand people, the world and hidden truths.

 

There is also something enjoyable about the ceremony and ritual of secret societies, the practices that bind its members. I didn’t go too heavy on rituals when it comes to the Society of Unknowable Objects, but they do have a meeting room with objects hidden away, and a special cabinet where they keep their archive of magical items. 

 

They do have ritual and ceremony, even if it is a light-touch, but I wanted to ground it in the real world. Heavy ceremony would have pulled it more into the fantastical. 

 

Q: Did you need to do any research to write the novel, and if so, did you learn anything that especially surprised you?

 

A: There’s a section in the book where our heroes travel to Alabama, and I had to do some geographical research as I’ve never visited that state.

 

In particular, I needed to investigate how to purchase an automatic handgun. Turns out it is very easy, to the extent that I had my character just buy one over the counter at a store rather than concocting some elaborate ruse to lay his hands on what he needed. It was very helpful to my plot, but I remain astonished how easy it is to buy an automatic weapon.

 

Q: How did your writing process with this novel compare to your experience writing The Book of Doors?

 

A: Society was harder to write than Book of Doors, though I am not entirely sure why. Maybe one factor is I had a contract for this book, and I was very keen to deliver on time, so that added pressure.

 

When I was writing The Book of Doors, it was just for me and there was no pressure. With this one I had editors and a deadline and expectations. I was trying very hard to do something different, not tread the same ground I covered in book one, yet, also creating a story that would still resonate with those who enjoyed The Book of Doors.  

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I am playing around with a new idea. I have about 40,000 words but not yet sure if it has legs. I can’t say what it’s about… it’s a secret… not that I am a member of a secret society or anything. 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Yes… if you enjoyed The Book of Doors there might be a few Easter eggs hidden away in The Society of Unknowable Objects just for you…

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Gareth Brown.