| T.K. ROXBOROGH / playing the bard |
| Written by Sian Rafferty |
| Sunday, 04 October 2009 23:50 |
 It takes an honest woman to admit to completely agreeing with Orwell, when he said that writers wrote for sheer egotism, the desire to seem clever, and of course... be remembered. I can’t help but entirely agree with 'Banquo's Son' author T.K. ROXBOROGH; self-satisfaction does seem to be a huge part of the writing process. Yet in our candid chat discussing Roxborogh's new book ‘Banquo's Son’, it quickly became clear that Roxborogh is motivated by something other than money, lust and fame. I like to think of her at home in Dunedin, washing the dishes in yellow rubber gloves, surrounded by her characters bitching and gossiping in their thick Scottish accents. Only a woman stuck in two worlds, could possibly muster the imagination to consider writing a sequel of sorts to Shakespeare’s most worrying play 'Macbeth'... and aided by her dashing leading man Fleance, Roxborogh has sure crafted a ripper of a tale for the ages. COUP DE MAIN: You have written over twenty books in your career as an author. What is it that drives you to keep on writing? T.K. ROXBOROGH: The pernickety characters and stories all shouting at me for attention, and demanding that their stories be told. I don’t listen to an iPod when I walk; I listen to characters and think about stories. I’m kinda hoping I’ll get all of them told within the next ten years, so that I can retire in peace. CDM: As a lover of Shakespeare, what is it about his play 'Macbeth' that inspires such dedication to new interpretation in books and films? ROXBOROGH: Polanski’s film is still the best; the Aussie one sucked big time. (OMG who can care about ‘King’ Duncan if he’s a drug lord?) But, Michael Hurst’s interpretation a few years ago at The Maidment, Auckland – wow. And, wow. Here’s a few other thoughts: - Good man gone bad. The ultimate tragic hero with his ‘fatal flaw’. - Macbeth is so recognisable as a character. Harold Bloom argues in his book; 'Shakespeare, the invention of the Human', that every conceivable characteristic/personality type can be found in the works of Shakespeare. Me? I’m Macduff – incredibly faithful, loyal, emotive, passionate and far too trusting... but with enough guts to fight to the end. Which Shakespeare character are you? - Fate vs. Free Will. The question I’ve always posed to my students is this: would Macbeth have killed the King if he’d never met the witches? The ol’ Oedipus Rex syndrome. CDM: Are there any modern authors who inspire you? ROXBOROGH: ‘Inspire’ is an interesting verb. I love reading. And, there’s a small kernel in me that hates the talent of the writers I’m reading. Diana Gabaldin, Maurice Gee... I sometimes find myself caught up in novels that, when I finally resurface - I’m at first stunned, then grief-stricken and then damn jealous. CDM: You have just been picked up by the agency who deals with 'Twilight' and writers such as Neil Gaiman. With magic and the fantastic seeming to be the flavour of the month, what is it about 'Banquo’s Son' which will really appeal to readers? ROXBOROGH: True love and heroism; truth and honour. Gorgeous guys and beautiful girls who kick butt, and funny old men (like Duff), the supernatural and the answers to [ 'Macbeth' inspiration above ]. CDM: As a writer it’s basically given that you spend your days away, living in other worlds... If you could live anywhere, anytime, where would you spend your days? ROXBOROGH: I actually spend my days being a Mother and domestic goddess (from 6AM until 8AM), then teacher (from 8AM to 4PM), and then domestic goddess and accountant (from 4PM until 8PM). I write in the weekends and school holidays. But, I put my hand up and confess that yes; while I’m making the lunches (and don’t give me a hard time about doing that for my teens – it means we save money and the girls eat decent food) - I’m thinking, thinking. But, usually, I get woken up at around 3 or 4AM by a scene from what might be in the next book. But, another answer to your question would be to go to Rarotonga or Hawaii – warm but not hot. Great food and relaxed attitudes. Anywhere where this is: flush toilets, strong, hot showers, Internet access and warmth. CDM: One thing I noticed in 'Banquo's Son', is an almost slavish dedication to capturing the true spirit of the Scottish. How did you go about constructing the true character and mannerisms of a people living half a world away? ROXBOROGH: I could hear them talking and we actually ‘toned down’ the accents, because it became clear it was getting in the way of the story. People are people and have hopes, dreams, passions - whatever age we live in. Maybe it’s because I’m an 8th Scottish (as well as 8th Ngati Porou and a 16th Irish and a 16th German gypsy)? CDM: If ‘Banquo’s Son’ was staged as an Elizabethan play... and you could cast anyone; real or imagined, who would be best suited to play the character of Fleance? ROXBOROGH: Haha. 'The Babes' [ Roxborogh’s student support group ] and I, have been discussing this for nearly a year. Fleance – has to be some undiscovered God! All of us who’ve read the book have a different picture of what he looks like but he’s very, very tasty! Donalbain – definitely David Tennant – no-one else! Macduff: Sean Connery (although I hear he’s not a very nice person and we only want nice people). As to the girls – plenty of my students are putting up their hands to be in the movie. CDM: Fleance definitely has a noticeably dark and moody, man on a mission with a heart of gold, thing going. Have you found that there is any particular aspect of his character which particularly appeals to people? ROXBOROGH: That he’s not perfect. He has a temper and is sorry about that. That he has so much potential, but others see it in him more than he sees it in himself. There’s not a smidgen of nastiness in his body. He’s a good boy at heart and wants to be like his Father (or how he remembers his Father). I’m sure Banquo wasn’t the perfect man we see in Fleance’s recollections. CDM: I have to admit, I have a soft spot for old MacDuff. Have any of your other characters in particular caught your eye? ROXBOROGH: Me tooooo! I love Duff. Isn’t he just so funny and sad and strong and wise? Sigh. I’m sorry that I did what I did with him but I had no idea that was going to happen. Other characters? Blair is featuring more in the second book. I like Blair. And, of course, Magness will be in the thick of it in Book Two. As to Bree – phew. She’s gonna be a major player – especially in Book Three. CDM: Finally, in your general outlook on life, do you find yourself siding more often with love... or honour? ROXBOROGH: Honour all the way. Love comes and goes, but one must always do the right thing. Martin Luther King Jr. did it; Nelson Mandela did it; Kate Shepherd did it; Gandhi did it. Herman Boone ('Remember The Titans'), Coach Carter ('Coach Carter'), Giuseppe Conlon ('In the Name of the Father'). I’m a justice person. Honour equals doing the right thing morally. Love is an emotion – it shifts and changes with the wind but honour is rock solid. I would rather follow the path of honour for, in the end, the best for more will be satisfied. ‘Banquo’s Son’ by New Zealand author T.K. Roxborogh is an old-fashioned tale of daring damsels and Kings in distress. A tale of recapturing the years Scotland lost to the grand tyrant Macbeth and of course, of one man’s ultimate decision between love and honour. In book-stores now! / We have five copies of 'Banquo's Son' up for grabs - click HERE. |
