| This
is a fiction about a boy with a unique gift who regards
it as a unique affliction. It started life as a novel
for adults rather than teenagers. After the manuscript
of the adult version was received with puzzlement,
my agent, Clare Alexander, had the inspired idea
of re-aiming the gun barrels. ‘Editors
are finding your 35-year-old protagonist, Graham Sinclair,
a bit creepy,’
she explained gently. 'But were you to make him, say,
14, his physical deformities, lack of social skills and general
dysfunctionality would become endearing and intriguing as
opposed to offputting, as is now the case.’ |
|
