James "Jim" Crace is an English novelist, best known for Quarantine and Harvest, both shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, with Harvest also winning the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and James Tait Black Memorial Prize. Born and raised in Forty Hill near Enfield, he studied English Literature at the University of London. After earning his degree in 1968, he volunteered in Sudan with VSO and later worked for the BBC. His first novel, Continent (1986), received several major literary prizes. Although he lives in Britain, Crace has enjoyed significant recognition in the U.S., winning the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1999.
So, here is the Novelpro Junkie interview with Mr. Jim Crace:
1. What is the genesis of your novel “Harvest”?
Walking the pastures of my Midlands neighborhood and constantly noticing the centuries old plough marks, the “ridge and furrows”, that survived the land seizures of what is known in England as The Enclosures and in Scotland as The Clearances. The land patterns are beautiful but they are also evidence of an ugly dispossession. So there’s the irresistible plus and minus that suggest and underpin the novel.
2. Were there other titles you came up with “Harvest”? If so, what were they?
No, it was always Harvest. I like single word titles.
3. What was your writing schedule when you wrote “Harvest”?
It’s usually Prevarication, Shame and Panic, in that order, followed by the acceptance that, if I am ever going to escape the tyranny of the blank page, I’ll first have to find the courage to write badly and then the discipline to edit ruthlessly. It’s not much fun. No wonder most novels don’t get finished. But Harvest was different. It just fell on the page without a struggle. The Imp of Storytelling was being generous for once.
4. Congratulations on your novel being made into a feature film, could you tell us how you found out that your book will be adapted into a film?
I hardly remember. There were ten years between selling the film rights to the excellent and principled Louverture Films in America and the World Premiere in Venice. In between, the project sashayed between dancing with Finance and bopping with Talent and could have collapsed at any moment. That’s what happens with most film projects.
5. When writing “Harvest”, do you like to map out your plots ahead of time or just let it flow?
I started with a purpose and a destination in mind but with no route plan. It was a hike without maps.
6. From the novel "Harvest", could you please leaf through the pages and point at a random place. What is the full sentence? And what is the page number of this random sentence?
“The lane is empty once again.” p180
7. Were you ever on set? If so, could you tell me your memorable moment?
Yes, I spent the wettest, windiest, muddiest and coldest night of my life in a collapsing tent on set in Oban, Scotland. Never again. When we were leaving the London premiere, I overheard a guy say “I think they overdid the weather” as if he thought the storm was all CGI. No, mate, that was real, every bit of it. And it lasted for weeks! The crew deserve the Oscar for Fortitude.
8. What are your thoughts about director and co-writer Athina Rachel Tsangari taking on your novel? Were you involved, in any way, in the adaptation?
I was not involved at all and didn’t want to be. I’d sold the film rights and that left Athina free to follow her own instincts rather than suffer from mine. We hardly spoke on set, of course; she was too busy. And drenched. But we met and hugged on the Red Carpet at the London Premiere and she won my heart by saying how nervous she was about my reaction to her film. No arrogance, just a touching anxiety. And the film was terrific, of course, and courageous.
9. The film has great cast members that include Caleb Landry Jones, Harry Melling, Arinze Kene, and Frank Dillane. What are your thoughts on them participating in something that originated from you?
Hmm, honestly, I’m not just being cutesy, but the film originated from the three women who made it, Athina, the director, Ouverture’s Joslyn Barnes, the co-writer and US producer, and Rebecca O’Brien, Sixteen Film’s UK producer. My novel might have been the launch pad but it wasn’t the flight. But, yes, great cast, adventurously selected.
10. Did you make a cameo in the film? If not, why didn’t you?
No one asked me to. Wisely.
11. Which of your other stories would you like to see made into a film or TV Series?
All of my other titles are available - but don’t involve me, please. I’ll not help with the script or visit the set -bbrrrr!- or welcome a cameo.
12. Have you ever considered writing a screenplay?
Never. My dialogue is as preachy and wooden as a pulpit.
13. What’s the best advice you have ever received about writing?
Keep it private until it’s finished! The loneliness is productive.
14. if you have the power to bring back an author from the dead, for one day, to meet with, who would that be?
Well, I live on the borders of Shakespeare’s county. Stratford-Upon-Avon is only twenty minutes away. So it’d have to be Bill. We could meet in the ridge and furrow ahead of the enclosures.
15. If one was to visit Hertfordshire, England, where do you suggest for them to go?
I was born in Hertfordshire but only stayed there for a couple of weeks with my mum. Brocket Hall, my birthplace (and also the birthplace of the film director Mike Leigh) was requisitioned as a safe maternity hospital during WW2. Lord Brocket had been a Nazi sympathizer and was turfed out. I was born in Von Ribbentrop’s bedroom. The German Ambassador was a frequent visitor. I only visited once, so I can’t advise on the glories of Hertfordshire.
16. What is the one thing you love most about the University of Texas at Austin?
The neighborhoods. It turns out that Athina Tsangari and I were very close neighbors there over several years. We shopped in the same funky store (Wheatsville) and drank in the same pubs! We loved it but agree that Austin has now lost its edge. They’ve flattened the low rise cottages in order to build the high rise apartments to accommodate the incomers attracted by the low rise cottages. Still, my UT days were an immense pleasure. We were lucky.
17. In one word, how would you sum up your journey writing and releasing your book “Harvest” to the world?
Fortuitous.
So, here is the Novelpro Junkie interview with Mr. Jim Crace:
1. What is the genesis of your novel “Harvest”?
Walking the pastures of my Midlands neighborhood and constantly noticing the centuries old plough marks, the “ridge and furrows”, that survived the land seizures of what is known in England as The Enclosures and in Scotland as The Clearances. The land patterns are beautiful but they are also evidence of an ugly dispossession. So there’s the irresistible plus and minus that suggest and underpin the novel.
2. Were there other titles you came up with “Harvest”? If so, what were they?
No, it was always Harvest. I like single word titles.
3. What was your writing schedule when you wrote “Harvest”?
It’s usually Prevarication, Shame and Panic, in that order, followed by the acceptance that, if I am ever going to escape the tyranny of the blank page, I’ll first have to find the courage to write badly and then the discipline to edit ruthlessly. It’s not much fun. No wonder most novels don’t get finished. But Harvest was different. It just fell on the page without a struggle. The Imp of Storytelling was being generous for once.
4. Congratulations on your novel being made into a feature film, could you tell us how you found out that your book will be adapted into a film?
I hardly remember. There were ten years between selling the film rights to the excellent and principled Louverture Films in America and the World Premiere in Venice. In between, the project sashayed between dancing with Finance and bopping with Talent and could have collapsed at any moment. That’s what happens with most film projects.
5. When writing “Harvest”, do you like to map out your plots ahead of time or just let it flow?
I started with a purpose and a destination in mind but with no route plan. It was a hike without maps.
6. From the novel "Harvest", could you please leaf through the pages and point at a random place. What is the full sentence? And what is the page number of this random sentence?
“The lane is empty once again.” p180
7. Were you ever on set? If so, could you tell me your memorable moment?
Yes, I spent the wettest, windiest, muddiest and coldest night of my life in a collapsing tent on set in Oban, Scotland. Never again. When we were leaving the London premiere, I overheard a guy say “I think they overdid the weather” as if he thought the storm was all CGI. No, mate, that was real, every bit of it. And it lasted for weeks! The crew deserve the Oscar for Fortitude.
8. What are your thoughts about director and co-writer Athina Rachel Tsangari taking on your novel? Were you involved, in any way, in the adaptation?
I was not involved at all and didn’t want to be. I’d sold the film rights and that left Athina free to follow her own instincts rather than suffer from mine. We hardly spoke on set, of course; she was too busy. And drenched. But we met and hugged on the Red Carpet at the London Premiere and she won my heart by saying how nervous she was about my reaction to her film. No arrogance, just a touching anxiety. And the film was terrific, of course, and courageous.
9. The film has great cast members that include Caleb Landry Jones, Harry Melling, Arinze Kene, and Frank Dillane. What are your thoughts on them participating in something that originated from you?
Hmm, honestly, I’m not just being cutesy, but the film originated from the three women who made it, Athina, the director, Ouverture’s Joslyn Barnes, the co-writer and US producer, and Rebecca O’Brien, Sixteen Film’s UK producer. My novel might have been the launch pad but it wasn’t the flight. But, yes, great cast, adventurously selected.
10. Did you make a cameo in the film? If not, why didn’t you?
No one asked me to. Wisely.
11. Which of your other stories would you like to see made into a film or TV Series?
All of my other titles are available - but don’t involve me, please. I’ll not help with the script or visit the set -bbrrrr!- or welcome a cameo.
12. Have you ever considered writing a screenplay?
Never. My dialogue is as preachy and wooden as a pulpit.
13. What’s the best advice you have ever received about writing?
Keep it private until it’s finished! The loneliness is productive.
14. if you have the power to bring back an author from the dead, for one day, to meet with, who would that be?
Well, I live on the borders of Shakespeare’s county. Stratford-Upon-Avon is only twenty minutes away. So it’d have to be Bill. We could meet in the ridge and furrow ahead of the enclosures.
15. If one was to visit Hertfordshire, England, where do you suggest for them to go?
I was born in Hertfordshire but only stayed there for a couple of weeks with my mum. Brocket Hall, my birthplace (and also the birthplace of the film director Mike Leigh) was requisitioned as a safe maternity hospital during WW2. Lord Brocket had been a Nazi sympathizer and was turfed out. I was born in Von Ribbentrop’s bedroom. The German Ambassador was a frequent visitor. I only visited once, so I can’t advise on the glories of Hertfordshire.
16. What is the one thing you love most about the University of Texas at Austin?
The neighborhoods. It turns out that Athina Tsangari and I were very close neighbors there over several years. We shopped in the same funky store (Wheatsville) and drank in the same pubs! We loved it but agree that Austin has now lost its edge. They’ve flattened the low rise cottages in order to build the high rise apartments to accommodate the incomers attracted by the low rise cottages. Still, my UT days were an immense pleasure. We were lucky.
17. In one word, how would you sum up your journey writing and releasing your book “Harvest” to the world?
Fortuitous.
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