INTERVIEW: TERRY DEARY

There aren’t too many children’s authors who’ve had quite the same impact as Terry Deary. Born in Sunderland in 1946, he’s best known for his acclaimed Horrible Histories series, which famously introduced new generations of kids to learning about the past in an entertaining, gloriously gory style. 

During a recent appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live, Terry put his so-called “fascination with the grotesque” down to the fact that, “at the age of seven, I was taken to see a cow being shot, slaughtered and skinned”; rather than leaving the young Mr Deary in tears, he asserts that, instead, this experience “gave me a sense of realism”, teaching the valuable lesson that “life, death, is all part of the same cycle”. During the weekends and school holidays, Terry would also work in his father’s butcher shop, strengthening his young stomach even further: “My sausages were legendary – what the customers DIDN’T know was what went INTO those sausages…” 

After picking up two books from the dusty shelves of his sparse school library (Enid Blyton’s Island of Adventure and The Ladybird Book of British Birds), Terry’s passion for reading, writing and fact-collecting was ignited in earnest. Later, he would find excitement within the pages of Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries, which would go on to inform and influence Actually, I’m a Murderer, a rip-roaring, multi-perspective novel that marks his first official foray into the world of adult crime fiction.

Ahead of his appearance at the York Georgian Festival this August, where he’ll be discussing another recent offering for adults (Revolting: A riotous history of rebellions and revolutions), Your Local Link caught up with Terry to get to grips with the gory details… 

Hi Terry! Your new novel, ‘Actually, I’m a Murderer’ spans 50 years, with memory and perspective being key themes. Can you share any fond memories of visiting York? 

My many memories go back to my first visits to the city as a school day trip from my Sunderland Junior school. After 70 years, I still remember the impression my visit to York Castle Museum made on me when I first saw the reconstructed Kirkgate. Back in the 1950s, that was so novel, atmospheric and accessible, it altered my whole idea of what a museum could be. I’ve since returned countless times to work with places like Jorvik, to film TV programmes, to do signings and events, and write a ‘Horrible Histories – York’ book. 

You’re in town to discuss ‘Revolting: A riotous history of rebellions and revolutions’. Terry, if you were to lead a modern-day revolution, what would you change first?     

In recent years, there has been a lot of hot air talked about ‘levelling up’ for the North, but very little evidence of it happening. Because of its unequalled rail links, I’d make York the capital of England and the UK, and move Parliament and all the vital services to the region.

You’re known as a children’s author, but ‘Revolting’ and ‘Actually, I’m a Murderer’ are aimed at grown-ups. Does the process differ when you’re writing for children and adult audiences?

Not at all. I am given a commission to write a book; I have a word target and a deadline to meet. It’s like being a bus driver – different sets of passengers and different destinations, but I still have to get to the finish on time, while keeping the passengers happy.

The ‘Horrible Histories’ books were famously gory, and you’ve previously worked as a butcher. Can ‘Revolting’ readers expect liberal lashings of blood and guts?

The children’s books are restrained, so I don’t give the children nightmares. The adult books can be more graphic and deal with issues that affect the adult world… 

‘Actually, I’m a Murderer’ offers a fresh twist on the murder mystery formula. What is it about the genre that you find so appealing?   

Murder mysteries appeal on two levels – they are puzzles to be solved, and they are escapism. In a murder mystery, the reader can become the detective – or even the killer – yet feel safe in the knowledge it is just fiction. 

You seem to share some similarities with at least one character in ‘Actually, I’m a Murderer’ – how important are a writer’s personal experiences when crafting characters?

I have no similarities with any of the characters, though one of them inhabits the same landscape that I did 50 years ago. He is not the same personality, and responds to experiences in a different way. If the setting of the books feels authentic, then it is because it’s based on what I knew back then, coupled with fresh research and interviews.

I’ve heard you saying that you do some work on a farm, when you’re not writing. Terry, if you could choose to be any farmyard animal, which one would you be?  

My wife is a farmer, and for 3 days a week, I’m her farm labourer (the other 4 days I am a writer). The Border Collie sheepdog (while not a farmyard animal) seems to have the best life – intelligent, active and loves its work! 

Catch Terry Deary Presents ‘Revolting’ at York Mansion House on August 7^th. Head over to visityork.org/events/terry-deary-presents-revolting for tickets and details. ‘Revolting: A riotous history of rebellions and revolutions’ and ‘Actually, I’m A Murderer’ are both available for purchase at Amazon now.