Charles Margerison has published many books both on management and leadership as well as children’s books and war stories. (A quick search on Amazon UK brings up 25 different books written over a 30 year period). Charles lives in Australia so, due to time zone issues we interviewed him by email. The following is part 1 where we discuss his beginnings in writing as well as look at how he prefers to work. When Charles isn’t busy writing books he likes to write music and lyrics.
Hello Charles, could I start by thanking you for your time and also for your interest in the site.
As you know Richard, I do both. Take the
Prosoems for example, they are based on fact, but I add my interpretation. I think this is the case for all authors, as the facts do not necessarily speak for themselves. Newspapers and magazines thrive on a few facts and then 90% interpretation. I call it a little bit of evidence and a lot of opinion. It is all part of social construction of reality, where each person edits the facts in line with their beliefs and assumptions. I have written academic articles where I have chosen the facts that suit the argument, albeit I hope also developed the argument from the facts. However, when it comes to songwriting it is 99% fiction - interpretations of reality rather than reality itself. Like war, the reality can only be experienced by those who were there.
How long did your first book take to get published? Were there many rejections?
I was lucky as I was commissioned to write my first book. I had a colleague who was editing a series of booklets, and he asked me to write one. At that time, there were not many management books, so the ones I wrote were accepted . Not sure if I was one of 10 or 20 that was accepted as I did not see the rejections other received.
Who was your hero in the literary world, who did you aspire to be like?
Ironically, I was not that good at writing when at school. I found that I could write when I had to do it for my job. I did not follow any one author. I was in an academic job, so tried to follow the formula that was required by the journals. Then I wrote books and again put my own approach within the guidelines of the publisher. Professionally, I like the style developed by
Peter Drucker ( mixture of fact with insightful comment and opinion linking the past to the present and the future) Also,
Charles Handy is very readable. In psychology, the best by far was
Hans Eysenck, who combined fact with withering analysis and conclusive opinion. Fiction .....
Fred Forsyth and a little known financial thiller writer called
Paul Erdman.
What time of day do you feel you do your best writing?
Mainly at night, as I can reflect on the events of the day or have time when its quiet to gather thoughts without TV or phones.
Do you keep a journal?
No, but I do write notes on all sorts of paper including napkins in restaurants when I get a good idea or a hot line for a lyric.
Hope this helps and good luck with the writing - all of you
Charles