Q&A with Jack Charles

2025-02-18 | Q&A

Jack Charles

Barley Sugar is so assured. How many novels did you try to write before you were in a position to write this one?

I’d mainly written short stories. This is my first serious attempt at a novel.

When it comes to writing are you a nine to fiver at your desk every day or is it a bit less linear than that?

A bit of both: I tend to be relaxed whilst I’m plotting and then more disciplined once I know where I’m going.

How did you hit upon Teddy Boys as subject matter?

My father told me tales about Teddy Boys. The backdrop of the original teen rebellion and the birth of youth culture was perfect for the story I wanted to tell. Plus, the Teds come with an amazing look and soundtrack!

Did you need to do much historical research to get the texture of the flashbacks right?

Yes, I wanted to get the subtleties right. Whether that be the cut of a dress or a certain song playing on the radio.

⁠⁠It’s interesting how we begin in the present moment and then go back in time. The danger with that is always that it can be jarring for the reader to go out of one time frame into another slipstream. Was that a problem you were conscious of? You certainly solved it somehow!

I tried to trust that the reader would be on the journey alongside Lewis, unraveling the depths of the story as he does. Each flashback is hopefully a welcome discovery.

Race plays an interesting role in the book. You handle it delicately in the character of Winston. Was that instinctive or were you particularly wary of drawing that character?

Winston’s strength and sensitivity, for me, are the heartbeat of the novel. His backstory, ethnicity and social-class, all play parts in shaping, not only the way the world sees him, but also the way that he looks back at the world. If I was wary of anything, it was of striking a balance within him that would give the eventual decisions he makes the weight they deserve.

Your prose style is poetic but never holds up the narrative. Do you think that is specific to this book or might we see different styles in future works?

As brutal as it is in parts, to me, Barley Sugar is a beautiful story. I attempted to capture some of that in the writing. As for future works, it’s impossible to say. Stylistically, I enjoy playing with words and rhythms, so I imagine that will always be in there somewhere.

⁠⁠How do you fit your writing around your day job as a plumber?

I jot notes throughout the day and write mostly on weekends.

Which authors influenced this book? Is there any anxiety or influence in you as a writer?

I wanted Barley Sugar to have the feel of a true crime story. In terms of tone, Lorenzo Carcaterra’s Sleepers definitely had an impact.

⁠⁠What’s next for you as a novelist?

I’m currently undergoing chemotherapy. During that time, if I can, the plan is to work on the new novel.