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‘THERE ARE ALWAYS PEOPLE JOCKEYING FOR POSITION AND TRYING TO GET POWER'
With her debut novel ALISON MILLER is dealing in politics with a small ‘p’. Doug Johnstone talks to a Scottish writer with a very big future.
I almost seems like every week these days a new
promising talent emerges from Scotland‘s ever-
burgeoning literary scene. and Alison Miller is the latest to appear from these shores. Her debut novel Demo has remarkable confidence about its authorial voice and real empathy with its diverse range of characters. Set against the backdrop of recent anti-war and anti-globalisation protests in Glasgow. London and Florence. Demo details the sexual and political awakening of Clare. a flame- haired lb-year-old from Glasgow‘s schemes.
‘1 was involved in that Florence demo and on the way back the whole thing was going round in my head.’ recalls Miller. ‘And then the voice of (‘lare started to talk to me. I know that sounds absolutely corny. and when other writers say that. I‘ve gone. “Aye right. pull the other one." but that‘s what happened. It really did. I heard her voice and thought. I must write this down.‘ Interestingly. some but not all of the book is written from Claire's point
of view. Running through the novel is the theme of
differences -- be they of politics. religion. class. age or sex — and whether those differences can ever properly be reconciled on a day—to—day level.
At one point the narrative switches to tell the story of Laetitia. a posh friend of (‘lare's brother and the woman who stole (‘lare's man (so she thinks). 'l‘hat Laetitia. previously portrayed as demonic by (‘lare. is treated with real sympathy gives Demo a depth and subtlety that it otherwise wouldn't have had. ‘livery story has two sides.‘ says Miller. ‘And if you really get inside the skin of your character. they‘re going to
26 THE LIST 20 ()(;l 3 Nov 9005
be as human as anybody else. and as subject to the same feelings and disappointments and longings and desires as anybody else. I didn't know I was going to
write about Laetitia until her story started to tell itself
to me. I'd written the part in Florence which had a
completeness to it. but by the time I got to the end of
that l was starting to hear Laetitia‘s side of things. so I wanted to write that..
Despite its highly charged backdrop. Demo doesn‘t wear its beliefs on its sleeve. Miller preferring to detail the politics with a small ‘p’ between her array of characters rather than any heavy—handed diatribe against Blair and Bush. ‘I was grappling with the gulf between the lofty ideals that we espouse and the more daily politics we’re involved in. the way we treat one another on a daily basis. Whenever you get a group of people together there are always people
jockeying for position and people trying to get
power. If we want to change the world. how do we get past that'."
Miller's empathy for her characters is reflected in her non—writing life. She spent ten years working for the Workers‘ liducational Association in (‘astlemilk. running writing workshops. and since then she has been a freelance adult educator and counsellor. "l‘he counselling and group work attuned me to trying to read between the lines of what people are saying. trying to work out the story beneath the words. And I’ve tried to put that across in the book.’
Demo is published by Hamish Hamilton on Thu 3 Nov.
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THE BEST BOOKS, COMICS & EVENTS
3|: Alison Miller A new Scottish author arrives on the scene with a clatter as her Demo hits the streets. See preview, left. Hamish Hamilton.
=i= Canongate Myths It’s taken a fair few years for this project to get off the ground but the Myths series kicks off with Karen Armstrong, Jeanette Winterson and Margaret Atwood publishing tomes simultaneously around the globe. See News. page 7. Canongate; Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Mon 31 Oct.
* Peter York Ever wondered what it would be like to peek through the keyholes of the world‘s nastiest leaders? Dictators’ Homes will make you laugh and/or cry at the gross tastelessness of it all. See feature. page 16. Atlantic Books. 3|! Chris Ware Jimmy Corrigan. Sparky the Cat and Super-Man are all in this second collection of live ACME Novelty Library as Ware pays homage and parodies all at the same time. See review. Jonathan Cape.
* Audrey Nlflenegger his limited edition visual novel The Three lncestuous Sisters is an aqua-tinted object d'art that is beautiful to behold. but at 13 years in the making (by hand) we wouldn't expect anything
less. See review. Jonathan Cape.
3|: Scottish International Storytelling Festival Nine days of fine storytelling, talks and workshops covering Russian tales. Gaelic stories and fables from the Middle East with subjects including ghosts. football and prejudice. Various venues, Edinburgh, Fn' 21—Sun 30 Oct.
* An Evening with Alan Bennett If you manage to get through his new bumper publication, Untold Stories. this is your chance to hear the great man (pictured) deliver them in his lovely. Horlicksy tongue. Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, Thu 27 Oct.