An Imperfect Storm
15 September 2011
Peter Gillings, New Media Manager (Communications and Development) has just published his first book of short stories called An Imperfect Storm, available on Kindle. He speaks to Reporter about the inspiration for his stories and how he has juggled his day job with his writing.
When did you start at Imperial?
I came to the College in 1991 to temp part-time in the Finance Division, while I was doing an MA in Screenwriting at what was then the London College of Printing.
How did you start writing stories?
I really loved the storytelling aspect of screenwriting but it’s all about creating the framework for someone else to build and animate, and I was keen to write the finished article. During my MA, I moved into the Communications Division to work on the Imperial website and, when I finished my course, I decided to stay on at the College and began to write in my spare time.
Why short stories?
Condensing a whole story into four or five pages is really satisfying. I really like the style of the author Haruki Murakami and the idea of the Japanese aesthetic, where less is more.
What is your book about?
An Imperfect Storm is a collection of stories centred around the city and the sea. I’ve always been fascinated by the sea; I grew up near the seaside in Essex and spent time living in Jersey as a child. Now my wife and I have a place in Normandy and spend a lot of time on the coast, as well as living and working in the city.
Is your writing inspired by your job at Imperial?
I’m always observing and I guess, subconsciously, some character traits of my colleagues could have slipped into the stories. Some local landmarks like South Kensington tube make an appearance but the stories aren’t about Imperial and the writing is certainly not sci fi!
When do you write?
I work from 8.00–16.00 at Imperial then head home and write from 18.00–19.30 every weekday and also on Sunday mornings. I write my first drafts in fountain pen then type them up onto the computer.
What do you enjoy about writing?
Sometimes I hate it! Writing can be frustrating, particularly if an idea doesn’t come out in the way you expected but for me it’s a chance to make sense of things.
Why did you choose to publish via Kindle?
The wonderful thing about Kindle is that you can bypass getting an agent and getting someone to agree to publish it – modern technology has enabled writers to publish directly to the open market.
How did you feel when your book went live?
It was a really proud moment and I’m excited to hear what people think about my stories. It also means I can put these stories aside and start working on something new.
Visit Amazon to download The Imperfect Storm
— Emily Ross, Communications and Development
Tags: Communications and Development, Finance
Posted in College, Your Voice | Comments Off on An Imperfect Storm
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