Author photo.
Most authors live dull lives, let’s be honest. Locked away in a room conjuring reality through the medium of words rather than experiencing it. Tom Hathaway does not fall into this category. He’s lived the kind of life that is pure fiction. Recently he’s served 71 days in Britain’s toughest jail on a weapons charge; managed the charcuterie department at Fortnum and Mason; taken Lawrence Dallaglio out for a round of golf and found time to natter with Michael Cain, Nigel Havers and Dave Spinks. He’s buried his mother, divorced his wife, pissed 200k up the wall, wined and dined the Glasgow underworld, slept rough in the streets of Munich and now he’s sleeping rough on the streets of Nottingham. And without a cosy office or garret has released two more books. Pretty impressive.
His writing style certainly reflects his complex and unfathomable life. Below is one of the initial emails I received from him. It oozes personality and was a refreshing change from the usual suspects. I’ve translated his email, which took a while…
jarud sed i have to talk to yo iffah womp more press.
woll, ah womp more press, yer boggerz, yer. Nah then. ah never noo leff larn edda pussiffic bux editer – Well, how very most posh an lardy bleddy daah – charmed am shor, dontcha know, dontcha know. so gimme some more press then. av nocked aht two bux so al sennum cha if yer womp, Your Most Gracious an umble pestilence. Burriff yo rettnin on not geenuz a big spred, dont fugget – Ahv got yer monkey, so any girl bizniss an the cash gets it – unnerstan? nah, then – gerron weeit, yer bogger yo…
avverz xx
wiwdoo jimbo – yo wewcumm duk
avverz
Jared said I have to talk to you if I want more press.
Well, I want more press, you buggers, you. Now then, I never knew LeftLion had a specific book editor – Well, how very most posh and lardy-bloody-dah – charmed I am sure, don’t you know. So give me some more press then. I have knocked out two books so I will send them to you if you want, your most gracious and humble pestilence. But if you are reckoning on not giving me a big spread, don’t forget – I’ve got your monkey, so any girl business and the cash gets it – understand. Now, then – get on with it, you bugger, you…
Hathers xx
Will do Jimbo – you are welcome, duck.
Hathaway
A review of Tom’s book Full Chicken Jacket is reviewed in issue 51 of LeftLion by MulletProofPoet who has also been given the challenge of interviewing Tom for a future issue or online.