My Favourite Things by John Mayer,

Food:

This is an easy one. I always make my wife dinner on her birthday. I’ve done it so many times I could almost do it with my eyes shut. It’s roast lamb with all the trimmings. I know I’m Scottish but this English dish is far and away my favourite. In return my wife always makes us about a week’s supply of chocolate and caramel biscuits. Yum Yum.

Drink:

Is also an easy one; but my answer comes in two parts.

When we’re living in Scotland my answer has to be Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky. When we’re living in Greece, it would have to be a long cool glass of Ouzo mixed with my own grape juice. Delicious.


Film:

Well, my answer may be predictable, but it’s honest. It’s The Godfather Part1. I’ve seen this movie so many times I know the entire script, but I still love watching it every few months or so.

Book:

Is there a better book than J.D. Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye?’ Nothing has come close to it in the 50 plus years it’s been published.

Author:

For this answer I’m going to be a bit high-brow, but I make no apologies for that. It’s Alexander the Great’s Historiographer whose name was Kalisthenies.

Character:

My favourite book character of all time would have to be Salinger’s ‘Holden Caulfield’. He’s a tragic hero who represented the decline in post-WW11 values in America. The poor boy tried to hold on to his boyhood impressions of what adulthood would be like, but inevitably fails. I screamed into the last page when I read it for the first time.

Song:

John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’. In 1967 I changed my name to John after Lennon. I never utter my given name. Imagine captured all the innocence of the 60s with a backward look from the 70s. It’s reputedly also the favourite song of President Barack Obama, so I’m in good company.

Holiday destination:

Oh my favourite holiday destination is the one I’m going to next. I love to travel and always think the expectation of getting there is greater than the actual experience. If I had to choose one place though, it would be Sir Richard Branson’s island in the Virgin Islands. A bit pricey but I’ve seen it on TV and it looks amazing.

Animal:

Our dear departed cocker spaniel ‘Gromit’ lives in my heart. She sadly died very young and was my one and only pet. My wife grew up on a farm and was used to animals dying, but it slaughtered me for months when Gromit died. In her short life she did give us huge pleasure. R.I.P. Gromit.

Person:

Other than family (obviously) my favourite person would have to be my friend Adonis. He’s saved my life not once, but twice: both times at sea. What a guy!

Place to write:

I love to sit in the Central Library in Edinburgh and look over to Parliament House. I was an Advocate (Barrister) for 20 years in Parliament House; now I write about the incredible stories that have swirled around there for the last 500 years!

Season:

Autumn in Greece, when the searing heat of the summer has passed and we’re still in shorts and sandals, but it’s only 28 – 32 degrees. Positively balmy.

Tradition:

I’m often called upon the ‘Toast the Haggis’ on Burns’ Night (Jan 25th). I love to recite Burns and the Burns Supper gives me a chance to drink my wonderful Lagavulin 16 year old.

Inspirational quote:

John Lennon ‘Imagine there’s no Heaven … No Hell below us … Above us only sky.’

Thing in the whole world:

At this time of my life I’d have to say ‘writing The Parliament House Books’ of course.

I don't write for a certain number of hours per day, I write when I’m ready and not before. To be published is to be judged by history. To me that’s the most serious matter imaginable. I hope I paint the hopes and aspirations of my characters onto the page. I lose myself in my writing so it doesn’t matter whether I write here in Greece or at home in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Please visit https://www.facebook.com/theparliamenthousebooks/ and say hello. I love to receive reviews from sensible people, so feel free to read and review.

Bio:

To find out more about John please visit his website

http://www.parliamenthousebooks.com/

Click below to order the books.
http://tinyurl.com/jchacen The Trial
http://tinyurl.com/nrq3vg7 The Order

Thanks for joining us on My Favourite Things

Sincerely

Book Angel x