Tevun-Krus #1 - First Contact

Interview with TheOrangutan

Gavin Wilson, otherwise known as TheOrangutan around Wattpad, is the SF-er of this issue. Gavin joined Wattpad in July of 2010 and has since gained the privilege of being a Wattpad Ambassador. He has over the years had his works published in magazines and compilations such as Spinetinglers, Five Stop Stories and Sanitarium Magazine. He was also given an honourable mention on the L Ron Hubbard writers of the future website.

Interview With Gavin Wilson - TheOrangutan

If you had to describe yourself in one word, what words wouldn't you use?

glittery, jumentous, supermodel, oompa-loompa, spanner, bathykolpian, slubberdegullion, ginglyform, ventripotent, khyphorrhinos, xylopolist and probably 99% of other words available in the OED.

What was your nickname in school?

at primary school it was Weed (not that I smoked pot at 6yrs old, I was just very small). Later on it was just Gav really, although some of my Uni friends used to call me Orangutan.

When you were little, what did you want to be?

A fireman, or Spiderman

Who do you look up to?

anyone taller than me, unless they're sitting down. Usually people I know and / or respect.

What is your favourite quote?

- I have three, all from the same author and they're called Clarke's 3 Laws. From British writer Arthur C. Clarke (deceased). They are:

1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.

2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.

3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Other than writing, do you have a hobby?

I read a lot (can't write if you don't read). I also climb, cycle, play guitar, listen to music, make beer, and love food and drink.

What's something about you that many people don't know?

I'm a geologist by trade and occasionally get to abseil down a cliff as part of my job. It's kinda fun.

Writing Rituals

What was the first writing piece you were ever really proud of?

A Gift in the Dark. It was one of the first short stories I ever wrote and it won a competition which surprised me somewhat at the time. I was supremely proud and it gave me the impetus to keep going.

Who is your favourite author?

I don't really have one, but I love Terry Pratchett, Arthur C Clarke, Neil Gaiman, Larry Niven, and many others. Have a look at my Goodreads profile, you'll see what I mean.

When you write, what do you use to get a muse going?

I usually don't need a muse as such; the idea is what gets me going. Sometimes I write with a picture in mind, and occasionally an idea will be prompted by something I've seen, heard or read. Ideas can come from anywhere at any time.