Stephen Gillespie
Stephen Gillespie grew up in Derry, Northern Ireland, where he spent his teenage years drawing Supurr mini-comics featuring such superhero creations as Doctor Optic and Anti-Atomic Man. He now lives in Scotland, where he lives with his wife Tracey and their cat Izzy.
Prior to the novel Stephen Gillespie wrote community theatre in Ireland which included the rock musical “Captured Shadows” which toured Ireland in 1985, “The Siege of Robert Lundy" in 1988 for the Relief of Derry Project and the Tolkeinesque conflict resolution open-air performance "Two Tribes" in 1996.
In 1994 he was awarded his Batchelor of Arts Honours Degree in Theatre Studies from the University of Ulster in Coleraine and in 1997 he recieved his Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching from Northern College, Aberdeen.
Since then he has been teaching Secondary and Primary level Drama in Dundee.
Stephen Gillespie’s favourite science fiction novel – if not the one being currently read, then Stephen Baxter’s “Time Ships” for its convincingly credible deep future technologies and cosmic temporal cat’s cradle.
Favourite science fiction movie – Mike Cahill’s “Another Earth” 2011 (a favourite genre punched in the gut).
Favourite movie of all time – Coppola’s “The Godfather” 1972 (gripping family drama).
Favourite graphic novel – Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s “Daredevil Born Again” (superheroes go “Hill Street Blues”). Or Shaun Tan’s “The Arrival” (the immigrant experience in images. Not one single written word. Brilliant.).
Favourite theatrical experience – Dundee Rep and Gridiron’s “Yarn”, Dundee 2008 (Site specific, promenade short stories. That simple.) Or Tom Mac Intyre’s “The Bearded Lady”, Dublin 1984. (“Gulliver’s Travels” meets physical theatre and some psychoanalysis.)
Most important book on the bookshelf - Naomi Klein’s “The Shock Doctrine”.
Favourite short story – Saki’s “Sredni Vashtar”.
Favourite poem – Heaney’s “Blackberry Picking”.
Favourite musical artists – Kate Bush, David Bowie and Mike Oldfield. (All inspirational.)
Claim to fame – Gillespie has made a cameo appearance in a panel of a published Doctor Who comic strip. (A birthday present from the artist.)
