What do fans of the series want? Do you feel extra pressure because of them? Have you ever held back from a particular story because you might upset them?
JB: I don’t feel extra pressure – I only have a limitation because Irvin Vella’s series is mainly aimed at children, so I have to be careful how I deal with certain topics and arguments. It’s not the first time the editor has suggested changing words, expressions, or even entire scenes because of the audience and the fact that many schools don’t accept certain material. I used to hold back because of this. That said what fans of the series want does influence me a lot – when I talk to students in schools, I get a lot of feedback to help me develop the stories.
MC: To be honest with you, I write the story first and foremost for myself, because I want to get it out there – after a long time of having it locked in my mind – and become a reader as well. If I don’t like the story myself, it won’t please the readers. That’s a fundamental rule I’ve embraced since the beginning. I write because I have a story to tell. And at no point in time will it be shaped by what I think the fans of the series want and god forbid I should do so!. Even because in the four books I think I gave them more exasperation than joy; I wrote scenes that aroused anger or disgust, and that was the purpose as I wrote them. It permeates the emotions of the audience. As for pressure, of course there will be that encouraging insistence of Gallo’s fans on “when will the next one come out?” or “don’t take long to write”. However, I think it’s more a matter of pressure on myself knowing how much of a perfectionist I am than external pressure.
Did you ever get tired of writing the series?
JB: No, not at all – in fact, this series gives me energy, especially when I talk to young readers who have become big followers of Irvin’s character.
MC: The moment I feel fed up writing the series, it will mean that the time has come for me to pack up and stop. Because if you don’t have enthusiasm for a new project, the writing will reflect and the project will come out half-baked. If you do not believe enough in yourself, how will your readers believe in you? On the other hand, it is important to keep in mind that I am writing in my spare time. And after a long day at the office, it’s not always easy to find energy and motivation. In fact, I believe that to write a novel you have to be disciplined with yourself and be committed to writing at least four or five times a week. otherwise the book would never be finished.
What is the key ingredient of a successful series?
JB: In the context of this series, I think the main ingredient is the location of the stories, that is, the fact that Irvin’s cases contain Maltese elements, such as places, traditions, foods, customs, expressions and situations that are linked to our identity. In a general context, it is important that the series continues to advance and grow by not repeating itself, but exploring new things and situations – the bigger the challenge, the more it keeps the audience interested.
MC: Consistency in every aspect: of the writing, of the plot, of the characters, of the setting, of the dialogue, of the realism and, above all, of the story itself. Then another important ingredient always remains the relevance of what you are telling, how you are telling it and the voice you are telling, whether it is the narrator or the characters. Readers want to feel an integral part of the story as they read as they delve into its depths. The stories need to inspire them to feel a variety of emotions, depending on the situation and the characters. I received angry comments when readers discovered that I had “gotten rid” of characters that were dear to their heart and I take this as a positive!
Do you have a plan on how to end the series?
JB: I don’t have a plan for the ending yet because so far I’m still having a lot of fun writing new cases in this series!
MC: So far I don’t have any detailed plan on how and when I will bring the series to an end even because it all depends on how the story will unfold in the fifth book. Sometimes I say it will end with the fifth, other times with the sixth one. Camilleri’s Hamletic Doubt! This may sound strange, but Inspector Gallo has a life independent of what I might have planned. Despite spending 14 years in together, it doesn’t mean I know every corner of his life!