Francis Plug: How to be a Public Author

“Perhaps, with his literary credentials, together with his wild rock ‘n’ roll ways, Nick Cave is the perfect blueprint for the novelist of the future; quiet, solitary and disciplined, yet loud, crowd-pleasing and mental.”

How To Be A Public Author by Francis Plug is the first novel by New Zealand-born author, Paul Ewen. Gardener and would-be author, Francis Plug has decided to share knowledge he has gleaned from attendance at author events of Booker Prize-winning writers, collating “a rich mine of information pertaining to the public skills of our most noted authors. Stage etiquette, audience questions, book signings, wardrobe, performance”, declaring it “invaluable knowledge for those of us forced to become public authors too.”

In thirty-two chapters, each enhanced by an image of the (in most cases, signed and dedicated to Francis Plug) title page, Francis describes his encounters with these writers at various author events in bookshops, libraries, theatres and at book fairs, giving the reader a unique perspective. At the same time, he relates events in his everyday life as it slowly descends into chaos.

Francis gradually reveals himself to be an earnest, if rather sad and lonely figure, often drunk, self-deluded and perhaps even a little psychotic. While Francis is certainly an unreliable narrator, both his observations and his activities at these events are a source of much humour. The reader will cringe, wince, groan and laugh out loud at what Francis says to those he meets, at his comment s and asides and at his (often bizarre) behaviour.

As well as usually consuming a staggering amount of alcohol at these author events, Francis manages to somehow include dirty nails, smelly clothes, Royal horse poo, little bunny rabbits, a wrestling ring, sneaking into fire exits, shouting obscenities, wee-stained trousers, a smuggled microphone, a bucket of eggs, advertising fliers, the rumour of a murdered author, a black bin cover and several fire extinguishers. It becomes apparent that the title of his book could equally be “How To Be A Public Author’s Nightmare”. A hilarious debut novel.