…WITH HAMMER FILMS LEGEND, KENSINGTON GORE
As I walk up the steps to the elegant but dilapidated Kensington mansion, I gather my courage and lift the tarnished brass knocker on Mr Gore’s door.
I’m feeling a bit nervous. Not only does Kensington Gore have a rich and storied past with Hammer horror films as both a writer and director; he’s a versatile author, talented book designer, and an independent publisher as well.
The door swings open, and I follow a manservant into the drawing room, where I’m instructed to wait and offered a glass of sherry. How nice, I think uneasily. I’ve barely taken a sip of the blood-red Amontillado when the great man himself appears.
I rise and stammer out an introduction – “Hello, I’m Katie Oliver. It’s lovely to meet you, Mr. Gore” – and I launch (somewhat nervously) into my first question.
1. You have your own indie publishing company, Kensington Gore Publishing (very clever title, that!). Tell us a bit about it?
Well, it’s so good I put my own name to it. A sort of endorsement of quality, you could say.
I set it up to pay it back, or forward, or sideways. I always get confused.
Anyhow, it is to help up and coming writers get that start in life. A hand up the writing ladder, you could say. If they have existing talent, we nurture it and help it grow. You of course dear, don’t need that symbolic hand. You are a seasoned pro compared to the talent we are looking to take on.
We help writers who can’t afford the large prices often quoted for cover designs and editing. we work with the writer; finding out what is best for them and how they feel we can help them develop and grow. A publisher for the writers and where the writers feel at home and part of the Gore family.
2. As a writer yourself, what made you decide to go indie, rather than pursuing a more traditional publishing route?
I have always been very independent in my outlook on life. Never one to go with the herd. Which did cause problems when I was working as a dairy farmer, I can tell you.
It would be easy for me to sign a multi-million pound book deal with some huge publishing giant that wants my stories. Or my ‘kiss, scream and tell’ autobiography.
In fact, why didn’t I do that? I must have been a fool to say no to those bloody offers!
I must of been drunk as skunk? Oh, I remember why I turned them down now. Artistic integrity. They wouldn’t let me publish my banned horrors In the way they were written.
If a job’s worth doing, bloody do it yourself. That’s what I always say.
Katie: Indeed. Well said, Mr Gore.
3. Speaking of which, Kensington Gore is a very interesting name. Where does it come from?
My parents, dear.
4. I mean how long have you had it?
All my life.
5. No, silly Kenny. Where does it come from?
I was named after my great Grandfather. The Kensington Gore of whom fake movie and theatre blood was named after. Blood sort of runs in the family. Blood is thicker, and they don’t come much thicker than my family.
6. What got you into horror and made you want to write as well as direct?
As a small boy, I loved the scary old black and white films; Frankenstein, and James Whale’s other classic, Frankenstein’s Bride. That’s my wife and I’s favourite horror. To this day, I call her my little Frankenstein’s bride and she is often known to tighten my nuts of an evening.
Mr and Mrs Gore heading out for dinner at Pizza Express
I got my break with Hammered and grabbed it with both hands. Being scary and making people shake in fear came easily to me. I think it began from my many school yard games of kiss chase. At school, I was known rather unfairly as “the elephant man”. This was not because of my ugly face but because I was mocked for having an appendage that looked just like an elephant’s trunk when I went to the toilet!
Katie: *takes a large gulp of sherry*
7. What’s one of your most memorable experiences from those gory (I mean, glory) days?
My directing career is like the swinging 60’s in London. If you can remember them, you weren’t there.
Half the time, I wasn’t there. It might of been the drink, the drugs, the womanizing, or a combination of all three at once. But I find my long-term memory is as reliable as wearing a colander as a contraceptive device.
Losing one’s memory is one of the greatest tragedies of old age. It will come to you one day, my dear. [Katie: It already has, alas.] You’ll find yourself going into a room and totally forgetting why you entered the room. That can be very distressing, I can tell you. Especially when it’s the little boys’ room!
Strangely enough, I remember the wilder days after filming…some nights in the local pub on location, with various actors and actresses, who best remain nameless until they are all dead. Then I can spill the beans in my autobiography.
8. Tell us about some of the writers you represent. What makes their books unique?
They scare me, some because of the horror they write and some because of the talent they have. Christopher Long is a great horror writer. He has admitted that his dark writing can even give him nightmares. Then there are writers like Hache L. Jones, Peter Jones, and Sarah E. Smith, who have so much talent it makes me wish I had a million dollars to promote them all.
Sadly, we are a small publishing company. However, with great writers like these, it makes me see that we have the building blocks to be a big name.
9. Where do you come up with your comedy material? You’re always such a… scream!
My wife often says I’m as funny as I am scary. Sadly, that’s normally said when we’re both in bed, so I don’t know if that’s exactly a complement.
Real life makes me laugh, and the little things. There I go, back into the bedroom again!
10. What’s your writing process? Do you wear a cape and fangs, and sit in your coffin with a laptop? (Sorry, my mistake. That’s Christopher Lee’s process, isn’t it?)
Lol. yes, I get the bat signal, rather than the Wi-Fi signal. If you don’t mind me saying my dear friend, you are a bit batty!
Katie: Yes, well…to borrow a phrase from Forrest Gump, batty is as batty does. Now, Mr G, if you please – back to you and your writing process.
Thank you. I believe in planning and structure. I fully outline a story from plot points, so I always know where the story is going before I even start.
Often in wanting to move forward, I will write the ending first. Then, of course, the beginning becomes the end. I have to write every word backwards, which can be a tricky way of writing unless you use a mirror.
11. What was the most sublime moment in your life? And on the other foot, what was the worst?
When my good lady wife, Marge, agreed to marry me.
In hindsight, the worst was when she bloody said yes. Having nearly fifty years of constant bloody nagging!
12. What are your future writing plans? Any new books coming out that we can look forward to reading?
The publishing company is busier than a one-legged man in an arse kicking competition.
We have the second novella of Christopher Long, The Final Restoration Of Wendell Pruce.
Sarah E. Smith and her second historical time travel novella, which I love. Also, I’m very excited that Peter Barrie is publishing his first novel with us. He is, like the others, a very talented writer.
I have a few titles of my own brewing in the pipeline, or maybe that should be sewer. They’re more than likely going to escape around Halloween.
But it’s not about me. I like to think of others, as I’m doing by talking to you. If my words inspire someone to write, try horror, or any type of writing for that matter, then me banging away at you for all this time has been worthwhile. Now, all this talking has got my throat dryer than a vulture’s pecker. Let’s have a drink. Cheers, dear lady.
Katie: Cheers, Mr. Gore.
Kensington: *Leans closer and says smoothly* After we finish our drink, my dear, I have a few etchings and a cask of Amontillado down in the cellar I’d really love to show you…
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF KENSINGTON GORE:
KENSINGTON GORE PUBLISHING WEBSITE
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