Simon Lelic

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Simon Lelic

Simon Lelic was born in Brighton in 1976 and, after a decade or so living in London and trying to convince himself that the tube was fine, really, because it gave him a chance to read, he and his wife moved back to Brighton with their three young children. That Barnaby, Joseph and Anja’s grandparents happened to live close enough by to be able to offer their babysitting services was, of course, entirely coincidental.

As well as writing, Simon runs an import/export business. He says this, when people ask, with a wink but fools no one – he’s more Del Trotter than Howard Marks!

Simon studied history at the University of Exeter. After graduating he was qualified, he discovered . . . to do an MA. After that he figured he had better learn something useful, so took a post-graduate course in journalism – so much for learning something useful!

After working freelance and then in business-to-business publishing, Simon now writes novels. Not useful either, necessarily, but fun and, in its own way, important.

His hobbies (when he has time for them) include reading (for which he makes time, because he can just about get away with claiming this is also work), golf, tennis, snowboarding and karate. His weekends belong to his family (or so his wife tells him), as does his heart.

Interviewed 30 November 2019

Ten words to sum up your working life to date ...

Privileged, rewarding, frustrating, consuming, sleep-deprived, energising, testing, exciting, repetitive, blessed.

Nine things you can see from where you're sitting ...

A beautiful old elm tree outside the window, which I’m terrified is going to be cut down; a seagull perched on a chimney pot across the street; the Garfield daily calendar I have next to my computer; three framed photographs on my desk, one of my daughter and each of my two sons; my ever-present notepad and pencil; and an empty coffee cup that urgently needs refilling . . .

Eight minutes to prepare a meal. What's it going to be ?

About the only thing I’m capable of making in eight minutes is a sandwich. But I could probably get a pizza delivered in not much longer than that.

Seven people you'd like to go for a drink with ...

I would choose six of my friends and let Stephen King know he’d be welcome if he fancied stopping by for a pint.

Six things you can't live without ...

Books, music, peanut butter, coffee, red wine and my family.

Five favourite words ...

Deep pan margherita, extra cheese

Four places you'd run away to ...

Run away from what? My four favourite cities (other than Brighton) are Paris, New York, Rome and London, but I’d always want to come home.

Three books you've bought recently ...

Lost Connections by Johann Hari; The Border by Don Winslow; An American Marriage by Tayari Jones.

Two things that make you rant ...

Grammar and laziness.

One thing you'd tell your teenage self ...

Never be ashamed of what you love.