Janice Hallett discusses The Examiner
Entertainment
Introduction
In a recent conversation between Janet Hallett and Barbara Peters, they discussed Hallett's new book, The Examiner, and the complex themes woven into it. This was their first in-person meeting, despite their extensive collaboration on previous book launches through Zoom—a mode of communication that Hallett finds surprisingly intimate.
Hallett began by reminiscing about their delightful tea together in London during a literary festival called Capital Crime. They marveled at how easy it was to connect in person despite only knowing each other through virtual discussions. The journey to Central London from Heathrow became an amusing topic, with Hallett sharing her experience of traffic discrepancies that varied dramatically depending on the time of day.
In The Examiner, Hallett presents a murder mystery set in an academic environment. The narrative revolves around an art tutor named Jella, who is desperately trying to maintain the relevance of art courses amid changing educational priorities. The setting is a post-graduate course where students are pushed to combine fine art with corporate needs, all while dealing with the intense pressures associated with examinations and grades. Hallett's fascination with how people write about themselves under scrutiny plays a pivotal role in the storyline.
Bringing up Colin Dexter, the author known for his Inspector Morse series, Hallett explained how his background as an examiner influenced her storytelling approach. Dexter's experiences inspired her to delve into the complexities of individual perspectives amid a collective academic environment. The narrative unfolds through various perspectives, highlighting interpersonal dynamics and the unique pressures students face in creative fields.
Hallett's characters each represent a spectrum of backgrounds and motives. She envisioned a diverse group of students, each grappling with personal struggles as they strive for success in a competitive environment. As the readers will discover, teamwork becomes a double-edged sword in the book; while it is crucial for collaborative projects, it breeds conflict and jealousy, reflecting real-world challenges in modern workplaces.
The book utilizes various modern communication tools such as WhatsApp and Doodle, contrasting the bureaucratic communication often found in British academia. Hallett emphasized the need for students and faculty to adapt to these technologies while exploring the darker side of teamwork and collaboration in a high-stakes academic setting.
Shifting the conversation to Hallett's writing process, she revealed that every book begins with a blank page, allowing the plot to evolve organically. Each draft illuminates the story's essence, and differences arise with every introduction of new themes and communication forms. Her upcoming releases will also include children’s novels, demonstrating her versatility as a writer.
The discussion highlighted not just the mechanics of writing but also tackled contemporary matters such as artificial intelligence's influence in literature. Hallett expressed confidence that AI will not replace the nuanced human experience embedded in storytelling and emphasized the importance of human creativity, discussion, and humor in her work.
As they wrapped up the discussion, Hallett noted the layered significance of the scorpions featured in The Examiner, symbolizing the intricate twists that define her gripping narratives.
Keywords
- Janice Hallett
- The Examiner
- Murder mystery
- Academic setting
- Creative course
- Teamwork dynamics
- Modern communication
- Writing process
- Artificial intelligence
- Human creativity
FAQ
Q1: What is The Examiner about?
A: The Examiner is a murder mystery set in a postgraduate art course, exploring interpersonal dynamics under the scrutiny of grades and artistic expression.
Q2: How does Janice Hallett develop her plots?
A: Hallett starts each book with a blank page, allowing the story to evolve organically. She revises her drafts to reflect the true essence of the plot and characters.
Q3: What role does modern communication play in The Examiner?
A: The book incorporates various modern communication tools like WhatsApp and Doodle, highlighting both their advantages and the darker sides of teamwork in an educational context.
Q4: How does Hallett feel about AI's role in writing?
A: Hallett believes that while AI may play a part in research, it cannot replace the human experience and creativity that shape storytelling.
Q5: What can readers expect from Hallett's future works?
A: Readers can anticipate further novels from Hallett, including children's books that maintain her unique storytelling style while appealing to different age groups.