MP has the write stuff (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

MP has the write stuff

HE has been a diplomat, a TV producer and a Government minister. But now North Swindon MP Michael Wills can add author to his CV.

His first novel Grip is hitting bookshelves across the country this month and he promises it is nothing to do with politics.

"It is a thriller," said Mr Wills, who is writing under the penname David McKeowen.

"The theme is no matter how hard you plan and try, things just do go wrong. So we have got to keep hold of the important things in life and not worry too much about controlling every part of it.

"It is also about yearnings people have for a better life and how difficult it is to get there.

"It is not meant to be a great work of literature, it is meant to be something people will read and enjoy."

The book, published by Hodder Headline, tells the story of novice lawyer James Carroll who owes £30,000 to a drug dealer.

And anyone who enjoys the novel will not have to wait too long for more as a second thriller is already on its way.

But Mr Wills has not been sitting in the House of Commons scribbling away rather than listening to Tony Blair and co. Instead he simply wrote his first book while on a family holiday in Spain two years ago after standing down from his junior ministerial position.

"I resigned from the Government in July 2003 and really got down to it on my summer holiday," he said.

"I took my laptop and while the family played somewhere I sat down and got on with it. So it was done at some speed.

"I am a TV producer by training and spent many years doing that. You have to produce scripts on a very tight deadline and not worry about getting every single sentence perfect." The second book, which does not have a title yet, was written during last year's holiday and will be finished in the sun in Spain this year.

But what made the busy politician want to spend his holidays working?

"You sleep when you are dead," he said.

"About 12 years ago I found some stories I had written when I was about 11.

"I obviously loved writing these long sprawling narratives. I thought what happened to that little boy?

"I wanted to see if I could rediscover that thrill of writing stories.

"I wrote it for myself just to see if I could do it. I love doing it, it fulfils a need in me."

Mr Wills' pen-name is created from his own middle name and his mother's maiden name and is to keep his books separate from his work as an MP.

"It is a signal that the two things are different," he said.

"I take my job as an MP very seriously. This is another part of me and it is separate."

But it is too early to say whether it is a part of Mr Wills that will continue after the completion of his two-book deal.

"I honestly don't know," he said. "We will have to see if anyone wants to read them and if I have any more stories in me.

"You have got to do what feels right."

Isabel Field