Six Of The Best With CLARE GRANT

Who would have thought that a former housemate of mine would be named one of the wisest people in the United Kingdom by readers of Saga magazine and become an international Internet celebrity for the creation of her Three Beautiful Things (3BT) website?

I first met Clare Grant when she worked on the Kent & Sussex Courier newspaper, where I had previously worked, and I was looking for someone to share the rent on a town centre property. Her positive attitude and literary enthusiasm have been an inspiration ever since; and Clare was the only person who stepped up when I tried to relaunch my HeroPress roleplaying game (not that she knew anything about RPGs, but she knew storytelling) – and for that I am forever in her debt!

(1) When did you start blogging and what was the inspiration for 3BT?

I started blogging in May 2004 because everyone else at my (newish) job seemed to have a blog and I didn't want to stand out. The other blogs were a lot more imaginative - office safe porn, mashups and two German brothers arguing about which Beegee was the best.

(2) How did you initially go about promoting 3BT and did you ever expect it to become a global phenomenon?

I never expected it to become a global phenomenon. I talked about it a lot (having an easy-to-type-address helped with this). I commented on other people's blogs; I put a link in my email signature. I signed up for a few blog lists, but I'm not convinced they helped. I think getting myself mentioned on a few 'hub' blogs helped tremendously. Things really kicked off when I got a mention on the front page of blogger - I have no idea what I did to deserve that, but my hits went from 70 a day to about 8,000. They've settled at around 150 now, which I'm happy with.

(3) Who are your favourite writers and what are you reading at present?

I'm reading Mister Monday by Garth Nix at the mo. I've just finished The Minotaur by Barbara Vine. My favourite writers are: Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, E. Nesbit, Amy Tan, George RR Martin, Lemony Snicket, Mervyn Peake, Tove Jansson, L M Montgomery, Saki, Ellis Peters, Lindsey Davis... but this list will probably change next week.

(4) Besides Neil Gaiman's Sandman have you enjoyed any other comic books or graphic novels?

I can't stop looking at Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - every time I see it I spot a new reference. And I loved Gaiman's 1602. I expect you remember me crouched in the corner of the games room of our shared house on Goods Station Road with your collection of Little Nemo books?

I'm reading Gunnerkrigg Court - it's a fantasy mystery exploration of friendship about a girl with a possessed toy wolf and an extra shadow set in a boarding school with is bigger on the inside than the outside.

I had a thing for Hewlett and Martin's Tank Girl when I was a little 'un - I've recently picked up some back issues but I can't see what it was I liked... I love Copper but it's on hiatus just now (grumble sulk whine). And I was thrilled by the Beardsleyesque Lucifer Box (it's written by Mark Gatiss of League of Gentlemen fame). And I'm looking forward to Flight 4.

(5) Outside of blogging, socialising and reading, what hobbies occupy your day?

I write a lot - I'm working on a radio play just now with Linda James' script writing course. I've got some blogs lined up to be published in 12 weekly episodes, one about fear, one telling the stories behind art and one about the perils of single life. I also go to salsa classes, and I like taking long walks into the countryside, mainly because it lets me see into people's back gardens, follow streams, steal apples and discover miraculous viaducts.

(6) What's next for 3BT; a book or magazine column perhaps?

A book or a magazine column would be super fantastic. 3BT and I are shaking our little asses around some publishers at present, but there hasn't been much positive response yet - I need to work on my proposal some more, I think. Keeping the blog has made me very happy - I'd love the chance to share the idea with more people because I think it's a very healthy thing to do.