Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The questions listed on this page have been submitted by visitors to this site and the answers have been provided by Alex Annesty. Not all questions will find their way onto this page, but any that are submitted frequently (there's a clue in the page title) are likely to end up here.

If you would like to submit a question to Alex Annesty, please use the Contact page.

Whay aren't there any major female characters in CGTZ?
There are, I promise. I've got quite a few bits of story already written, that involve female characters. It's just that the first couple of chapters have been taken up with Colin, Tonto and the experiences they have that form the core of the story. Lesley does feature in chapter 1 of course, although she hasn't done much other than make cheese and pickle sandwiches so far; there's plenty of time yet though.

Is Colin based on you?
Not really, but I suppose there must be bits of me in him. I do find myself seeing most of the story from Colin's point of view and I'm sure that results in some of my thoughts influencing the way he's written. Hopefully that's a good thing. The tricky bit is remembering that each character has his or her own personality and trying to avoid making them all think and act like Alex Annesty.

Do you hate draught bitter?
No, I'm very fond of it. The Grayson's bitter, served in the Eye, although fictitious, is based on the sort of poor to mediocre keg (and occasionally draught) beer served in many tied houses up to 1989. Of course, the British brewing industry was changed irrevocably from this point on, thanks to the Government's Supply of Beer (Tied Estate) Order 1989 and the Supply of Beer (Loan Ties, Licensed Premises and Wholesale Prices) Order 1989, but don't get me started. On a happier note, it was such bitter that led to my joyful discovery of the very real White Shield in the early 1980s; I'm delighted to report that it's still available to this day. Hurrah!

What was your inspiration for CGTZ?
I didn't really have an inspiration; I just started writing whatever came into my head, without worrying if it made sense, or was plausible or not. That's still the way I write it, although it's not a method I've used before. It makes the whole writing process highly enjoyable, as I don't know what's going to happen next until I've written it.

What else have you written?
A varied range of short stories, poetry and sketches; none published so far. I live in hope...

Are you holding back lots of chapters to try and get more donations?
No. I try to update the on-line version of the book each time I complete a section or chapter; that way the story grows in installments, with logical endings, rather than just breaking off in the middle of the action.

The draft states that it was first published in 2003 by Little M Publishing. Why do you need help if it's already published?
'Little m Publishing' is Alex Annesty. I just created it as a device to protect my rights in the novel I'm writing. If I'm able to obtain a proper publishing deal I assume that will all change.

Is the sparrow a Zobelander spy?
No

Is Tonto a Zobelander?
You'll have to wait and see.