Interviewing A.A Gill at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival

Posted: 20/05/2011 2:07:59 p.m.

I can still recall the wave of nerves and churning stomach when phoned three months ago to gauge my interest in interviewing AA Gill. I had read many of his columns and restaurant reviews over the years, and was a huge fan, in a skim through sort of way of the the well-worn magazines such as Vanity Fair, GQ and Australian Gourmet Traveller, trying to relax before the inevitable: ‘come through Mr. Brown’ at a dentist or doctor appointment.

I have always found his columns totally engaging. I love his wit, his intellect and brilliant turn of phrase. I have to admit there has also always been this selfish indulgence and slightly ugly side of me that has found pleasure, in a safe waiting room on the other side of the world, in reading his brutally honest reviews where he can simply dismantle, crucify and rip every shred of a restaurant’s efforts into confetti.

Now I do not by any stretch particularly enjoy public speaking. However whether I enjoy it or not, it is part and parcel of what I do. It’s sort of a love hate scenario. I hate the thought of it all, but love the feeling of taming or overcoming my nerves. If I have a chopping board, knife and a fish in front of me and I’m there to talk food and demonstrate a recipe, I can natter on happily and I’m relatively comfortable in my environment. In fact surrounded by the props of my trade and head full of stories and anecdotes I actually quite enjoy entertaining an audience.

However interviewing Mr. AA Gill in front of a very large crowd at the Auckland Aotea Centre for an hour and a half was a completely different kettle of fish. I said yes to the request for a number of reasons. Firstly it’s great to be asked, secondly meeting Adrian in person is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and then lastly if I had said no I would have beaten myself up time and time again for not having the courage or guts to overcome my fears.

From the second I put the phone down after agreeing to do the session on ‘Friday the 13th of May’, every time it crossed my mind, a wave of nerves would wash over me. I was sent a bunch of books, but finished only one (Table Talk – read it, it’s hilarious) due to trying to finish and deliver my own book. So Liz my wife and other friends read the rest, circling or making notes on parts they thought were appropriate or helpful to the cause.

After AA Gill confirmed he would attend the event, I gathered from the ‘Writers and Readers Festival’ crew that getting emails returned from the ‘AA’ was increasingly difficult. However I mentioned to them that if he had any spare time for me to take him saltwater fly fishing on the Waitamata, that I thought this would be a great way to bond a little and to try and get my head around exactly what I had bitten off.

Surprise, surprise. A response to the fishing invite email was practically instantaneous. This was a relief and gave me some insight into the man that at least we have one thing in common – we both love to wet a line.

I met AA on Thursday evening after the wonderful opening gala night and made a time to meet for breakfast the following morning. I had barely pulled up a chair and said good morning to this famous writer, before he had me in stitches. The rest of the morning continued in the same vein as my brother Jeremy took the two of us out saltwater fly fishing. Used to super yachts and the like, Mr. Gill was perfectly happy and relaxed in a modest 14 foot tinny with a thermos of tea, a chicken sandwich and a cookie or two. We had an awesome morning, battling and landing a couple of large Kahawai while Jeremy and I hung onto every exciting word that came from that super clever mind of his.

The rest of the day was spent pacing up and down my hotel room reading excerpts from his books that I planned to read out along with the questions I had formulated for the evenings session. By 7 o’clock, feeling totally wound up and sick to the stomach with nerves, I sat in the green room with the great man, trying to act nonchalant, but failing hopelessly.

I can say with complete honesty that the next 90 minutes were certainly up there as the some of the longest in my life. I called him Anthony the first two times I mentioned his name, (A.A stands for Adrian Anthony), I stumbled at times reading pieces from his books, my brow constantly dripping with perspiration. And to be honest I can’t really recall how it went, however there were laughs a plenty, some at my expense, but most through the shear brilliance and witticisms of this very funny man. At times I didn’t understand words he was using, breaking into French phrases and the like, as well as trying to keep up, and think what to say next.

It eventually came to an end, and as I stood in the wings completely drained, Adrian was wonderful with his praise and support. I honestly didn’t know what to think, what I did know was that it reinforced the enormous respect I have for all those wonderful interviewers out there….the Kathryns, the Kims, the Johns and the Marks of this world.

The rest of the weekend was a doddle. I hung out with AA for some of the time, enjoying his presence and conversation immensely. A genuine and thoughtful guy, who wears his big heart on his sleeve, he is and will remain a friend for a very long time.

Would I do it again? That’s a good question……