I'm very excited to welcome Erin Lawless on Sky's Book Corner today. Her newest novel Somewhere Only We Know was published yesterday: Amazon UK
1.
Did
you always dream of being a writer?
I have always been writing. When I was about 7 I wrote an epic saga series
about the Princess of the Spoons (literal spoons, my grandmother had a lot of
silverware). Then when I was a teenager I moved on to that guiltiest of guilty
pleasures – fanfiction! Sadly I never managed an E L James/50 Shades-style
transition (clearly not enough BDSM in my Pokémon fics) but I still think those
years were the absolute best practice for being a writer ever!
2.
Your
newest novel Somewhere Only We Know, is published
this month, what is it about?
Somewhere Only We Know is a
contemporary romcom "based around immigration law"… no, wait, don't
run! It's a gentle friendship-into-love story starring the bubbly Russian Nadia
and the downtrodden Brit Alex, where the former is fighting against deportation
and the latter works for the immigration department!
3.
What
was your inspiration for the book?
I didn't have to dig too deep. My best friend is just such a Russian national
who fought tooth and nail against deportation from the UK, where she'd lived
since she was eleven years old. I felt so impotent throughout the whole process
but the story inspired by the struggle – Nadia's story – absolutely poured out
of me.
4.
Can
you tell us more about the main character(s)?
At first it looks like your usual 'opposites attract' deal, although (of
course) it ends up being a lot more than that. Nadia is 'gung ho,
get-up-and-go' with a true positivity and zest for life. Alex used to be a lot
more like her, but something happened
to change all that, and ever since then he's been stuck in a rut, happy just to
play his Playstation, complain about his lot in life and lust miserably over
his flatmate's girlfriend.
5.
Where
and when do you write your stories?
I have a full time job and so I really do mean it when I say the writing gets
squished into the oddest times. I always try to grab a cheeky ninety minutes
when my husband puts the football on at the weekend..!
6.
What
do you do and enjoy when you’re not writing?
As long as I've got my Kindle nearby and my Netflix subscription, I'm a pretty
happy bunny.
7.
Your
debut novel is called The Best Thing I
Never Had, what is it about?
The Best Thing I Never Had is my mini
epic, with seven characters spanning seven years. It's the story of a group of
university friends – what brings them together, and what tears them apart – and
how they have to face up to their past at a wedding five years after
graduation.
8.
If
you could switch places with a character from a book, who would it be and why?
Hermione Granger, because, well, MAGIC, woo!
9.
You
also write short stories, how is it different from writing a normal novel?
Very different. My short stories and flash fictions are belted out at speed,
when I just HAVE to get whatever it is out of my system. With my novels, I have
been known to spend half an hour on just one sentence. Having said that I am
introducing a new, revised edition of my short story anthology The Last Train Home & Other Stories
this summer, so no doubt that will involve having spent time agonising over my
verb choice there too!
10.
What books have most influenced your
life most?
An all time, ultimate favourite is the Tortall series by Tamora Pierce. My
first foray into fantasy novels, and my first uncompromising, feminist heroine
– those books had a massive impact on me. I re-read the entire set every few
years, and I nurture a secret ambition to write my own fantasy saga one day!
11.
What are you working on at the
moment?
It is very early days for novel number three, but I am cautiously excited. It's
like nothing I've ever written before – first person perspective and only one
narrator for a change! It’s a romcom all about the fall-out after a couple
decide to make a list of all the celebrities they’re allowed to sleep with.
Let’s just say one half of the couple takes it more seriously than the other…
12.
What
do you enjoy most about writing?
I love it when I reach the point in the process where the characters step away
from the 'archetype' holders I've used in my structure notes ("the
girl", "the guy", "the love triangle person",
"the best friend") and actually take on personalities of their own. An
entire subplot was dropped from The Best
Thing I Never Had because by the time I got to it the characters involved
told me point blank that they'd never do anything like that. And when that
happens, you've really got to listen (or get your head examined).
13.
Pick
three authors you want to have dinner with and tell us why.
There are so many, but I'm going to pick three women I have huge, ugly
girl-crushes on. Mhairi MacFarlane, because she's absolutely hysterical and I
feel would match me cocktail for cocktail. Sarah J Maas because we can fangirl
about writing for FictionPress back in the day and she writes the most kick-ass
heroines ever. And Sarah Addison Allen because she is the queen of magical
realism and I'd love to chat to her about life in the 'Deep South'.
14.
What
does your perfect day look like?
I would have a bit of a lie-in (definitely), or maybe laze around in bed
reading after my alarm went off. Then my husband and I would load up the car
and go off on an adventure, stopping for a cream tea, maybe visit one of the
National Trust places we've been saving. Then I'd meet my friends for dinner
and cocktails and probably end up shoeless and voiceless from too much dancing
and singing come the early hours of the morning.
15.
Imagine
Somewhere Only We Know would be turned into a movie, who would you
cast for the main characters?
For purely looks-wise (we'd have to work on their accents!) I always feel that
Candice Accola looks a little like the Nadia-in-my-head (she'd have to get hair
extensions though) and for Alex, maybe Logan Lerman? He's got a lovely little
face, heehee!
16. Coffee or
tea?
Tea,
without a doubt. I can't even bear the smell of coffee.
17. Paperback
or e-reader?
e-reader for ease, but I always, ALWAYS buy paperbacks of 'keepers'.
18. Mountains or the sea?
I'm married
into a coastal family and I'm a water star sign – so it's got to be the sea!
19. Summer or winter?
I am a
massive Christmas fan, but the summer means barbeques, rose wine, pretty
dresses coming out of storage and my birthday!
20. Sweet or salty?
I'm going
to cheat – both! I love Reeses Pieces and salted caramel!
SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW
Boy meets girl…
Alex Bradley can't help but feel that life is rather passing him by. And not just life – promotions, invitations, romance; the girl he loves only has eyes for his flatmate and his 9-5 job as the Immigration department skivvy is slowly numbing his soul. Until he meets Nadia.
Girl meets boy…
Nadia Osipova is running out of time. With no money, no lawyer and a totally fictitious boyfriend, she’s got one last summer and one last appeal before the British government deport her back home.
Girl gets deported?
It's going to be a bumpy ride, one she's dragging her new friend Alex along for. As Nadia races through a list of all her favourite London adventures, for what may be the last time, Alex can’t help but start to see the city, and his life, through Nadia’s eyes.
From hazy summer days on the Common and heady nights in Soho’s basement bars, to twilight walks along the Southbank, will Alex realise what he’s got before it’s too late?
Funny, addictive and always honest, this is a love letter to London, friendship and the unexpected from the author of the bestselling The Best Thing I Never Had.
About the author:
Bestselling author Erin Lawless lives a happy life full of wonderful friends, in love with a man who buys her books instead of flowers. To mix things up a little, she write books where friends and lovers hit obstacles and (usually) overcome them. When she's not doing that she's reading absolutely everything she can get her hands on, spending an inordinate amount of time in pyjamas and running a fun-but-informative blog on British history.
SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW
Boy meets girl…
Alex Bradley can't help but feel that life is rather passing him by. And not just life – promotions, invitations, romance; the girl he loves only has eyes for his flatmate and his 9-5 job as the Immigration department skivvy is slowly numbing his soul. Until he meets Nadia.
Girl meets boy…
Nadia Osipova is running out of time. With no money, no lawyer and a totally fictitious boyfriend, she’s got one last summer and one last appeal before the British government deport her back home.
Girl gets deported?
It's going to be a bumpy ride, one she's dragging her new friend Alex along for. As Nadia races through a list of all her favourite London adventures, for what may be the last time, Alex can’t help but start to see the city, and his life, through Nadia’s eyes.
From hazy summer days on the Common and heady nights in Soho’s basement bars, to twilight walks along the Southbank, will Alex realise what he’s got before it’s too late?
About the author:
Bestselling author Erin Lawless lives a happy life full of wonderful friends, in love with a man who buys her books instead of flowers. To mix things up a little, she write books where friends and lovers hit obstacles and (usually) overcome them. When she's not doing that she's reading absolutely everything she can get her hands on, spending an inordinate amount of time in pyjamas and running a fun-but-informative blog on British history.
No comments:
Post a Comment