Interview Laurel Lamperd

by

Elliot Love

1. How long have you been writing?

I have been writing for many years. I began writing poetry and short stories when my family was young because of time constrictions. I always thought ahead to when I would have time to write a novel.

2. Is there a ‘favourite’ genre in which you like to write? Why?

I like to write in the genre of the type of books I like to read. I was very fond of the Georgette Heyer books. Hence Substitute Bride.

3. How did you come up with the idea for Substitute Bride?

I decided I would like to write Regency. I wrote the outline of a Regency rake, then a heroine, which I thought would suit him to fall in love with, and a problem to overcome. The secondary characters seemed to fall into place as I wrote.

4. What's the one thing you hope your readers will take away with them, after finishing Substitute Bride?

I hope they feel as happy and light-hearted as I did after reading a Georgette Heyer book.

5. What books are you planning for the future?

I’m writing a trilogy about Walara, a fictional sheep station in the Carnarvon area of Western Australia and the generations of the Hennessy family who live there.

6. What do you enjoy doing when not writing?

I like to garden and read.

7. What was the key factor that made you decide to take the plunge and complete your first novel?

I don’t think there was anything. I wanted to write a novel and I did. I kept on until I finished it.

8. Which character in Substitute Bride is your favourite? Why?

I like the two main characters, Desborough and Emma, and I’m quite fond of Lady Matilda, Emma’s aunt.

9. Are there any real life experiences that influenced your first novel, Substitute Bride?

Not really. I don’t tend to write so much about my experiences in my novels. Maybe in poetry.

10. You live on a coastal farm in Western Australia, have you woven your environment into your story?

Not in Substitute Bride as it is set in London mainly. I don’t think the England of the era was very interested in the environment.

11. As a mother and grandmother, is there anything you would like to say to young writers?

I would say--write as much as you can. Learn about ‘point of view’ and ‘to show not tell’.

12. What's the most important thing you would like readers to know about you as an author?

I’m not sure how to answer this--maybe to know about my books and that I exist.