In conversation with... Liz Lawler

Hi Liz! First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the publication of I’ll Find You! Can you please briefly tell us what it is about?

A: Thank you for inviting me to talk to you! 

In my mind I’ll Find You is essentially a story about loss and hope and fear, about how far one is driven to find or make safe the person they love.

Did you have the plot entirely figured out when you started writing the book or did it take an unexpected turn as the characters grew on the page?

A: I visualised much of the story while writing it. My dreams are constantly with the characters until it is finished, but there are times when you don’t know what a character is going to say until you’re writing it and that can lead you down another path.

What kind of research, if any, did you have to carry out while you were writing this novel? In general, is research something you enjoy or a means to an end?

A: Nursing has given me years of experience of working in the medical world, but I’m grateful that I have doctors and nurses to go to with all my questions. I loved shadowing the police wearing my hi-vis jacket saying ‘Observer’. I was able to accompany response officers who are called to any number of jobs at high speed. It made me aware of how very fit you have to be to be a police officer. And research is always on my mind!

If this novel was going to be turned into a film, who would you cast in the roles of Emily and Mr Dalloway?

A: Apart from the fact that i think Emily Blunt is an amazing actress, I think she would make a wonderful Emily and as a bonus she wouldn’t have to change her name! I could see Harrison Ford or Colin Firth as Mr Dalloway. Only in my dreams of course!

Without giving too much away, can you tell us about a scene in the book that you love or that was particularly difficult to write?

A: The scene between Emily and Walter. It made me cry imagining what Walter only wished for…

Is there anything that didn’t make it into the final version of the book?

A: No, not really as thoughts and imagery often gets recycled in some other shape or form.

If you are already working on your next writing project, would you mind giving us a little anticipation of what we are to expect?

A: The setting for my next story is completely different. I’m fortunate to have experience of working on both trains and planes so there is a clue.

What are you reading at the moment?

A: I’m reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz and am completely hooked!

Due to the popularity of social networking websites, interacting with readers – be it via Twitter, Facebook Instagram etc. – is becoming increasingly important. How do you cope with these new demands on authors and do you think that they somehow disrupt your writing schedule?

A: I think I’m rather awkward and a bit self-conscious when it comes to social media, never knowing what to put or write. I tend only to interact when a notification pops up that I’ve been linked or tagged in. Or when I get a text message from a sister saying you didn’t respond on Facebook!  I made it a New Years resolution to be more out there, but at heart I’m a bit of a solitary soul, especially when writing as I want to burrow myself away.  But I will try harder!

What one piece of advice would you give to aspiring writers?

A: if you’ve been bitten by the writing bug, you’ll already know it’s hard to stop, but what I would say is write what entertains you, what moves you, what takes you on a journey to the vey end.

Thank you for your time! 

A: You are so welcome!