Lost and Found
What can you tell our readers about your new book Lost and Found?
Set in South London, it’s the bittersweet story of Carol and Albert, two lost souls who have a profound effect on one another’s lives, even without actually meeting.
Carol is unhappily married to a man she doesn’t love and mother to a daughter she doesn’t understand. She finally plucks up the courage to leave her husband, but before she can get the words out, he tells her that he may have cancer. Crippled with guilt, she decides to stay, but can’t shake the feeling that she’s wasted her life. She decides to start writing cathartic letters about her feelings – but instead of sending them to anyone, she simply draws a smiley face on each envelope and drops it in a postbox.
Albert is a widowed postman who only has his cat, Gloria, for company. In the final few weeks before he retires, he finds himself sidelined to the section of the post office where they sort undeliverable mail. And when a series of letters turns up with a smiley face drawn in place of an address, he can’t help reading them…
Where did your inspiration for Carol and Albert's stories come from?
I’m fascinated by the way we age, not in physical terms but rather in the sense that life often takes us in directions that we hadn’t anticipated. With Carol and Albert, I wanted to create two characters who find that life has taken them far from where they hoped or expected to be. Although they’re both lost souls, Albert has a fundamental optimism to him that I find very touching. It was a real joy to spend a year of my life with these characters.
Tell us about your writing background.
I’ve always made my living from writing, mostly in advertising. That professional background was a great foundation for becoming an author, not simply because it forced me to write creatively on a daily basis, but also because it taught me to understand the business of writing: collaboration and deadlines are a crucial part of the process.
You are at work on your second novel, so tell us about this.
It’s the story of a brother and sister who are at a massive crossroads in their lives. At its heart, it’s a story about how we react to the losses, uncertainties and frightening possibilities of life, and ultimately whether we choose to live each day with arms wide open. It’s scheduled for publication in 2014.
Who do you most like to read?
I love a huge range of writers, but my absolute favourite is actually a non-fiction author called Malcolm Gladwell. His books are total works of genius, and always written in such an effortless, accessible style. Every single one of his books has taught me something new about myself or the world around me. That’s a very exciting thing to be able to say about an author. I can’t wait for his next book, whatever or whenever it may be.
Which authors can you see reflected in your own work?
Nick Hornby has been very influential and I love A.M. Homes’ Music For Torching, which is one of my all-time favourite books. David Nicholls’ One Day also had a huge impact on me. I wish I’d written it!
How did you find writing from a woman's perspective in Carol?
I loved it! Naturally, I was a little worried whether it would ring true to female readers, but so far the feedback has been very positive.
What is next for you?
Work on my latest book should be completely wrapped up by early summer 2013. I’m aiming to spend a little time clearing my head after that, hopefully with some hiking in the Alps or somewhere bleak and windswept, but then I’m eager to start writing again. I already have some very clear ideas for new projects, including a screenplay and a third book.
Tell us about your writing process.
I’m always jotting down new ideas. Although most of them wither and die over time, occasionally an idea begins to take on a life of its own. That’s when I know I’m on to something. By the time the characters are talking to me on a constant basis, I know it’s time to start writing!
How much have your travels aided your writing?
I’ve spent half my life living overseas and in that time I’ve found myself in many different places – from the chaotic streets of Shanghai to the silence of a desert campfire with Bedouin camel herders. Ultimately, the experience of living overseas has taught me how similar we all are. Of course, the cultural context of each community is unique – sometimes dramatically so – but things like love, loss and hope are universal themes.
Female First Lucy Walton