Lainy J Thomas
What made you decide to become a writer?
I don’t think of it as a decision. It is in my blood, my father was a poet. I have always loved language.
How do you decide your plots? Are they taken from events that have happened to you? Do you base your characters on real people – or do you prefer to be fully creative and make them up?
Whilst my characters are entirely fictional, they are based on life and the positive and negative drama that surrounds us.
What comes first for you – the plot or the characters? And why?
An idea comes to me in the shape of a vague plot and this seems to go hand in hand with the main characters. It all evolves from there and sometimes I surprise myself with the twists that develop along the way!
How many books have you written and/or published, and which is your favourite?
I am on my seventh novel. Two are being edited and four are published. My favourite is “A Place called Home.”
Tell me more about your favourite book – the plot, characters, setting, POV, tense…
It is a hard hitting novel, with the main character being fifteen year old Aimee who has a very unhappy home life from which she finds solace in the arms of a classmate. She becomes pregnant, a fact which she conceals until found out by a perceptive and caring teacher. It is written from the point of view of mainly Aimee, her mother and Helen, the teacher.
What is your favourite genre to write in? Tell me why.
I love to write emotional drama because I like to entertain but also aim to make people think about their own behaviour and responses.
Did you need to do research for your book? If so, how much did you do, how did you do it?
The most research I have done is for “Results Day” as I have a character who goes to court and to prison, so I had to get my facts straight!
Would you travel to the area where your book is set? Do you already know the area? Have you written about that area because it’s a place you know? Have you used the original name of the area or manipulated place names?
In “A Place called Home” I made up the name but it is based on the type of working class area in which I grew up. However, I love to travel and have included places such as Paris and Rome in my books.
How do you feel about killing off popular characters? Is it something you enjoy doing in your own books? Have you done it?
I can’t say as it would be a huge spoiler!!
Would you write any genre or do you stick to one?
I have written a RomCom, which should be out later this year.
Do you write under a pseudonym or your own name?
A pseudonym.
Have you ever interviewed someone in relation to your book, in order to make your story more realistic?
Only surreptitiously!
Does your family read your work? If not, would you like them to? Are your books their thing? Would it bother you if they weren’t interested in reading any of them?
My mom has read them all, my sister one. My husband doesn’t read and my sons are too scared to find out my inner thoughts! My stepdaughters have read them and helped with proofreading.
Or does your family help you when writing your book – how much do they support you?
I think they are proud of me!
How many hours a day or week would you say you spend writing? Is it a potential career for you, is it something you do outside your day job?
It varies massively as I still teach, but I would love to write full time…one day…
Is writing therapeutic for you, or does it cause you to stress out?
Absolute therapy.
How do you market your books?
Very poorly! I lose interest as I just want to write!!
How do you react to reviews? Would you prefer just good ones or are you okay to receive a bad one occasionally? How does this make you feel?
I have not had a bad review yet, but everyone has different tastes and I’m a teacher, so very thick skinned!
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