I’d like to welcome Lucy Mclaren, the first author willing to share an insight into her life, right here, just for you.
You can find Lucy in numerous places! On Twitter, and on Instagram. Her website can be found here, where you can sign-up to her newsletter to receive regular updates on A Child’s Awakening as well as free short stories.
Hello Lucy, please tell us a bit about yourself. The basics, day job, how many cats you have etc.
Hi! I’m Lucy McLaren, I’m 31 years old and live with my husband in Essex, England. I am an animal lover though sadly we don’t have any of our own pets at present. My three family dogs, Cosmo, Arya and Beth, live at my parents’ house and all provide ample cuddles to keep me satisfied. I’m a counsellor working with children and young people. I am passionate about mental health and the theories that aid my work as a counsellor.
Can you tell us about your work in progress and/or released books?
I’m currently editing my first book, A CHILD’S AWAKENING, which is due for release via SFWP in Spring 2022. It’s the first in a fantasy trilogy called The Commune (this is a working title while I try to figure out what to call it!!).
A Child’s Awakening is told from the perspectives of Evelyn, Raif, Hector and Commander Sulemon. It’s set in the kingdom of Septima, ruled in all but name by a ruthless organisation called the Commune which imposes a law upon its citizens: any children born with powers must be handed over to them for “training”.
Whilst Evelyn and Raif are fleeing from the Commune (and trying to understand more about the powers that, it soon becomes apparent, Raif’s sister Rose possesses), Hector (and his cat companion Cara) tries to protect them by taking them to the camp of his Commune-opposing group, Veritas. Meanwhile, Commander Sulemon is hunting them down under the orders of his former lover (and Commune agent) Lord Torrant.
Of course, it’s a lot more complicated than that. Things aren’t so simple as people being good and bad and I really wanted to explore this in the story and through the characters. If you’re keen to stay updated and receive sneak peeks and more information, sign up to my newsletter (details below!).
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
When I’m not writing, I love to read (fantasy, mainly, but I do love horror and thriller books too), play video games and binge watch TV shows on a variety of streaming services (always open to suggestions). My husband and I are both film fans and regularly go to the cinema (present lockdown aside) to see new releases. I also enjoy yoga and walking to help me unwind.
What is your writing process and how many hours a day do you write?
I’m not sure I have a set process per se, but when I was writing my first book (and drafting the second in the series) I did find it really helpful to hold myself accountable to get at least something done every day (whether that was 50 words or 5,000 words). The most effective way I found was keeping a tally of daily wordcount, adding this up each month and then setting myself the goal of trying to beat the previous month’s wordcount… and so on.
I am lucky that I have a part-time job (and no kids yet) so I have an almost luxurious amount of writing time available to me. I will tend to do at least an hour a day—some days this isn’t enough and I’ll keep going until the flow stops; some days I felt barely able to get a sentence out and know that it’s no good trying to force it, so will step away. In my present editing mode, I try to get at least a chapter done a day.
Do you like to listen to music when you write? If yes, what helps get your creative juices going?
Yes, I love listening to music when writing! Sometimes it depends on what mood I’m in or what the scene I’m working on dictates. I find certain music really helps me get into different character headspaces. For example, Commander Sulemon is a man battling with his own feelings of love and loyalty for a man who long ago placed a seemingly impassable barrier between them. He is driven by that love and the hope that, one day, they will be together again. I find myself drawn to songs about heartache, despair and longing when I’m writing from his perspective. For Evelyn, who often feels overwhelmed by feelings of anxiety and self-doubt, I tend to listen to music that I did when I was 18 (Linkin Park, Sum 41, The Distillers). Good old teen angst!
If I’m just listening to general music and not driven by anything particular in the book, my favourite bands are Lord Huron and Keane so I’ll often listen to them. Or soundtracks from favourite video games and films. To be fair, when I’m fully in the writing zone I often tune out whatever’s playing and it turns into background noise anyway.
Do you find being a writer difficult? What is the hardest part? And the easiest?
Hmm, that is a good question. I think it can be challenging, but at the same time it’s deeply satisfying when you overcome writer’s block or pull together a glaring plot hole that was keeping you awake at night. I’m always amazed at how the brain can work away in the background and provide solutions seemingly out of the blue to help solve such issues. For me, it’s usually when I’m driving, in the bath or walking—all times when I haven’t got a notepad or my phone to hand to frantically write my thoughts down!
The hardest part for me is keeping all of the separate plot threads in my head as I’m writing. I’m terrified I’ll forget something and get pulled up on it by someone far more observant or intelligent than me. My phone and notepad are both full of random notes when I get struck by scene/dialogue ideas or thoughts about what tweaks I could make to the plot to make everything flow better.
The easiest part for me would be those days when the writing seems to just… flow (aren’t they magical?). You sit down and start typing and, suddenly, you’ve got a whole chapter done within an hour. It’s a lovely feeling.
Are you an under or over writer? How do you find editing depending on your style?
I think I’d come into the under writer category. When I finished the first draft of A Child’s Awakening, it was around 80,000 words. It’s now up to around 95,000 words (and likely to grow a little more). I’m finding that as I do this final round of my own editing (before it goes to a professional editor), the lengths of chapters are increasing.
I don’t mind editing really. I find it amazing how, after some time away, we can come back to our own work with completely fresh eyes and notice things we didn’t pick up on before.
What is your favourite childhood book and has it had any influence on you as a writer?
The first book (or series, I should say) I really remember having an impact on me was Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lionness Quartet. After reading that, I swiftly moved onto more adult fantasy books such as J.V. Jones’ Sword of Shadows Series. I adore both of these to this day.
BUT my favourite childhood book (which remains my favourite book today) is Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. I can’t remember exactly how old I was when I read Northern Lights (the first book, called the Golden Compass in some countries) but I was immediately drawn into the world. I’ve reread the series multiple times and, every time, I fall in love with it a bit more and take something new from it. It’s undoubtedly had an influence on me as a writer. I love the way Philip Pullman writes with such apparent ease, describing these worlds so like our own (yet so different too) and painting such vivid pictures. I can only hope to strive for such skill! And, of course, the inclusion of animal companions in A Child’s Awakening is a little tribute to the series; as an animal lover, I couldn’t resist!
Finally, where can we follow you and receive updates about your work?
You can find me in numerous places! On Twitter, I’m @lucyamclaren. On Instagram, @lucy_a_mclaren. My website can be found here, where you can sign-up to my newsletter to receive regular updates on A Child’s Awakening as well as free short stories.
If you would be interested in reading the reciprocal interview I did on Lucy’s website, please follow this link.
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