Today we talk about Knowing them, a book by Lorna Stevenson published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Lorna Stevenson to get to know her better, where she got the inspiration to write her book Knowing them and how her passion for writing started.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where did you find the inspiration to write this story?
When I was younger, I played with dolls. It was during that time I first played around with character, and I actually started developing many of the characters in ‘Knowing Them’ at this time. As I developed my love for writing I wanted to find the perfect way to explore these characters that had become very dear to me. While in a café with a friend, I was scribbling in a notebook searching for inspiration and wrote: “They were Gods. But of course, we didn’t know. We didn’t see the superman beneath the glasses. We saw flaws, so we saw humanity.” I fell in love with the line and it became the first words of my book. Really that sentence, which I wrote on a whim, sparked inspiration for the whole book. I quickly became obsessed with planning out the storyline and marking out what I happened to happen with each character. A childhood of playing with dolls sparked a love for characters that led me to seek out a story worthy of them.
- What message did you want to send out with your book?
This was the big question I asked myself while writing ‘Knowing Them’. Over the course of my life, it has been proved to me time and again how important it is to have a support system for both difficult and easy moments. The initial presentation of the ‘Gods’ shows the miracle everyone may wish for when they are going through a trying time. However, miracles are not something we see every day. In light of this, we can still receive help from those around us. Having a shoulder to cry on, or a person by your side while you’re struggling can be so important in helping you through a hard time. I wanted to convey this message in my book. Really, I wanted to show the magic of the everyday good deeds found in friendship.
- Have you always had a passion for writing?
Yes, absolutely. Throughout school I anxiously sought out any opportunity to write. School also gave me help with my confidence in writing, feedback from teachers and classmates who found my stories interesting was so encouraging. At university I was able to take classes in writing and had the pleasure of sharing some of my work with other writers, which was scary but immensely helpful in making me feel I wasn’t terrible at writing! Christmases and birthdays always included notebooks and pens from my mum, so I had plenty of paper to fill with little ideas and big scenes.
- How did it feel to see your book published?
It is hard to describe the joy I felt seeing my book in print. I was lucky enough to receive many personal copies of my book, when I opened the box of them, I simply stared at what I had created, lost in awe and pride. Since then, I have seen my book on the bookshelves of friends and family, and received lovely reviews from them, saying my work made them laugh and cry. Which made me want to laugh and cry! A local bookshop in my area is also selling a few copies and I have had the great pleasure of seeing my book displayed in the window and seeing customers leave with their own copy. Really, it feels surreal and so special to have my book published and know that other people can share in this story that I care about so deeply.
- Are you already working on a new novel?
Yes, I am. After hearing my friends and families’ reactions to the book, and eager requests for more, I have been working on a sequel to ‘Knowing Them’ as well as toying with other ideas for new characters. I hope to develop ‘Knowing Them’ into a series, allowing readers to get to know Will and the others even more. I also want to answer the question I have had from readers of the first book, giving them greater insight into the world.
Another book I’m working on, with a new set of characters is sadly unnamed at this time. However, I can reveal that the work focuses on five missing teens, who disappear on the same day, and despite no known connection between them, a picture is delivered to each of their families showing all the teens together years earlier. The picture opens up a world of questions for those who thought they knew the missing people and searching for answers proves to be a dirty game.
Hopefully you find that interesting! And hopefully I can share more stories with you soon!
Europe Books thanks the author Lorna Stevenson once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside her on the editorial path that led to the publication of her book Knowing them. We wish her the best of luck for this novel and for her future works.
To you, my dear reader, I wish you to be moved by this engaging story and, at the same time, that it leaves you with interesting food for thought which can be applied in your everyday life.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to really enjoy your reading!
Your Editor!