Stunningly romantic, Lauren Blackwood’s heartstopping debut, Within These Wicked Walls, ushers in an exciting new fantasy voice. We had the pleasure of chatting with Lauren Blackwood about her debut, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Lauren! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hey guys! I’m a forever New Yorker living in Virginia (wishing I was at Disney World). Also a musician and Twitter enthusiast, but I spend most of my time writing the tropes of my heart.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I’ve always enjoyed writing—in fact, I still have a picture book I wrote and illustrated in elementary school (my teacher gave me an A+, I was a celebrated writer from an early age.)
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
Now that’s an impossible question—I read so much when I was a kid. Frog and Toad? Maybe? The book that really inspired me to write seriously was Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. And Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is one of my all-time favorites!
Your debut novel, Within These Wicked Walls, is out October 19th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Romantic, Creepy, Hopeful, Heartfelt, Funny
What can readers expect?
Some creepy vibes, a little bit of humor thrown in, a lot a bit of banter, and (my personal favorite) kissing!
Where did the inspiration for Within These Wicked Walls come from?
Two entirely separate thoughts! One day I was watching Jane Eyre and wondered “Why isn’t this house actually haunted?” The Ethiopian folklore came from my love of going down the rabbit hole that is Google, haha! One day I found a scholarly journal about the evil eye, and from there the idea was born.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
Action scenes are generally my worst nightmare and take the longest to write. I find that if I break them down a beat at a time in my head as if choreographing a movie they usually work out in the end.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
There’s a scene where it’s snowing inside, which I may or may not have written for my inner child.
What’s your writing process like? Did you find there were any changes or new additions that influenced you whilst writing Within These Wicked Walls?
I’m an underwriter, which means my first drafts are usually between 40-50k words long (with the finished goal being at least twice that length). That’s mostly because I don’t exactly know where the story is going until I get to know the characters—but after I do, they guide the narrative, and unexpected things start to happen. There’s one character whose influence on the story was significantly smaller before revisions, and now I have people tell me his relationship with the main character is one of their favorite parts of the story.
What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Definitely a long one, but writing multiple projects over years can only make you better at your craft, so the journey was worth it. I also took part in a mentorship program for marginalized writers where I met the incredibly brilliant K.B. Wagers, who really helped me approach my writing in a new way. In 2019, my agent offered rep (on my birthday!). In 2020, Wednesday Books bought Within These Wicked Walls, which releases October 19th, 2021.
What’s next for you?
All will be revealed in due time…
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
More than could fit on this page! But I’ll give you two—Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone and Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray.
