Laurie Stevens

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

As you can guess -- I write, but I also love to bake and offer recipes on FB and my newsletter. My sister Debbie and I make a high tea for Children's Hospital each year, which benefits their Literally Healing program but also gives us a chance to make all kinds of savory and sweet treats in miniature. It's another creative outlet. As well, I love to garden. Anything that gets me off the writing chair! My husband and I are avid hikers, and we have a camper we affectionately call "Big Betty." I love to travel as I bet most people do.

When and why did you start writing books?

My imagination has always been pretty fertile. I started writing young, winning my first author award at twelve. Writing is an escape for me. Whenever I feel anxious I dive into it. Same goes if I want to feel cozy, especially if it rains -- I love to write then.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

Trust me, my initial career goal was to become a rock star, but that didn't work out. I was penning stories at the same time as I was writing songs, and a music publisher happened to read my story and said, "I think you're stronger at writing stories than songs." As much as I didn't like hearing that, I listened and switched to writing fiction.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

I wrote a novella called "The Devil and Daniela Webster." I think I like the character of Daniela the best, although, as an author, you do fall in love with all your characters. A psychologist would have a field day with that answer, right?

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

Hands down: "The Return." It was my first foray into Science Fiction/Fantasy and I'm much more comfortable writing about mental health issues (in psychological thrillers). Not only that, I had to world-build. While that stretched my imagination, worrying that other people would "get" my vision was a challenge. In the book, human consciousness takes on artificial intelligence. I felt, given the current state of our world, that the subject was important.

Who is your favourite author and book?

I still respect and adore Stephen King. I know that sounds trite, but I do. There are oodles of great authors out there, all of whom I enjoy, but I always go back to King because he's influenced my writing so much. That use of inner dialogue to get into the soul of the character -- what an element to use!

What book are you reading right now?

I just finished A.J. Finn's "End of Story," and really enjoyed it. Takes you back to a good ol' fashioned gothic novel.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

The news. Whatever "Pull" my soul feels. I believe authors are messengers, in a way. I follow the voice.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Bake, as I mentioned. Hike, as I mentioned. Travel when I can. Garden all the time. Drive Big Betty to the beach in the summer and take her trips to see the country. It's a wide world out there.

Do you have any new books in the works?

YES! I'm working on a psychological thriller. The main character has Bipolar 1 with schizoaffective disorder. Quite a challenging and interesting character who finds herself in the position to solve a crime.