Lu Etchells

Oooh, I don't know where to start! I've always loved reading and writing, even as a little kid. I was forever making up stories and creating characters and wondering "what would happen if …".  I think if you've got a naturally curious soul you'll either end up as a scientist, or a writer. Having completed a Science degree, I realised lab coats are way too uncomfortable, so there was only one option left.

One day my son asked me what I wanted to be when I was older, and I said an author. I was 35 at the time and figured I was probably as grown up as I was ever going to be, so why wait any longer?

In all honesty, it depends when I'm writing.  For those early morning sessions I can only function with a cup of coffee. Characters are likely to die in a fiery inferno unless I have caffeine! 

Otherwise, you can't beat a nice cold glass of Pinot. or Frascati.

I always edit under the influence of ginger tea, though. Need a cool and calm head for that particular torture!

Most writers admit to being a bit loopy; your characters become real, they have to be so you can make them believable. So, the hardest bit for me is not talking about them with my real-live friends as though they're part of the gang.

Me: "You won't believe what Sarah's done now …"

Friend: "Sarah who?"

Me: "Oh, you know Sarah, she's married to Pete and they … oh yeah, they're not real. Forget it."

Oh I hate this question!  Who sent this one in?

I don't really watch films, so I have no idea. It would have to be someone funny, who's good at playing someone easily underestimated. How about Drew Barrymore?  

Two things, equally.

The sound of my Mum coming in to my room to wake me up in the morning, and the smell of her perfume.

Curling up on the sofa with my Dad to watch Quantum Leap on a Tuesday night.  It was a special treat being allowed to stay up late.

I'm both!

We're blessed with four dogs - a senior staffie called Roxy (currently 13), a Dogue de Bordeaux/American Bull Dog cross called Penny and in late 2021 we added two German Shepherd pups to the madness: Chewie and Vayda. They're all absolutely insane, and smell like death but are  great company.

We also have five cats - Daphne is my 4 year old Maine Coon who stalks me everywhere. Then there's Oscar, our little wildling, Delilah (who might be the world's smallest mog) and two Norwegian Forest Cats called Keith and Elsie who are giant balls of fluff.

If you follow me on Insta, you're bound to see plenty of pictures of them all!