Write On! interviews author Eva Lauder

Eva says “I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 25  years ago (on my birthday, yay!) but have had it for 27 years. I haven’t always been as disabled as I am now and with every relapse endured, I’ve had to adapt my vocation accordingly, until a relapse greatly reduced my mobility. This meant I had the opportunity to become a published author… every cloud and all that!

Born in London, I spent my youth living in the Hertfordshire countryside before returning to London in order to study my A Levels in art and textile design and English literature. My life continued in the fashion industry, where I studied at The London College Of Fashion before embarking on a career in visual merchandising.

Throughout my years of studying and work, I would write short stories, particularly children’s books, which still remain unpublished.

Having spent three years living in the Rhône Alps, I returned to the UK and now live in East Sussex, spending time writing blogs and novels, pursuing my aspirations.” 

WO: How would you describe your writing to someone new to it?

EL: I write in the way that I speak; relatable with humour and, in part, with wisdom.

WO: Can you tell us a bit about your debut book, Being Ines?

EL: Ines is a young career woman living her best London life with a circle of great friends and a boyfriend who has absolutely no regard for her, but she still hangs on in there in the hope that he’ll change. Ines has an incurable disease which she doesn’t yet know she has, but a visit to the optician provokes a series of appointments and a diagnosis. In all of this, her best guy friend who has harboured feelings for her over the years, is her constant support, while her boyfriend is nowhere to be seen during the most difficult time in her life. The love and loyalty of her friends, who are also facing challenges on a different scale, show Ines that decisions have to be made, and that she has to accept the curve ball thrown her way.

WO: What inspired you to write in the first place, and what inspires you now?

EL: I’ve written since I was a little girl, but only became a published author after an accident had me hospitalised for a long time. My condition hindered the recovery, which put me in a dark place, so I began to pen Being Ines, which is a women’s fiction/contemporary fiction novel based on a professional young woman who is diagnosed with MS and has to come to terms with it; forcing her  to make decisions about her life and relationship. I wanted to humanise MS and raise awareness. It’s not the end if you are diagnosed. What inspires me to write? My love of creating worlds that will make people laugh, cry and think about the story they have read in my words. To give readers a form of escapism.

WO: The current issue of Write On! explores the theme of ‘Overcoming’ and this can mean anything from difficult times in your life to beating the dreaded writers’ block. In your experience, what has been the best way to overcome these barriers when trying to write?

EL: Oooh, well, the difficulties and stresses I’ve endured were a source of inspiration for my writing. I’ve overcome the reality that my condition holds no prisoners — I will never be the same as I was even four years ago, and by getting over these obstacles, I put pen to paper and began to write. First it was a cathartic ‘get it off my chest’and now it’s something I enjoy doing and I live to write. Even during bouts of procrastination and writer’s block, I overcome the problem by writing funnies on my social media and putting on some music that gets me wired.

WO: What one piece of advice would you give an aspiring writer?

EL: It’s a learning curve and you will make many mistakes, but don’t give up. The writing journey is a marathon, not a sprint.

WO: Question from Twitter user: @lisalovesbooksx Was it difficult putting a real-life situation into a fictional setting regarding telling your story?

EL: It wasn’t difficult in that I wrote what I knew, but it was difficult in having to relive everything I had never addressed until I wrote Being Ines and Being Zara. However, creating the characters and the male protagonist was easy. It’s a dreamy world and writing it was a delight!

WO: Can you tell us anything about future projects?

EL: I’ve a few up my sleeve. The next will be a children’s book I wrote many years ago, which precedes the final in the Being series. After that, there are a few more in the pipeline.

WO: Lastly, if you could choose one fictional animal/creature to be a pet or companion, who would it be and why?

EL: I would love the Angry Pixie from The Faraway Tree because he’s completely off his trolley and I know we’d get on splendidly—he’d prevent folk from distracting me.

You can find out more about Eva Lauder here: evalauder.com and connect with them on X: @laulauev, TikTok: @evalauderauthor, Instagram: @evalauderauthor and Facebook: evalauderwriter

Being Ines is available to buy from Amazon

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You can read issue 21 online here and find it in libraries and other outlets. Read previous editions of our magazines here.

You can hear great new ideas, creative work and writing tips on Write On! Audio. Find us on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Google Podcasts and Spotify. Type Pen to Print into your browser and look for our logo, or find us on Podcasters.Spotify.com.

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