Big 4 with Bec: Lauren Kate

Lauren Kate grew up in Dallas, went to school in Atlanta, and started writing in New York. She is the author of The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove and Fallen. She wants to work in a restaurant kitchen and learn how to surf. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

1. I’ve heard Fallen being described as the ultimate love story. Would you describe yourself as a romantic? What’s your secret to keeping your love stories so fresh and passionate?

I am definitely a romantic. I can’t think of a story I’ve ever written or wanted to write that wasn’t a love story at its core. I think  love stories often run into trouble (good, interesting trouble, that is) where there’s a lapse in communication. So one of these ways I try to keep my writing fresh is by thinking of the love story I’m working on from a variety of different points of view. For example, even though Luce and Daniel sometimes aren’t the very best at being open and honest with one another, I’ll write from both Luce and Daniel’s points of view to show the reader (and myself) a more rounded picture. This is why the prologue and epilogues of the first two books are written in Daniel’s voice. And why Passion will be told in alternating chapters between Luce and Daniel.

2. Your stories are dark, sensual, and feature delicious twists. What are some of your influences when it comes to this sort of writing?

To me, the most interesting love stories (in a fictional sense–not a real life sense!) are the tortured/complicated/doomed ones. I think the Great Gatsby is one of the loveliest doomed love stories out there. It inspires me every time I read it. As for the strange and sensual stuff, I love magic realism and am a big fan of Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude.

3. Given the wonderful success of Fallen (and with Torment now out), what more would you like to have achieved professionally in ten years time?

Great question. I love to cook and have a big dream of someday opening up a restaurant–or at least working in a kitchen somewhere. But I’ll definitely always be writing too.

4. Which of your characters Burns Brightest in your mind?

This is like being made to pick your favorite child! Arriane is the most fun and the easiest for me to write. When she shows up in a scene, my fingers just start flying. But I’ve just finished writing Passion and much of it is told from Daniel’s POV, and I will say it was fascinating and so very rewarding to get inside his head for so long. I can’t wait to show off his side of the story when Passion comes out.