Could you tell us about yourself?

I’m Lauren Louise Hazel and I’m a debut author. I’m currently writing Young Adult Fantasy novels, but I tend to get a lot of ideas in different genres that I’m hoping to explore one day! I work full-time in the Cyber industry and never imagined I would become an author, but I got some brilliant feedback which motivated me give it a go. I’ve just published The Reign of the Occult, a Young Adult Urban Fantasy novel, and I’m working on its sequel.

What made you write your book?

I started my first book, The Reign of the Occult, about a decade ago! I was recovering after illness and surgery and wanted something productive to do while I was bedbound. I’ve always written, and had lots of writing projects, but never finished a novel. I always came back to it now and then, and made slow and steady progress. And then lockdown happened, and I decided I was going to finish it. As soon as that decision was made – deciding that it was a job rather than a hobby – I finished it pretty quickly. Now I know I can finish one, I write novels pretty fast!

What is the first book you remember reading?

I was a big fan of Jacqueline Wilson and I read all her books as a kid. My favourite was probably The Story of Tracy Beaker or Double Act, which was about a set of twins. I loved my dad taking me to the bookstore every week as my sister complained I was taking too long reading all the blurbs.

What’s your favourite book?

I can never decide on this one. From a fiction perspective, I’m going to go with a classic: Jane Eyre. I always take it on holiday to read. My favourite books I read over and over. From a Young Adult perspective, Harry Potter and The Hunger Games were ground-breaking. I also enjoyed Cassandra Clare and the Shadowhunter’s universe.

Who is your favourite author and why?

I have a lot of authors I enjoy because if I like a book, I tend to read the whole series and catalogue. Meg Cabot has been one that has withstood the test of time; I always go back to The Princess Diaries if I need some light humour. 

How many hours a day do you write?

It depends on my other commitments – I do have a hard and busy full-time job. When I schedule in writing time, I do it in blocks for a certain number of weeks or months. During that time, I’d do 2-3 hours a day on weekdays and more on weekends. I don’t do a lot of procrastinating though – once it’s in my diary, I will do it!

What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?

I would consider giving up on my one can of Diet Coke a day. 

What is the most difficult part of the artistic process?

Just getting the words out! I tend to just write the words initially, get a lot of feedback from developmental editor, and then I spend a lot of time in the editing process. I find the editing much easier because you already have the words and it’s an opportunity to shape it into a great book.

If you could spend a day with another author, who would it be and why?

G.R.R.Martin so I could follow him around until he finished A Song of Ice and Fire! I’d be happy to help him out. 

What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?

I need somewhere to use my laptop comfortably, as well as all my writing equipment. I have a lot of notepads, sticky notes, and stationery. I love buying stationery for a new project. 

What’s your favourite snack or drink?

I start off with a coffee (milk, and plenty of sugar) and then move on to green teas. I snack a lot during the writing process. I need to get better at picking healthier options – I eat a lot of chocolate. 

How do you celebrate when finishing a book? 

I binge all the shows I’m behind on when I finally finish writing! There’s nothing better than switching off when you feel like you’ve accomplished something, and you can really enjoy it. I watch a lot of Marvel shows / films, anime

Do you listen to music when you wrote your book?

I can’t have a show on while writing otherwise I’ll end up watching it, so I put music on in the background. It’s usually folk and indie playlists that aren’t too distracting. 

Where did you get your idea for the book?

I was reading a lot when I was bedbound after a surgery and was inspired to write something in Urban Fantasy. The Reign of the Occult was not a novel at first, but did become one the longer I worked on it. Although it took years to write (I didn’t write it in one go) it was the one idea that I kept revisiting. 

What is your writing process like?

I slot in weeks / months at a time. 

Do you try to be original or give the reader what they want?

The Reign of the Occult is the first in the series and so was without any reader input. I have taken feedback into account for the sequel, The Queen of the Underworld. I appreciate any feedback about improvements, but I wouldn’t let it make decisions about the series. The plot for the whole trilogy is already laid out. 

How did you publish your first book?

I finished The Reign of the Occult during lockdown and decided I was going to publish it. I got a lot of great advice, by fellow authors and my editors. They definitely encouraged me to start pursuing writing as a career rather than as hobby.

What kind of research did you do and how long did you spend researching before beginning a book?

I started writing The Reign of the Occult first and the research happened organically. Because I took so long on the first draft I was able to research as I wrote. Writing The Burning Bandit however, my next novel, I did about 6 months of research. It was actually my favourite part! I watched documentaries and read books on different histories / eras, and I enjoy learning something new. 

How do you develop your plot and characters?

When I’m developing characters, I usually have a pretty good idea from the start of what I what them to look like. The plots I develop as I write. I don’t find that I get writer’s block much (not once I’ve started writing) and my hands / fingers are slower than my brain – my brain is having ideas and my hands can’t write them quick enough.

What part of the book was most fun to write?

The fighting scenes in The Reign of the Occult were the most fun to write. I find the actions scenes vivid and engaging. I developed the main character Everett, based on my preference for action. 

How did you come up for the title of your book?

I am terrible at naming things. Naming the characters and the title were amongst the hardest part of the process. I tried to brainstorm ideas, used keyword generators… but it just didn’t come to me. It was probably the only real writers block I had! I eventually picked The Reign of the Occult because it aligned with the rest of the trilogy which spans three worlds. The first book focuses on The Occult, a sinister organisation which hunts magic Users. It’s sequel, is The Queen of the Underworld.

Would you and your main character get on?

Everett is my main character, and my sister who told me that I based him on my little brother.  I did not see it while writing, but in hindsight he does have some similarities, at least in look. Despite my brother being very annoying, we do get along.

 

If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?

I would say, I’m so sorry for inflicting everything on you! 

Which character from your book do you relate to most and why?

I relate most to the female protagonist, Prue. My sister said there are a lot of similarities between us which I didn’t realise when writing. Although I don’t have any powers to see the future, I enjoy art and painting like she does, and I do spend a lot of time keeping my brother out of trouble.

What is a significant way your book has changed since first draft?

The biggest change I had to make to The Reign of the Occult during editing was fleshing out the backstory. I spent a lot of time setting up the worlds and their histories which wasn’t in the first draft. I do this with most novels; I write it first, bare bones, and then I spend a lot of time editing.

How would you describe your book’s ideal reader?

Anyone who enjoys it! 

What did you edit out?

For The Reign of the Occult, I didn’t edit much out. Although it is long for a Young Adult novel, it is pretty pacy! During the editing, I put backstory and history in. It got longer, rather than shorter!

What was your hardest scene to write?

Because I wrote The Reign of the Occult over many years, I didn’t write it in chronological order. I wrote the scenes I liked, and was most excited about, then had to go back and fill in the rest. I would not recommend this! It definitely took much longer. For my subsequent novels, I have done myself a favour and just written them in order. 

How long did it take you to write a book?

The Reign of the Occult took many, many years. It was definitely a hobby I picked up when inspired (and had time). Once I realised I could finish a book, and it was a job rather than a hobby, I got much quicker. The Burning Bandit, my latest project, the first draft took a few months. 

What do you hope that readers take away from your book?

After reading The Reign of the Occult, I hope that they liked visiting the universe and all its characters! And that they come for its sequel, The Queen of the Underworld. 

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The hardest part of The Reign of the Occult was finishing the first draft. I hovered around the 40k word count mark for years and years. It was only when I had more time during the Covid lockdown that I finally finished it! 

Did you get negative feedback from your book and if so, how did you deal with that?

Luckily, not much! The reviews of The Reign of the Occult have been very positive! There are always things to improve upon and I will take critique and feedback into consideration going forwards. It should be an opportunity to learn and get better. 

How did you feel when you first published your book?

I felt excited and nervous. It’s a strange thought to think other people read what you write. I’ve always just written what I wanted to read!

Where can people interested buy your book?

The Reign of the Occult is available on Amazon.

Are you working on anything at the moment you would like to share with the readers about?

I have two current projects: The Queen of the Underworld and The Burning Bandit. 

The Queen of the Underworld is the second book in the Occult trilogy and the sequel to The Reign of the Occult. The draft is all done so I’m deep in the editing process. 

The Burning Bandit is a standalone novel that should be out this year. This is all edited, so in the final stages of cover and proofreading. It’s a historical fantasy novel, inspired by feudal Asia, and I’ve loved writing it.

Lauren Louise Hazel Media Links

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