Saturday 2 July 2022

In The St Hilda's Spotlight:- Beth Lewis

 

Name:- Beth Lewis

Job:- Author

Website:-.http://bethlewis.co.uk 

Twitter:- @bethklewis

Introduction

Beth Lewis is the author of three novels. Her debut novel The Wolf Road was published in 2016 and was shortlisted for the inugural Glass Bell Award. It was also one of Amazon's best books of 2016. Her second novel Bitter Sun was published in 2018. Her most recent novel The Origins of Iris was published in 2021. Her fourth book Children of the Sun is due to be published in 2024.

Current book? (This can either be the current book that you are reading or writing)

I’m currently reading The Black Drop by Lenora Nattrass. I am on a bit of a historical fiction kick having just finished the most excellent Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. As for writing, I’m just waiting on the final edits for my next book, Children of the Sun which I am so excited to publish! 

Favourite book

Ever? Gosh, that’s a hard one. It’s changed a lot over the years but the recent one I can’t get out of my head is The Overstory by Richard Powers. It’s a wonderful, immersive read which made me look at trees and nature in whole new way.

How do you relax?

I have a toddler, relaxation is a foreign concept but when I collapse on the sofa at the end of the day, it’s usually in front of the TV, watching Bridgerton or a new shiny science-fiction show.

Which book do you wish you had written and why? 

I don’t wish I’d written anyone else's book as I probably wouldn’t have written it like they did.Though I do have some ideas I’d like other writers to tackle because I don’t think I could do them justice. 

What would you say to your younger self if you were just starting out as a writer.

I would probably say, “Writing is fun, publishing isn’t always, but it’ll be worth it in the end. Just play the game, kid.”

How would you describe your latest published book?

The Origins of Iris is about a woman escaping her abusive wife and meeting another version of herself who made different choices. It’s about love, hope, family, regret, the path not taken and it also explores domestic violence in a female LGBT+ relationship, something I’d never seen before in fiction. 

With Town and Country: Green Lanes to Mean Streets being the theme at St Hilda's this year, Where is your favourite town and where is your favourite country? Why have you chosen these?

I’ve just come back from a weekend in Amsterdam so right now, that’s my favourite town. A wonderful mix of old and new, rickety, leaning buildings housing trendy cafes and galleries, winding canals, it’s a city full of stories. I loved it. 

My favourite country is Canada. I adore it. It’s like a second home to me which is why I set my first book there. Majestic wilderness, incredible wildlife, just raw, untamed beauty everywhere. 

What are you looking forward to at St Hilda's?

I can’t wait to hear so many amazing authors talk about subjects they are passionate about and hear all about their new books. My TBR will never recover!

The Origins of Iris by Beth Lewis (Hodder Studio)

One woman. Two lives. How far will she go to find herself? On the outside, Iris and Claude have a perfect marriage, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. One terrible night Claude’s abuse goes too far and Iris flees into the Catskill mountains. In the wilderness, Iris comes face to face with another version of herself. A woman who never met Claude and seemingly made all the right choices in life. Trapped by an oncoming storm, Iris must uncover why they are there, what it means, and if the other Iris is even real. As the storm hits, the truth of what happened that fateful night will change everything. An important, searing novel about one woman’s journey in fleeing an abusive relationship and confronting the secrets of her past.

Information about 2022 St Hilda's College Crime Fiction Weekend and how to book tickets can be found here.

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