\u201cSurely you wish to be immortalised in artwork, fastened without end in perfection?\u201d<\/p>\nSadler\u2019s Wells, 1933.<\/p>\n
I might kill to bop like her.<\/p>\n
Disciplined and devoted, Olivia is the proper ballerina. But regardless of how arduous she works, she will be able to by no means match an identical twin Clara\u2019s appeal. <\/p>\n
I might kill to be along with her.<\/p>\n
As rehearsals intensify for the ballet Copp\u00e9lia, the women really feel more and more like they’re being watched. And, as infatuation turns to obsession, all the things begins to unravel.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Hello Lucy, and thankyou for taking the time to go to The Reading Closet! Please might you briefly introduce your debut novel.<\/strong><\/p>\nClara & Olivia <\/em>is a historic thriller set in London in 1933. It is about an identical twin sisters who rehearse for the ballet Copp\u00e9lia<\/em> on the just lately opened Sadler\u2019s Wells theatre. But as they rehearse, hazard lurks. Two males, a pianist and a pointe shoe maker, intrude on their lives with their obsessions and wishes.<\/p>\nMy debut novel, Clara & Olivia, <\/em>attracts on my love of dance historical past and my experiences as a ballet dancer. I skilled on the Royal Ballet School for eight years, first as a Junior Associate after which at White Lodge, and I’ve a diploma in dance educating with the British Ballet Organisation. Following a change in profession plans, I made a decision to go to school to learn English Literature at St Hugh\u2019s College, Oxford, whereas persevering with to bop and carry out, and I’m at the moment educating English at a college in North London.<\/p>\nI used to be bought at \u2018twins\u2019 and \u2018obsession\u2019! Definitely a should add to my 2023 TBR. What is, or could be Clara & Olivia\u2019s tagline?<\/strong><\/p>\nBlack Swan<\/em> meets The Red Shoes<\/em> on this perfectly-poised psychological thriller.\u00a0<\/p>\nAn beautiful goose-bumping debut from a former ballerina.<\/p>\n
Love it!! I\u2019m actually keen on what drew you to put in writing a novel inside the historic fiction style. Did you intend out to put in writing HisFic or did it simply, occur?<\/strong><\/p>\nIt was once I was a teen in A Level Dance Studies lessons on the Royal Ballet School, taught by the archivist Anna Meadmore, that I developed a fascination for not solely the tales of ballets, but additionally the historical past of their creations. Clara & Olivia <\/em>is a novel rising out of years of analysis and private expertise and I typically really feel as if I’ve pulled collectively the threads of what I really like most in my life to create my debut novel.<\/p>\nMy novel re-imagines the early years of the Vic-Wells Ballet firm at Sadler\u2019s Wells theatre, and the story is immersed in ballet historical past that includes characters resembling Ninette de Valois, Lydia Lopokova, Constant Lambert, Alicia Markova and Nicholas Sergeyev.\u00a0 Frederick and Dora Freed and their pointe shoe workshop play a key function, as does the historical past of Sadler\u2019s Wells theatre itself. I’ve worn a whole bunch of pairs of Freed of London pointe footwear, and I spoke with Sophie Simpson, the senior supervisor on the pointe shoe producer, once I was researching for my novel. It was pretty to listen to that she remembered becoming me for first pair of pointe footwear once I was eleven years outdated on the Royal Ballet School in Richmond Park.<\/p>\n
One main inspiration for me was my twin sister. We spent the primary a part of our lives doing all the things collectively: first day of college, first ballet class, first piano lesson. We had been a unit, referred to easily because the twins, and we had a really particular connection. That connection stays despite the fact that our lives are totally different now. And so, in my novel, I’ve been impressed by the connectedness and the bond of twins, Olivia and Clara staying so shut regardless of their lives beginning to take them in several instructions.<\/p>\n
That is fascinating. I’ve all the time thought, if I had been to put in writing a novel it will both be tremendous gorey or spicy! Do you’ve got a favorite quote from Clara & Olivia? If so, what’s it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\u2018He imagines dancing along with her, the 2 of them arm in arm beneath the celebrities. Silent, in fact, however that’s regardless of. It is healthier that means. She is a dancing doll, his Copp\u00e9lia, created finally.\u2019<\/p>\n
Oooh, im tremendous intrigued! So, subsequent query, if something, what would you want readers to remove out of your novel?<\/strong><\/p>\nI hope readers will take pleasure in changing into immersed on this planet of ballet, each its glitter and its ache. Clara & Olivia <\/em>is a novel about obsession and love, in regards to the lengths folks will go to be seen.<\/p>\nI really like that, and I really like that readers xould develop into immersed in a world that they could beforehand, not have identified a lot about. What has been the<\/strong> spotlight, to this point, of being a debut writer?<\/strong><\/p>\nTwo issues. Firstly, each time early readers (such supportive authors and guide bloggers) ship me splendidly form and enthusiastic messages about Clara & Olivia, <\/em>I can\u2019t cease smiling. Secondly, making connections with different debut writers and sharing collectively our tales, our pleasure, all these thrilling steps to changing into revealed authors.<\/p>\nI guess you’ll be able to\u2019t cease smiling! That is so pretty! What are you most trying ahead to when it comes to your debut journey?<\/strong><\/p>\nI’m enthusiastic about assembly readers, speaking about my novel, my characters, the historic analysis that went into the guide. Writing the Historical Note on the finish of the novel was a lot enjoyable, and I hope Clara & Olivia<\/em> will spark new conversations about dance historical past, maybe even encourage new audiences to hunt out dance for themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\nThat appears like there may be a lot to be enthusiastic about, I can\u2019t wait to observe your debut journey! Are there any authors who encourage you?<\/strong><\/p>\nSo many! I can slim it down slightly if I take into consideration the novels that in all probability impressed Clara & Olivia, <\/em>all for various causes: The Little Stranger <\/em>by Sarah Waters; The Foundling <\/em>by Stacey Halls; Burning Bright <\/em>by Tracy Chevalier; The Essex Serpent <\/em>by Sarah Perry; The Painted Girls <\/em>by Cathy Marie Buchanan; Jane Eyre <\/em>by Charlotte Bronte.<\/p>\nSuch nice authors, some are on my TBR listing!! Okay, let\u2019s have slightly further enjoyable, within the type of our *FLASH FIVE* questions, prepared?<\/strong>
Tea or espresso?<\/strong> Coffee (Same!)<\/strong>
Sweet or savoury?<\/strong> Sweet (Are we twins?!)<\/strong>
Morning worm or evening owl?<\/strong> Morning chicken (Take that as a nope!)<\/strong>
Standalone or guide collection?<\/strong> Standalone
Are you a plotter or a panster?<\/strong> Plotter<\/p>\nLove these, Lucy! Thanks once more for taking the day trip to be part of this debut writer collection<\/strong>, you\u2019re a star, and we want you the very best of luck in your debut novel journey!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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