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Interview with Laura Livingstone
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
Tell me about your book
The Boy with the Heart of Sea Glass is boy meets boy, but it’s much more than that. It’s about the healing power of love and found family. And how the relationships we choose, and those we don’t, impact us.
When and how did you start writing?
I wrote my first ‘book’ in primary school. It was heavily influenced by the Famous Five, and I’m deeply disappointed with past me for not keeping it. I graduated to stories inspired by Point Horror and Scream. Once I discovered the now disgraced NaNoWriMo, I spent years working on various versions of a zombie story that I never finished! I still love zombies, and some point I’m going to take the bones of that story and turn it into a romantic horrody.
It wasn’t until really recently that I started writing seriously again. I think there’s a lot of truth in the anecdotes about finding yourself in your forties. I’ve fully embraced the author mantra about having homework every night for the rest of my life.
How does a story begin for you? Is it an idea, a conversation, a title, or an image?
Usually, it’s loose idea that builds from a pivotal scene. Titles are really important to me as well. I find it hard to move forward with a story unless I’m happy with the title. My Frankenstein rewrite was inspired by Guillermo del Torro’s latest film and my need for a happily-ever-after.
What’s the best thing someone has said about your writing?
I’m still not over one of my arc readers messaging me with a picture of the tattoo she was inspired to get after finishing The Boy with the Heart of Sea Glass. That was unexpected and wonderful.
What’s your favourite part of being an author?
I love being able to get lost in my stories, and creating characters that feel like they should exist somewhere in the world.
Which part of the writing/publishing process do you enjoy most?
I am a bit obsessed with commissioning character art. I really love seeing how other people bring my characters to life.
What do you want your readers to feel when they have closed the last page of your book?
I want to leave readers satisfied but also wanting more. And with a need to go the beach urgently.
Do you have any marketing advice for other writers?
No, I feel like I’m hopeless at marketing! Starting to collect ARC readers quite far out from release day seemed to work really well for me. Finding a core of supportive writers to lean on has also made a huge difference.
I know you love books. Has a book really touched you? Made you rethink your views on life? If so, what was it?
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman are my absolute favourite books in the whole world. I’m not a big re-reader of books, but I have read these multiple times. I still think about the characters and the philosophy. And I’m always wishing I had my own daemon.
What would you do if you didn’t write?
Like most people, my day job doesn’t leave my that much time for writing during the week. I guess I’d do more of the stuff I already do when I get the chance, like crafting, reading and binge watching TV shows.
What is your ultimate dream as a writer?
If we’re going to be completely delulu…I’d love a Netflix adaptation of The Boy with the Heart of Sea Glass.
What are your current projects? What should we be looking out for?
I’m just finishing up a YA horromance set in a haunted Dartmoor boarding school. It’s completely different to The Boy with the Heart of Sea Glass, and I really enjoyed the opportunity to be a little more unhinged.
I’m also working on the as yet to be named (argh!) final part of Sam and Tryste’s story. I’m hoping to have lots of time over the summer to get into this.
In the background, I’m listening to Dan Stevens reading Frankenstein in preparation for working on a NA retelling where the creature gets his happy ending.
Bio
Laura Livingstone lives in Devon with her family and two cats. She taught History for twelve years before changing her career and moving to the seaside. When she’s not writing, she’s on a beach collecting sea glass, walking the moors looking for ghosts, or trying to get through her ever increasing TBR pile. She’s a ball of anxiety and enjoys using her writing to explore this. She is massively into happily-ever-afters...and cats.
Here’s my universal link:
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