NK Chats To… Minnie Lewis

Hi Minnie, thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about your novel, Beyond the Smiles and what inspired it?

I wanted to write a book about a strong, young, independent woman who appears to have everything going for her but doesn’t realise that the people she’s close to aren’t what they seem. Laura became that character and it just went from there.

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have a favourite place to write and any writing rituals?

I didn’t adopt a strict routine. I wrote some days and not others; but I thought about the book almost all the time. I’m a morning person so most of my writing was done by mid-afternoon.

What were the challenges you found when writing your novel?

The main challenge was to keep the reader engrossed even when a situation is being revisited through new eyes. I hope I achieved that.

Which songs would make up a playlist for your book?

It would be a mixture of old and new – but they’d all have to be upbeat tracks.

Which fictional character would you like to meet and why?

Dr Who – as I’d like to travel back into the past.

From idea to finished book, what’s your writing process like and how long does it typically take you? How do you approach editing?

My time was divided roughly into three – thinking time, writing time the editing / proof reading. I probably spent 70% thinking about the characters and plot, 15% writing the book and 15% editing.

Which comes first for you, plot, or characters?

The nucleus of the plot came first then my main character Laura. The rest of the plot and additional characters then followed on together.

Which fictional world would you like to visit and why?

Narnia has always looked nice to me. Will take a warm coat though!

 What type of scene do you find it hardest to write?

Scenes that recap what the reader already knows. I try and make them as short and punchy as possible.

Any other advice for aspiring writers?

Write about subjects and characters you like or care about!

Would you rather –

Have the ability to see into the future or be able to visit the past?

Visit the past.

Have the ability to move things with your mind or read minds?

Read minds.

Sing or dance to your favourite song for the rest of your life?

Dance.

Have money or power? 

Neither loom large in my world

Have an endless summer or winter?

I like them both

Tea or coffee?

Tea.

Movie or book?

Book.

Morning person or night owl?

Morning person.

Paperback or eBook?

Paperback.

*****

About Minnie Lewis –  Originally from North London, Minnie Lewis now spends most of her time in rural East Anglia, surrounded by nature.

With her children having all fledged, Minnie at last feels able to focus her mind on her main passions – gardening, sewing and, with the support of chocolate and the odd glass of rosé, writing novels.

Somewhere too in her life’s equation are her husband, a dab hand in the kitchen, and a dachshund called Archie, who loves well-cooked sausages.

About Beyond The Smiles – 

When Laura Eastwood receives a call from Father Mallory, a priest in the remote Suffolk seaside town of Blythwold, the news he delivers is of little interest to her. And why should it be? Her birth father never wanted to be a part of her life, so why should her feelings towards him suddenly shift, just because he’s died?

Nevertheless, the passing of Billy McKenna changes everything for Laura, drawing her into the sinister world of the sleepy Suffolk town; with its assortment of outlandish characters, the most peculiar being her estranged grandmother, Mary.

As Laura delves deeper into the past, almost everything in her life comes into question; her parent’s honesty, her best friend’s loyalty, the support of her boss and mentor, even the motives of her apparently loving boyfriend, Kieran, may not be as they once appeared.

Will Laura get answers to the mysteries she finds lurking in the seemingly dull, tired, coastal town?

Beyond The Smiles was released in 2024. Click here to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.