Laura Davies
Novel: Jasper
Laura Davies grew up in Vancouver, BC and did summer work in the Canadian Rockies as a university student. Since then, she’s worked for the UN in Jakarta, as a publisher and literary agent in Australia and New York, and more recently as an English teacher in South London where she now lives.
What made you enter the Cheshire Novel Prize?
The prize was recommended to me by a friend, and I was drawn in by the allure of receiving objective feedback on my work, such a valuable gift.
What did it feel like when you were LL and SL?
Being long-listed was very exciting. It was amazing to have people wanting to read more of my novel. These feeling were amplified when I was short-listed. This is the first hint of writing success I’ve had and I’m thrilled about it.
What was the reaction like from those around you? Family? Friends?
Family and friends have been excited and happy for me. Many of them have encouraged my efforts over the years and they also like an excuse to celebrate.
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
When I worked in the actual town of Jasper, I wondered what life was like for people who stayed behind while young students and travellers came in and out every year. I was interested the idea of longing for elsewhere, of wanting to escape the limitations of a family and an environment in which someone might be unable to be fully themselves.
I decided to write the novel as a mystery in part because I love reading novels of psychological suspense, but also because it allowed me to show my main character in a dynamic situation. I wanted it to be more than a typical coming-of-age story while also exploring issues of identity and friendship.
How long did it take you to write it?
I wrote Jasper over a period of three or four years. The novel went through many drafts before the shape of the story clarified.
What advice would you have for anyone thinking of entering?
Aside from: go for it, I would say wait until your novel is complete, or at least close to complete. Prizes can be great for providing deadlines and goals, but I have enjoyed the LL and SL stages knowing that my manuscript was ready to go.
What’s changed for you since entering?
Since entering, and especially since reaching the long-list and the short-list, my confidence in my writing has been boosted. It’s one thing for friends and family to say your novel is good, but now I have to believe them.
What’s your novel about?
Set in Rocky Mountains in the summer of 1984, Jasper tells the story of Suzanne, nineteen, who strikes up an intense friendship with Julie, her charismatic new co-worker at the Mountaineer Motel. Suzanne thinks she’s found a way to escape the sleepy tourist town of Jasper, where she was born and bred, but then on the day they were due to leave, Julie disappears. Still grieving her father’s recent death, Suzanne must overcome a renewed sense of abandonment to investigate what happened. When Julie’s body turns up in a local lake, townspeople are quick to jump to conclusions. Suzanne seeks to prove that the death was neither accident nor suicide, but she’s no longer sure who to trust: locals or seasonal workers? Lesbian youth minister or transient boyfriend? Her mother? In her search for the truth, she must first learn to trust her own instincts.
What’s your writing routine?
I wish I had one! On a good week, I take myself to the library for long stints in addition to grabbing time to work at home.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently in the midst of writing another novel and I’m also playing with poetry, enjoying the short form as a fun contrast to the long journey of a novel.
Have you done any writing courses?
I am a graduate of City University London’s Novel Studio and Jasper has been developed in regular writing workshops with tutor/writer Katy Darby who runs Liar’s League. Lately, I’ve been taking poetry classes at City Lit in London.
What are your two favourite books and why?
Two of my recent favourites are: The Bee Sting by Paul Murray, for its compelling characters, empathy, humour, and the way suspense builds throughout; and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, a book I didn’t expect to like but which I loved because it opened my eyes to the world of video development and world-building alongside a beautiful and poignant story of a long, loving friendship.
What advice do you have for any aspiring writers?
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is to be patient. If you’re stuck in a scene or can’t see your way forward with the plot or structure of the story, give it time. Chances are your subconscious will clarify things for you while you’re busy with something else.