The wonderful Laraine Stephens is my guest for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave:

A notebook, a laptop, an ergonomic chair, a desk, an online thesaurus, a chronology of the chapters that I’ve written, and my brain in gear.

Things that distract you from writing:

Opening a bottle of champagne, pouring a glass of champagne, thinking about which bottle of champagne I’ll open tomorrow.

Hardest thing about being a writer:

Spam. I get heaps of Spam emails from supposed book club organisers with 50,000 readers (I kid you not), web designers, fellow authors who want to engage in ‘conversation’ (why would I waste my time?), techno geeks who can ensure that my books get maximum exposure on Amazon, and financiers who will arrange loans so that I can promote my series. So many kind people ready to help me – for a price. I just wish they would get my name right and go away! Press Delete.

Easiest thing about being a writer:

Typing ‘“The End.” There’s a real satisfaction when you’ve reviewed your last draft of the Great Australian Crime Novel and you type those words.

The coolest thing you’ve bought online:

A Johnny Was kimono, harking back to my Hippie days when kaftans, a Mia Farrow haircut, Jimi Hendrix playing ‘Hey Joe” and university sit-ins were du jour.

The thing you wished you’d never bought:

A pair of electric blue bellbottom pants.

Something you’re really good at:
Putting things in alphabetical order (as a former teacher-librarian). This is a talent that isn’t called on much, but I’m available if you need me.

Something you’re really bad at:
My sense of direction. For example, getting stuck on the Birmingham (U.K.) Ring Road back in 1979. It took four circuits before we found the way out. The GPS has changed my life (and saved time).

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid:

An artist. Unfortunately, my artistic ability never developed, although I can draw a mean Fred Flintstone!

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do:

Be a published author. I loved writing at school but, later on, my career, kids and commitments got in the way. It was only when I retired that I took the opportunity to write a novel. A seven-book contract was my reward for waiting.

Something you wish you could do:

Sing. I can clear an auditorium in 30 seconds flat, but when it comes to the Melbourne Football Club theme song, I’m perfectly in tune. It must be something to do with my love of Australian Rules football. Go Dees.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do:

Housework. I’m bordering on obsessive compulsive so I can’t handle dirt and mess. Fortunately, I now have a cleaner.

Things to say to an author:

I love your books. I intend to give them as Christmas presents this year. When’s the next one coming out?

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book:

I’d make a great dead body. Would $3000 seal the deal?

Most daring thing you’ve ever done:

Going on stage at the Moulin Rouge and pretending to be a ventriloquist’s dummy. It wasn’t a stretch! By the way, I have a Gerry Gee Junior ventriloquist doll that I received for Christmas when I was ten. How’s that for a coincidence?

Something you chickened out from doing:

Going up in a hot air balloon. However, we’re heading to Turkey in 2027, and I’m determined to do it in Cappadocia (as long as they supply a parachute).

Best piece of advice you received from another writer:

Don’t dwell on negative reviews or regard three stars as being unduly harsh. Fortunately, most reviews have been complimentary.

Something you would tell a younger you about your writing:

Start earlier. And persevere if it’s something you’re passionate about.

Recommendations for curing writer’s block:
Go for a walk and mull over an aspect of the plot that’s bothering you. It’s amazing how freeing your mind can present solutions, show inconsistencies or problems, or give you a new aspect or character that you can develop. It works for me!

Things you do to avoid writing:

Drink champagne.

About Laraine:

Laraine Stephens lives in Beaumaris, a bayside suburb of Melbourne, Australia. With an Arts degree from the University of Melbourne, a Diploma of Education and a Graduate Diploma in Librarianship, she worked in secondary schools as a Head of Library. On retirement, Laraine turned her hand to the craft of crime writing. She is the author of ‘The Reggie da Costa Mysteries’, set in Melbourne between 1918 and 1928. Two of her novels, ‘A Deadly Game’ and ‘Lies and Deception’, were awarded Judges’ Top Picks in the ‘Best Historical’ category at Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Laraine has a seven-book contract with Level Best Books.

Let’s Be Social:

WEBSITE: https://larainestephens.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/crimewriter3/