Lisa Ballantyne
Who are your favourite Scottish writers?
Janice Galloway, A.L Kennedy, Alasdair Gray, Bernard MacLaverty (even though born in Ireland he has lived in Scotland for over fifty years), Robert Crawford, Ali Smith, Rona Munroe, and James Robertson.
What is your favourite Scottish novel or short story and why?
I think it would have to be The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. For a novella it packs a punch, stands the test of time, and has something new for me to discover each time I read it.
What piece of writing of yours are you most proud of?
My novels are always defined by their characters and so it’s hard to choose between them.
What is your 274 Miles story about?
It is a story about a thief who tries to reclaim something stolen from her.
Tell us about your writing process.
I try to write every day. I always have a notebook and pen with me and at my bedside – you never know when ideas will strike. I always start with characters and once they are formed, the story comes from the problems they face.
If you have one piece of writing advice, what would it be?
My mantra has always been “once it’s written it exists” – and it’s about getting words onto the page.
What are you working on at the moment?
My sixth novel.
How can readers connect with you and read your work?
All good book stores and libraries.