An Interview with V.S. Lawrence
V.S. Lawrence grew up in Utah being scared of everything. Now, she puts her fears on paper, writing spooky books that feel like Scooby-Doo chase music. When not writing, she can be found buried in a horror novel, wandering aimlessly, or cuddling her dog, Rigby. She is still scared of everything.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
I’ve wanted to write a book about a traditional lifestyle influencer for quite some time. I love the idea of a woman falling apart in front of millions of people, all of whom see her struggles and choose to critique and pile on instead of seeing the truth behind what’s actually happening. It’s something we see online all the time, and I thought it would make a really interesting angle for this kind of story.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
I didn’t have a title for this one for some time. But as I was writing one of the vlog chapters, the main character made a comment about how it was ‘just us, here’ and I realized it was the perfect title for the book! It was quite a relief, as I usually have a difficult time coming up with titles.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
Ohhh, I love books with soundtracks! I haven’t given this one a whole lot of thought, but a couple of songs that definitely come to mind are How to Disappear Completely by Radiohead and Seether by Veruca Salt.
What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?
I’ve been reading Followers by Megan Angelo and Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey, as well as The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
Before I started writing, I was a baker! I worked in a gluten-free bakery, a sourdough-only bakery, and a cheesecake shop. Not to mention all the home baking I did just for fun.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
R.L. Stine started my love of spooky stories. From there (like a large number of horror authors) I was heavily influenced by Stephen King.
Where is your favorite place to write?
My favorite place to write is actually in a coffee shop with a bagel and giant latte. Unfortunately, that’s terrible for my wallet, so my second favorite place to write is at home on the sofa!
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
Have just a little more faith in yourself.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
That we don’t always know what’s going on with the people on the other side of the screen. We see a curated version of someone’s life, then feel entitled to judge it. This book is interested in that moment, and in why we might want to pause before joining the dogpile.
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