Meet the Author: Lorna Cook
Lorna Cook is a former journalist and PR who writes novels under two different names. As Lorna she writes historical novels and as Elle she writes contemporary romance/women's fiction. Lorna's debut novel The Forgotten Village sold over 150,000 copies and was a Kindle Number 1 bestseller.
Her latest book The Lost Memories is published on 28 March and will be of particular interest to Suffolk readers as it is set in Suffolk in 1944. You can find The Lost Memories and Lorna/Elle's books on our catalogue.
Did you have books around you as a child or use a library?
Both! My mum always took me to my local library and to play in the park next door. It's a tradition I kept up with my two children. I've been a library devotee from a very young age but my house was full of books. My Mum and Dad both read avidly.
When did your interest in writing really develop and who encouraged you to keep going through the tough times?
I seriously started writing in about 2016 when my youngest child was tiny and napping lots. I had the idea for my first novel The Forgotten Village after finding a newspaper article about the lost Dorset village of Tyneham. I couldn't find a book about it—and it's far too simple to say 'so I wrote one'— but I disappeared into a little dreamworld in my head in between feeding my baby and taking her out for walks and somehow, the plot and the characters for the novel worked their way into my head.
I wrote it, at first, just for me. And then when I started looking up literary agents and publishing houses I knew the game was up and that the novel was no longer for my eyes only. I didn't tell anyone I'd written a book until I got my literary agent. My husband was the only one who knew and he was hugely encouraging. And still is, luckily.
How do you identify a good subject to write about and what part does research play?
Oooo I just 'know' a subject matter is a winner if I'm completely blown away by it and can't find much out there on the internet. Then I feel it's untapped and holds so much potential. My novel The Dressmaker's Secret was about Coco Chanel and her somewhat nefarious actions during WW2. The novel was triggered by an article online with the headline: 'Coco Chanel was definitely a Nazi.' That's clickbait for you!
Well, I clicked and was beyond surprised. I'm a WW2 history addict so if I don't know it's happened through my years of research and total history geekery then chances are other people haven't heard about it either. And then hopefully with great characters and a wonderful slice of history, a fabulous novel is born.
The Girl from the Island was set on Guernsey and used dual timelines. As a writer that must involve a lot of planning?
Dual timeline novels always take a lot of planning but it's all part of the fun. The whole world was in lockdown when I wrote the novel and so not being able to visit made the planning even harder but I was lucky enough that my dad had a few books on the subject matter on his bookshelves. Finding that first book when I was a kid was what sparked the idea as having just finished my history GCSE I'd not been taught anything about the Nazi Occupation of the Channel Islands. I still think so many people don't know about this piece of fascinating history that happened not too far away from mainland Britain.
Can you tell us a little about your new book The Lost Memories and what it was like to write?
Oh I loved writing this and researching it. I went to the Cambridge American Cemetery and walked around it sombrely but I also made copious notes in the visitor centre, where there's so much memorabilia on display from the time. I looked through a bombsight (so claustrophobic) and think it must be impossible to put yourself truly in someone's shoes who is going through that. I'm enjoying watching Masters of the Air which is harrowing and thrilling in equal measure. I loved being immersed in wartime and present day Suffolk summers.
The Lost Memories is of course set in Suffolk. Did this involve a lot of visits?
Yes, absolutely. I fell in love with Lavenham years ago and setting the story there was a must. Although I don't think I ever explicitly call it Lavenham because I've played about with the village geographically. The Duck pub in my novel is obviously The Swan with a few interior tweaks.
What's next for you?
I have a little publishing break while publishers set some schedules so my next book out under my pen name Elle Cook will be out in May 2025. Then another historical will follow on from me not long after. Until then it's just writing writing writing!
We are always looking for good book recommendations. Aside from your own work what have you read recently that you really enjoyed?
I just read two fabulous non fiction books that I'm raving about. Unruly by David Mitchell is history with the funny bits left in. And Ready for Absolutely Nothing by Susannah Constantine made me laugh so much. She's seriously funny and I love that being one half of Trinny and Susannah is the most boring thing about her! I recommend both.
What is the strangest or funniest thing one of your readers has shared with you?
I get lots of family histories being shared with me and honestly, I love it! I can't get enough. I lap it up. I think the loveliest so far are from readers in the Channel Islands sharing bits of history about what they found in their attics relating to WW2 and which of their family members stayed behind and put up with the Nazis for five years and which decided to leave in the emergency evacuations. I find it all so interesting.
Can you tell us one thing about yourself that your readers may not know?
When I was in my late teens I signed the Official Secrets Act. Although it was for a very very boring reason.