#interviews
EMMA LAIRD | Model & Author
13.03.19
A model is meant to be the ultimate Chameleon. Their shapeshifting capabilities however aren’t limited to what they wear; they step into multiple disciplines across acting, writing, and design. This is case for our Emma Laird. A true creative at heart, Emma has released her very first novel, Eventually, on the eve of her birthday this March. Press play on the video above and read our short interview below to hear more about Emma’s novel and how it came to be.
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M1: What are some words that come to mind when you think of your book?
EL: British, love, music, poetry, self growth, festivals
M1: What was your favourite part of the writing process?
EL: Definitely the first six months, where it was all about progressing the storyline and creating the world of Kora, the main character. I had so much freedom. The last six months was a lot more technical, making sure I was consistent with characters personalities and the time line of things – the lay out of the places. It was more about perfecting continuity. There was a moment where I wrote that the characters fell into the kitchen door but earlier said that the layout of the church was open planned. Stuff like that.
M1: What’s your favourite chapter from the book?
EL: It’s called ‘A tradition’ and it’s right near the start of the book, it’s reflecting on how the main character met her boyfriend at a music festival. Reading it makes me so nostalgic of a few years back. I f*cking love that chapter.
M1: You say Kora falls in love with both a girl and a boy. Did you have the intention when you first started writing that this would be a queer novel?
EL: There’s nothing in the book about her struggling with her identity because she’s attracted to both a girl and a boy. I think stories like that are so important to be represented in fiction because people in real life need books like that to resonate with them. But I think there’s something beautiful in not making a point about it, because it’s normal.
M1: So you wouldn’t give her a sexual label?
EL: No. I’ve not even thought about it. You’re attracted to who you’re attracted to and you owe nobody an explanation or a label to say ‘hey I like only boys’ or ‘hey I like girls and boys’ IF you don’t want to. If you do, great.
M1: There’s a lot of poetry in the book, why?
EL: I think it helps tell the story, it could’ve taken paragraphs to explain something and then I’d write a poem and it’s almost told the passing of three months. It has lot of different uses in the book but I think it breaks the story up really nicely.
M1: So when you wrote these poems were they from the characters perspective or your own?
EL: Both. I included poems I wrote from my own life and found perfect places for them in the book, which makes it even nicer because I read it and I’m reminded of that time in my life, then other poems I’ll write from what’s happening to Kora at that point in the book.
M1: Does that make you feel vulnerable? That they’re from your personal life?
EL: I think the fact that it’s a fiction book acts as a shield. Nobody knows what’s real and what’s false. I love that.
M1: Are you nervous about the books release?
EL: …maybe. Perhaps people from my past (and present) reading it and thinking its about them.
M1: Is it?
EL: Ultimately, no. But it could be easy to think so, considering there’s a lot of real moments from my life in the book. But I changed it, and used them more for the emotions they evoked.
You can find more of Emma Laird on her Youtube and on Instagram.
