Laura Brooke Robson grew up in Bend, Oregon and received a BA in English and creative writing from Stanford University. She is represented by Andrea Somberg. She lives in New York.
About A Curse for the Homesick
On Stenland, there comes a time known as skeld season: one day, any woman on the island can wake with three black lines on her forehead, the mark of a skeld. Skeld season comes around without warning, and while each window of time lasts only three months, anyone a skeld turns to stone is very much dead.
That’s how Tess’s mother killed Soren’s parents. Maybe for this reason alone, Tess and Soren should not have fallen in love.
Since the time her mother was a skeld, Tess has wanted to leave Stenland, to run from the windswept island, from her family and friends. She is unwilling to bear the responsibility of one day killing anyone, let alone someone she loves.
Soren has been determined to stay, to live out his life in the place he knows as home, even if that life could be cut short during the latest skeld season. They cannot see eye to eye—and yet they cannot stay apart.
She tries to come back for him. He tries to leave for her. But can your love for one person outweigh everything else combined? And how do you decide how much you’re willing to risk, if it might mean destroying someone else in the process?
An interview with Laura Brooke Robson
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I love writing books with speculative twists because the speculative allows us to make the metaphorical literal. When you have a feeling or experience that feels too big to capture with realism, you can dial it up using the speculative.
Do you keep a notebook of ideas?
I keep a series of phone notes! “Character repository,” “Idea repository,” “Setting repository.”
Do you have a muse?
Not a person, but when I’m lacking inspiration, I love to return to a favorite story (book, TV, movie) to feel creative.
Are you more of a fan of plot-driven stories or character-driven stories?
I think a great plot-driven story is also inherently character driven, and vice versa, but that’s a cop out, so I’ll go with character-driven stories.
Fill in the blank: “People will like your book if they like stories about…”
Will-they-won’t-they love, female friendships, cold islands, mythology.
What are your thoughts on typewriters?
LOVE the clickety clack.
Would you rather own a bookstore or run a library?
Has to be the library! I love the idea of creating a cozy space where you could just read all day.
How do you name your characters? If you write nonfiction, do you ever change the names of your characters, and if so, how do you decide what names to change them to?
I have a list of potential character names on my phone at any given time, but for A Curse for the Homesick, I relied on names that are historically/geographically sensible for an island that would exist where Stenland is meant to be. So, I used names that are also relatively common in Shetland, Orkney, and the Faroe Islands.
What is your favorite website that you use to promote your writing?
I write blog posts on my newsletter, Retrograder. Subscribe for life musings and poorly illustrated stick figures.
If Hollywood bought the rights to your book, would you want it to be turned into a movie or series?
I’d be happy with either if I loved the vision of the team behind it! I tend to watch more TV shows because I love watching characters grow over an extended time period, but there’s nothing like settling into a theater seat for a movie. I like being forced not to look at my phone for a few hours.
Who is your dream audiobook narrator?
I was very lucky that my publisher was able to get Ruth Urquhart to narrate A Curse for the Homesick! She does a fantastic job. This is also a book with a lot of different accents, so I’m incredibly glad someone so talented was able to take on the project.
Do you try to hit a certain page or word count with each writing session?
You know, I used to—I came up in the NaNoWriMo school of writing—but I’ve actually gotten considerably less ambitious with my daily writing goals. I’ve gone through phases of trying to hit three or four thousand words per day, but I found that the writing this produced required so much editing I was better off writing a thousand words and letting my brain actually mull over the ideas before committing them to paper.
Do you have any writing rituals?
Intentionally, no. I try to write as flexibly as possible. That said, if I’m ever really stuck, I try to write on the Scrivener app on my phone while walking around. (Do I run into things a lot? Yes.)
What are your passions/obsessions outside of writing?
I love running, swimming, hiking, good coffee, the cute new restaurant. I live in New York, and there’s not a lot I love more than putting an audiobook on and walking the length of Manhattan.
Have you made any public appearances to promote your book?
I had my book launch at The Corner Bookstore on the Upper East Side. It was absolutely magical—my best friends came in from around the country and it started to snow.
Who would you most want to read your book, living or dead?
You know, I’ve gotten so many book recommendations over the years from some of my favorite podcast hosts that I’m inclined to say those podcast hosts—Caroline O’Donoghue, Zara McDonald, Michelle Andrews.
Who is on your Mt. Rushmore of greatest/inspirational authors?
Jia Tolentino, Meg Mason, Nathan Hill, Mike White.
What is your favorite bookish possession?
I have a giant New Yorker poster of a woman reading a book in New York hanging in my bedroom. It’s by Nicole Rifkin, and it’s called “Sun-Dappled.”
Have you ever mentored another writer with their writing?
I was both a mentee and mentor in Pitch Wars in years past! I’ve also taught youth creative writing workshops, which is truly the best experience.
Is there an idea that a non-writer has pitched to you that you have written or considered writing?
I think, whenever this happens, I try to convince them to write it themselves!
What is the most unique way that an idea for a piece of writing has come to you.
I mean. I love listening in on coffee shop conversations.
Are you a big reader? Do you own a large collection of books, or are you more of a borrower?
Yes, yes, yes.
Have you ever gone away to work on a piece of writing? If not, where would you go if you could?
I think I get my best writing done on planes. The advent of in-flight WiFi has not been good to me.
What is an annoying thing that a non-writer has assumed about writers or the act of writing?
That authors don’t like libraries! I love libraries. Libraries buy our books. I will never be offended if you get A Curse for the Homesick from a library.
How do you measure the success of your writing career?
Did I write the book I meant to write? Did I write the book I wanted to read?
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