Author interview: Kesia Lupo on Squid Game meets Agatha Christie

A big massive hey and welcome to Kesia Lupo! Kesia is a literary agent, ex-children’s book editor and YA author extraordinaire.

Her latest book, Let’s Play Murder, has the most compelling premise:

Squid Game meets Agatha Christie in this locked-room virtual reality murder mystery, where the only option is to win – or die trying…

How good is that! It’s been described as “gripping from the outset” and “impossible to put down” and “a fun, snappily-paced thrill-ride of a book.”

She’s also the author of YA fantasy books We Are Blood & Thunder and We Are Bound By Stars.

Thank you so much Kesia for answering our author questions! Comment below to win a copy of Let’s Play Murder. You know you want to read it!

What has writing taught you about yourself? How has it helped you grow as a person?

I’ve discovered that I’m more determined than I could have ever imagined. Sometimes you hit a wall with a story (you don’t know what happens next, or how to get to the next big plot point), but you have to find the resources - imaginative and practical - to find away through or around. In addition, I’ve met a lot of deadlines I would have thought would be impossible - and written a (now published) book during a pandemic while living in a tiny flat. Writing has given me so much self-confidence. 

As a young writer, what was the biggest challenge you faced?

Though I’ve been writing seriously since my late teens, I started writing the book that would eventually be published at exactly the same time as I embarked on my career in publishing - I was 23 and an editorial assistant at Pan Macmillan. Balancing work and writing is tricky for anyone with a full time job, but it’s particularly challenging when that job is also creatively demanding. Sometimes I would finish work and realize I had given all my energy to others’ books. The key for me was figuring out a routine whereby I could write before my day job started.

Was there a particular influence, person or situation who helped you to believe in yourself as a writer?

So many teachers growing up - honestly couldn’t name them all! Teachers are the best. 

What do you love most about writing?

I love how you can get totally lost in a world and story of your own making - I also love editing and improving what’s already on the page. It’s so satisfying.

What do you find most difficult about writing?

First drafts! I find it super challenging to plan as it sucks the joy out of a story for me. So I’m a bit of a ‘pantser’ (I made it up as I go along). That means my first drafts are always extremely rough, which can be pretty dispiriting. 

How would you describe the creative process?

Drafting, rewriting, editing, editing, editing…! There is so much more editing than most people realize.

Where do you write? What’s your writing space like?

My local Starbucks! No one bothers me and I can fuel myself with caffeine. 

Do music, films or visual art support or nurture your writing in any way? How?

Yes! I love films at the moment in particular. There’s an old movie theater near where we live which runs all sorts of older movies. A visit always seems to creatively revive me, even if the movie is nothing to do with what I’m writing.

If you could give the young writer within you some advice knowing what you know now, what would you say?

Don’t be so competitive - just write because you love it. There will always be someone who is doing ‘better’ - but it’s not reflective of the quality of your work.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you want to be?

I’m lucky in that I have two writing-related jobs! If I weren’t a writer, I hope I would still be a literary agent - or my previous job, an editor. I can’t imagine working outside of the book industry!

Win a copy of Kesia’s latest book!

To win a copy of Let’s Play Murder, let us know, what book world would you like to be stuck in?

Comment below or email me at jodiebenveniste@substack.com by 31 August 2023 to be in the running.