To celebrate the release of Someone Like You, Australian author Karly Lane’s latest novel, I have a Q & A with Karly to share with you all. It is true pleasure to welcome Karly to Mrs B’s Book Reviews for a Q & A session. This Q & A will follow a review to be published of Karly’s brand new novel, Someone Like You, on the blog.
About the author…
Karly Lane lives with her partner and four children in a small town on the mid north coast of NSW. She writes whenever she can fit it in around her part-time job and children. Karly is the author of North Star, Morgan’s Law and Bridie’s Choice.
Hello Karly. It is my pleasure to welcome you to my blog, Mrs B’s Book Reviews. I greatly appreciate the time you have provided to answer a few questions. To begin, Someone Like You, your latest novel published by Allen and Unwin has recently been released. Can you give us an outline of what we can expect?
A. It’s a book that deals a lot with fate. When life leads you in a direction for some unknown reason, that eventually turns out to be for a reason.
Q. What came first in the creation of this novel – the plot, the characters or the setting when you first set out to write Someone Like You?
A. The setting. I was invited to attend the St Alban’s Writers festival a while back and the whole area was just breathtaking. The history that still hangs around the whole place is mind blowing.
Q. Did you need to undertake any research to bring Someone Like You to life?
A. I did. There’s a backstory that touches on convict times, so there was a bit of research involved.
Q. What character did you most identify with in Someone Like You?
A. Probably Hayley. She’s an author, and also the fact she’s turning a new page in her life.
Q. Is there a particular scene in Someone Like You that you are proud of?
A. I’m not sure if I’m proud of it, but it was definitely a scene that really seemed to speak to me. I can’t really say too much or it gives away part of the plot, but it was the scene with Sophie and the old tree.
Q. You have published a number of rural fiction novels. What attracts you to this particular genre?
A. Rural Australia is where I’ve grown up and where I still live today. I love writing about the types of places that I live in and the communities that make these places so special.
Q. How has your writing evolved since your first published novel?
A. I guess like anything, life experience gives you a better insight into life and people. I think getting older and experiencing new things has helped me with characters and how they all cope and react differently in situations.
Q. Can you tell us about your creative working space, where do you write and is there anything vital you need to get started?
A. When we first built the house, I made sure there was an office, which I had never had before. My first writing space was a small corner in the loungeroom where I could keep an eye on the kids when they were small. However, all that privacy and quiet I’d dreamed about didn’t really live up to its expectations. I’ve probably only used the office a handful of times. I soon realised I can’t see my horses from the office window, so I’m back in the loungeroom again.
Q. How do you balance life with writing?
A. It’s easier now than it was when I first started out. I was working part time and had 4 kids at home. Nowadays I only have 1 child still at home and I write full time. I write through the day as my job, and when my daughter comes home, I switch hats to Mum. I also make sure I have lots of horse time through the day to break up the writing, which I think is important.
Q. What is next on the horizon for Karly Lane? Do you have any writing projects you would like to share with us?
A. I have a series coming up next which is pretty exciting. I don’t usually write sequels, and although these next books are stand alone’s, they are based on the same family. Hopefully all those readers who ask about sequels after every book I release, will be happy that finally, they’ll be getting more of these next characters.
Q. Finally, what 2018 book releases are you most excited to read?
A. Sadly I don’t get as much time to read as I used to, so really any book I get time to pick up I’ll be excited to read 
Thank you for taking the time to visit Mrs B’s Book Reviews Karly and congratulations on the publication of Someone Like You.
Connect with Karly here:
Website: http://www.karlylane.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Karly-Lane-author-105358396199750/?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karlylane
If this Q & A enticed you to read Someone Like You, here is the blurb: 
From the best-selling author of Third Time Lucky comes an intriguing, funny and romantic story about past lives and new beginnings.
When bestselling author, twenty-nine year old Hayley Stevens, walked in on her husband, Paul, and her best friend in bed together, she knew her life would never be the same again.
One year later, Hayley stowed her last bag in her much-loved Audi Coupe and said goodbye to the city. She was excited to be heading west to Lochway, a small colonial village sitting on the beautiful Macdonald River. Wanting peace and quiet, Hayley had impulsively bought a cosy sandstone cottage there surrounded by lush rose gardens, with a small overseer’s cottage – ideal for a writer’s retreat.
What she didn’t expect was the almost immediate ‘gift’ of a very noisy donkey named Errol. Nor did Hayley expect to meet her handsome new neighbour, Luke Mason, when she was covered in mud trying to drag Errol out of Luke’s dam. The strange thing was though that Luke seemed very familiar to her.
As Hayley slowly gains acceptance into her small community and starts writing again she becomes almost afraid of the inexplicable visions she sees. What does it all mean? And why does Luke refuse to listen to her?
Written with warmth and humour, Someone Like You is an intriguing, funny and romantic story about past lives and new beginnings.
Giveaway!
Allen and Unwin are kindly offering 3 lucky readers an opportunity to win a copy of Someone Like You, Karly Lane’s latest release. Simply leave a comment below on Someone Like You or any of Karly’s books to be entered into this great competition!
*Competition open to Australian postal addresses only. Closes 23rd May 2018.
