SCIENTIST turned PUBLISHED FICTION writer. Lazarus Remembered clips/chat with Author, EJ Harper

This week, we sit down with, EJ Harper, scientist turned novelist! She grew up in the North East of England and left to go to university in Nottingham. Home is now a twelfth century mill in South West France. Who or what are your literary influences? For me, the most important aspect of a novel is the emotional journey. I want to shed tears of joy and tears of grief and am in awe of any author that can craft a story with a powerful emotional punch. Maggie O’Farrell’s After You’d Gone is the perfect example of this; it tore me apart, as did the achingly beautiful Hamnet. Another emotion is, of course, surprise and there’s nothing more delicious than a twist that leaves you reeling. Daphne du Maurier does this beautifully with Rebecca, and so does Sarah Waters with Fingersmith. I’ve also a soft spot for Irish writers and their wry observations on life; John Boyne’s The Heart’s Invisible Furies is just about the perfect novel and I unreservedly recommend it to everyone. Tell us about your writing career I’ve always loved writing and, following a twenty-five year career in scientific research and communications, finally realised my life-long ambition to write a novel. Early in the process I decided to make it an audiobook complete with a soundtrack. Thus the idea for Lazarus Remembered, my debut novel, was conceived. I’m currently working on my second novel, a psychological drama set in France. I also write short stories and have twice been shortlisted in international competitions.   What were the highlights of writing Lazarus Remembered There were so many! From a writing perspective I remember wrestling with various plot strands and one day, while out walking, suddenly they fell into place. It was an extraordinary eureka moment. Working with Andy was a revelation. Seeing him take a musical phrase and turn it into a song was and is amazing. I still have no idea how he does it. I loved the time in the studio recording the narration, but a particular highlight is Francesca singing Sosban Fach. Late one afternoon we made a spontaneous decision to have her sing it: overnight Andy worked out the melody, Francesca rehearsed it and the next morning a piece of magic was created. Tell us an interesting fact about yourself When I was studying for my PhD, novelist Catherine Cookson and Greggs the Bakers sponsored me to travel to Japan to present my research findings. All content it under copyright. Please do not use/treat as your own. Legal action maybe taken. EJ Harpers contact links. Website: https://lazarusremembered.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/e.j.harper_author/ https://www.facebook.com/lazarusremembered Warren Adams: Host Warren Adams - Warren Telling Tales Website https://www.engagetheatre.com/​​​ IG: https://www.instagram.com/warrentelli...​ or https://www.instagram.com/warrenadams...​ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/warren.adams...​ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ActorAdams TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMe6rx4pj/ If your enjoying the content, Like, share and download and please help with any small donation.. See below. You can now support the show through this link.  www.buzzsprout.com/1446487 Just click the the heart shaped coin in the top right hand corner. Or here Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_...​)Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UF2KW28X2SVPY)