KYLIE LADD “I find writing tough, but this book was a bit of a gift - it turned up exactly when I needed a distraction, and of all my novels it ended up being the closest to my original hopes...”
The first Writerly Q&A for 2023 is with Kylie Ladd, a well-established novelist, neuropsychologist, and freelance writer. Published in Australia and overseas, Kylie has co-edited and co-authored two non-fiction books, and she’s the most down to earth person who happens to work in Shepparton - my home town! Hi Kylie, thanks for taking the time to answer some writerly questions. First of all, congratulations on the publication of your 6th novel! What is I’ll Leave You With This about?
Thank you for having me! ILYWT is about the four O'Shea sisters, Allison, Bridie, Clare and Emma, all very different and not at all close, and their quest to trace the recipients of the organs donated following the death of their only brother, Daniel. That sounds rather grim and maybe a bit macabre, but I swear the book is life-affirming and hopefully even funny in parts.
It sounds like an interesting look at family and a complicated quest, exactly my type of read! What prompted you to write this story?
A few things prompted ILYWT... it sounds a bit weird, but I come from a medical family, work in a medical field (when not writing) and have long been fascinated by organ donation as a concept. It's kind of amazing to me that we can do this, the sheer vision and gall of it, to take something from one body and place it in a completely different one, thereby prolonging or even saving lives. A close friend was a (live) kidney donor for her husband, which I thought was incredible... and shortly after that my own brother died at the age of 39. Obviously this was a terrible and tragic loss, but he was a registered organ donor and 5 recipients were aided by his death. Three years afterwards, one of them wrote to my family to express his gratitude and to tell us how much his new kidney had changed his life... which got me thinking, what if a family actually did the reverse, tracked down the recipients, as a way to heal or assuage their grief? But while the book started off centering on that it very quickly became an exploration of sisterhood as well, or even instead... what family means when it comes to the crunch.
Sorry for your loss. This sounds like a story only you could write. I love how the story became so much more than you originally imagined though. How long did it take you to write I’ll Leave You With This?
I actually wrote ILYWT quite quickly for me, in just under a year... largely because I wasn't working very much due to the Covid lockdowns going on in Melbourne at the time, so I had more time to write- and needed to write, as a distraction from my anxiety and for my daughter, who was doing Year 12 at the time and hated not being at school. I find writing tough, but this book was a bit of a gift- it turned up exactly when I needed a distraction, a project, and of all my novels it ended up being the closest to my original hopes for it.
One year is great! Those lockdowns were either really good or really bad for ones creativity. As a neuropsychologist and novelist, how do you fit in time to write?
I work two days per week as a neuropsychologist in a rural health setting away from home, and aim to write another two days per week- the fifth day invariably gets taken up by family admin or spending time with my daughter's horse, who I adore. I really, really, really love this balance of psych and writing- I find writing too mentally draining to do it full time, but also too lonely. I love the time I spend with my clinic team and our clients at the start of each week, but then I also like having two days all by myself after that. The two jobs are actually quite similar, as both involve a lot of problem solving and are at their heart about people... I get a lot of satisfaction from both and feel very grateful for such an interesting and varied working life.
That’s an amazingly balanced schedule! I bet your experiences working as a neuropsychologist inspire and elevate your writing so much. Now let’s go back to when it all began. You are represented by Curtis Brown, how did you connect with your agent?
I connected with my agent, the wonderful Pippa Masson at Curtis Brown, the old fashioned way- she took me on after picking my non-fiction proposal (which later became the book Naked) out of the slush pile way back in 2005. Pippa didn't even know I had a fiction manuscript as well at that point- I didn't tell her as it had already been rejected over 40 times by every publisher in Australia and quite a few overseas too, but not long after she signed me up for Naked I pitched it at a literary speed dating event, and to my vast surprise there was interest in it from a few publishers. I rang Pippa in a panic, she told me she'd take care of it and a month or so later I had a novel contract as well (with one of the publishers that had previously rejected me). I've worked with her ever since and can thoroughly recommend acquiring an agent if you can. Pippa has sold film and overseas rights for me and always negotiates my contracts as well- all on top of being a wonderful source of support and wisdom when needed.
That is some win, being picked out of a slush pile! But also, to get the interest you needed from a literary speed date and wind up signing on two deals, amazing!! What’s your writing process?
I write two days a week (as above) and am very strict about that- I'm also strict about writing 1000 a words a day (so 2000 a week). I'm a slow writer, and I edit as I write (which apparently you shouldn't do- but it works for me), so those words take about 4 or 5 hours to get down, and it's hard graft. I plan extensively for a month or two before I even start a novel, in the hope that it will make things flow more easily or quickly, but it never does! On the plus side though, I do end up with a pretty polished first draft, and don't tend to do many (or even any) more before I pass them onto Pippa.
2000 words a week sounds good to me, that would add up quickly! And oh my goodness, I wish my first draft was that good. Your last novel, The Way Back has been optioned for film, how will that affect your day-to-day life?
Not at all! I think something like 95% of options, maybe more, are never exercised- very few actually become movies or shows. Even if they do, it all happens very, very slowly- look how many years it took Breath to come to screen. I have always been told not to expect anything to come of an option, so I don't... the extra money for work that's already done is lovely, as is having someone interested in your story, but I try not to think about it as it probably won't get up. All that said, I do happen to know that after 4 years there is a screenplay in progress at present, which will hopefully be used to attract funding for a film- but lots of water to go under the bridge yet. It would be quite unbelievable to see my book on the big screen, and occasionally I'll let myself daydream about that, but not for long!
When things are out of your hands, all you can do it dream. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Write. That sounds so basic, and it is! Sorry I can't produce anything more original or interesting- but the only way you get good at something is practicing, doing it- so sit down and do it. There are no short cuts (or if there are I don't know them)- writers groups and courses are useful, as is mentoring (I had an ASA mentorship in 2021 and can't recommend applying for those more highly), but nothing will ever make you a writer other than writing. Get feedback if you're not sure about the quality of your work, or just trust your gut- it's almost always right. Join your state Writers Centre, or the ASA, talk to other writers on social media and pick their brains, read, of course, widely and often, but above all, write. Get those words on the page!
Great advice! Practice is everything! What are you currently reading and loving?
I've just finished The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendelson, and it was exquisite- a wonderful blend of absolutely beautiful line-by-line writing paired with my favourite topic of dysfunctional families and the compromises and rewards of long marriages. I would very happily retire if I could write anything half as good... but I can't, not yet, so I'll just have to keep trying.
That sounds like my type of read! I am noting this one down. Thank you for brining it to my attention and thank you for sharing your writing experiences and advice, it’s been wonderful!
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Thank you for reading! If you’d like to buy Kylie’s latest novel I’ll Leave You With This, it’s available widely. Here are some links: Booktopia and Amazon.
Also, follow Kylie on Instagram or Twitter, she’s amazing!
Kelly
