Lara Mayr

What was your favorite book as a child?

My grandparents had a lot of old children’s books. Whenever I was running out of books, I rummaged around their bookshelf in search of something new to read. That is how I discovered Enid Blyton’s “The Famous Five” series, which I adored! Fortunately, around the same time that I started running out of books again, the series was reissued, and I was able to continue reading about my favourite group of friends.

Do you remember the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

My brother and I always used to make up stories about our neighbours or random people we saw on the street. We could spend hours coming up with narratives for them, creating alternative lives and speculating about whether what we were imagining was true. So, as soon as I was able to write properly, I would write down some of these stories or come up with my own.

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

I am not a really adventurous person by nature, but I am quite proud of myself for studying abroad for a semester in Newcastle. This semester abroad has helped me to become more confident in my abilities and to embrace new opportunities.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

I almost always listen to music while writing, as it helps me to concentrate better. I try to pick music that fits the atmosphere of the story that I am creating, as I find that music greatly influences the way I feel about a piece.