The Write Spot: Louisa Treger

Louisa Treger began her career as a classical violinist and worked as a freelance orchestral player and teacher. She subsequently turned to literature, gaining a PhD in English at University College London. Married with three children and a dog, she lives in London. The Lodger is her first novel.

I had the pleasure of reading The Lodger, shortly after its release and absolutely loved it. You'll find my review here. 

Giveaway: Louisa has generously offered to send an autographed hard cover copy of The Lodger to two lucky readers of this blog. [Update: Congratulations to the winners, Sara in Ontario and Terry in Missouri!]

Welcome, Louisa, to the twenty-first edition of The Write Spot, a bi-weekly author series spotlighting the many and varied places where writers write. 

Tell us a bit about your Write Spot.

I live in London, but my late mother was South African. I still have family and strong ties with South Africa, and I spend as much time as I can there. South Africa has always been the place I feel most alive in. And so, I decided to share my South African 'Write Spot' with you.

What makes it 'The Write Spot' is the view: the lushness of grass and rolling hills, the river, the quality of the light. I am lucky to have such inspiration before my eyes! Also, the room I work in is visually simple and uncluttered. It is in a remote and utterly peaceful area; there is no noise, other than from birds, no phone and no WiFi.

What a spectacular view! Other than your computer or laptop, what's the one thing you couldn't be without in your Write Spot?

Actually, there are three things! Foremost, my dog, Monty. He is the sweetest and most undemanding of writing companions, and he has become a necessary part of the process. I refer constantly to my notebook, which I carry round whenever I'm not writing to mop up all the words and ideas that come to me at odd moments. And I depend on a constant supply of strong coffee!

Monty looks like a real sweetheart. Honestly, between that face and the view beyond your window, I don't know how you get any work done!

What are you working on now?

I am writing my second novel. It’s about a girl who was part of the Kinderstransport – the rescue mission that brought thousands of refugee Jewish children from Nazi occupied Europe to safety in England. They left their families to go to the care of strangers, in a foreign country whose language they only had the barest grasp of. They didn't know what would happen to them, or if they would see their parents again. The novel describes how the girl and her descendants adjust to English life, and how the trauma of the Holocaust doesn't stop with the people directly affected by it, but spreads down through successive generations.

A fascinating topic, Louisa. I'm looking forward to reading it. Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

The link to my website is louisatreger.com

You'll also find me on social media at the following sites:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram 

I love connecting with readers, so do reach out!

The Lodger by Louisa Treger is available now!

Dorothy exists just above the poverty line, doing secretarial work at a dentist's office and living in a seedy boarding house in Bloomsbury, when she is invited to spend the weekend with a childhood friend. Jane recently married a writer, who is hovering on the brink of fame. His name is H.G. Wells, or Bertie, as he is known to friends.

Bertie appears unremarkable at first. But then Dorothy notices his grey-blue eyes taking her in, openly signalling approval. He tells her he and Jane have an agreement which allows them the freedom to take lovers, although Dorothy is not convinced her friend is happy with this arrangement.

Reluctant to betray Jane, yet unable to draw back, Dorothy free-falls into an affair with Bertie. Then a new boarder arrives at the house – striking, unconventional Veronica Leslie-Jones, determined to live life on her own terms – and Dorothy finds herself caught between Veronica and Bertie. Amidst the personal dramas and wreckage of the militant suffragette movement, Dorothy finds her voice as a writer.

The Lodger is a beautifully intimate novel that is at once an introduction to one of the most important writers of the 20th century and a compelling story of one woman tormented by unconventional desires.

Buy The Lodger: Amazon

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About The Write Spot:
I've always been fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes. Whether it's backstage photos from my favourite play, a peek into the kitchen where a chef is working her culinary magic, or simply a glimpse through an uncurtained window into a stranger's private world, there's an undeniable thrill of discovery, a sense of secrets shared. It's no surprise, then, that I'm immensely curious about where other writers do their work. I've blogged about it before in this post about my own 'write spot' and so enjoyed the comments, I was inspired to launch a regular feature here at stillpoint. Watch for The Write Spot every other Wednesday and join me as I discover the many and varied places where writers write.

stillpoint is the blog of Canadian author Cheryl Cooke Harrington