Meet the Author

This month, Harbour Pages Youth Book Club had the pleasure of interviewing local author Laura Carpenter, whose novels explore family, friendship, hope, and the extraordinary strength found in ordinary people.

Q: What first made you want to become a writer?

Laura: I've loved stories for as long as I can remember. Books let me travel anywhere, meet anyone, and experience lives completely different from my own. Eventually I realised I wanted to give that feeling to other people.

Q: What inspires your stories?

Laura: People. Families. The little moments that often go unnoticed. I love writing about communities, second chances, and the idea that home isn't always a place—sometimes it's the people who choose to stay.

Q: If readers could remember just one thing after finishing your books, what would you hope it is?

Laura: That hope is always worth holding on to. Life isn't perfect, but people can heal, forgive, and find happiness in unexpected places.

Q: Do you have a favourite place to write?

Laura: Somewhere quiet, usually with a cup of tea beside me. Once the world settles down for the evening, that's when my imagination really wakes up.

Q: What advice would you give young writers?

Laura: Read widely. Write often. Don't be afraid of messy first drafts because every great book starts with one. The important thing is to finish the story.

Q: What's your biggest dream as an author?

Laura: To build a collection of books that readers return to again and again. I'd love people to say, "Her stories feel like coming home."

⚡ Quick Fire Round

Favourite place? Anywhere by the sea.

Tea or coffee? Tea.

Morning writer or night writer? Definitely a night writer. My best ideas usually arrive when the rest of the world is asleep.

Favourite writing snack? Chocolate!

One word that describes your books? Hope.

Thank you, Laura, for taking the time to chat with Harbour Pages Youth Book Club. We can't wait to see what story you'll bring readers next!

Happy reading!