Would you like to know more about me? On this page, I have gathered some of the questions I am frequently asked and answered them.
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Introduction
Writing
Working Style
Resumé
Nationality
About the private me
The Future
© Lauterwasser
How did you start writing?
The fact is that I have always enjoyed reading. Most of all, historical novels, the thicker, the better. And then I would develop the story further after finishing a novel. What happened to the heroes, to the story next? Eventually I got the urge to write a book myself.
As a child I read Alexandre Dumas' Three Musketeers and was fascinated by Richelieu’s character. But, was the cardinal really such a dark character? Was his portrayal too one-sided, weren’t there any other aspects to his character? I began reading books about Richelieu. My plan developed bit by bit, to write a novel in which the statesman would be portrayed alongside the private Richelieu. And of course, without distorting his historical character.
I came up with an attractive heroine, a love story, and after five years I had completed my first historical novel: Tanz der Wasserläufer.
What can you tell us about the way you work?
First I read general books on a subject and look through the bibliography at the end of a book. Next, I read the books cited that seem promising to me. These books cite other books, and so you are guided from one book to the next.
That is mostly the process when dealing with modern works. Older sources are often also cited. For this there is a great resource available these days: the Internet! Many valuable original works have already been scanned and made available on the Internet by the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris. Of course, this makes researching incredibly easier. –However, I do still prefer poking around at an actual library.
When doing research, I jot down key words onto cue cards complete with source citations and sorted according to subject area. And all the while, the details of my novel start to develop by themselves. Sometimes I create the plot on the basis of interesting details from my sources. And sometimes I look for resources on important events in my plot. That is always an exciting to and fro.
The novel develops from a mixture of real historical personalities and events as well as people and fates invented by myself. You will find details under History.
What did you do before you began writing?
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I was born in 1969 near Koblenz in the Eifel Mountains in Germany. When I was five years old, my mother married a Frenchman and we moved to France. First we lived in the south, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, later we moved to Tours on the Loire River, and finally to Paris.
Upon completing my French school education, I studied Tourism in Paris at the Ecole Nationale de Commerce. In 1990 I returned to Germany. I worked for five years for the German airline Lufthansa as a flight attendant.
It was during this time that I met my future husband. After getting married, I resigned from my job and began writing soon after.
What country do you call home?
My parents are German and I was born in Germany. I completed my entire schooling and studies in France. Due to this, I feel very connected to both countries. I used to commute almost weekly, especially when I worked for Lufthansa.
That is no longer an option due to my family and for work reasons. I have decided to live with my family in Germany and to maintain my ties to France from there. My mother and brother still live in France.
What is a typical day like for you?
I live with my husband and our son close to Neustadt, along the wine route. We have a house with a garden, which allows me to relax with my plants after I’m done writing. I love hands-on work after working a lot on the computer. It is just a pity that I often don’t have time for it.
My workspace is not very romantic. Just a large desk, a computer, and many books and folders. But there's also a view to the outdoors, a cushion on the window seat for our cat and an old grandfather clock from the flea market in Paris.
And my working style? Set times for writing have been a thing of the past ever since we became a family of three. I’m not a night owl so I have to organize my time well. But my family understands and is considerate!
Otherwise, I’ve retained some habits from my days in France: I love my steak “saignant” (bloody), which no German chef seems to be able to get right, and I love croissants aux amandes, seafood, sweet wines, bitter beers, and the list goes on…
Have you already started working on your next novel?
Yes, certainly. But I don’t want to say anything about it yet. Just that it will be another historical novel. And a sizzling romance. Allow me to surprise you!