Kate Lord Brown: I’d have loved to meet Agatha Christie

Kate Lord Brown worked as an art consultant curating collections for palaces and embassies in Europe and the Middle East. When she left London for the orange groves of Valencia, Brown began to write full time, publishing work internationally and gaining an MA in Creative Writing.

Her debut novel The Beauty Chorus was published by Atlantic in 2011. The Perfume Garden, based on Brown’s experience in living in Spain, was shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year 2014, and has been published in nine languages.

She answers a few questions about what inspired her to write.

Q: What inspired you to write?

“Writing has always been a part of my life. I’ve always written since I was a child — stories, diaries, plays for my friends, and later on love letters for friends to give to their partners, which is why perhaps I ended up writing romantic, historical fiction.”

Q: Which is the one book that changed your life?

“It’s hard to choose one! Perhaps The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa — a beautiful book that inspired me to take writing seriously.”

Q: What’s the one phrase from a book you read, that stands out in your memory?

“A quote I have held on to over the years comes from a play rather than a novel: ‘Life’s bounty is in its flow. Later is too late.’ — Tom Stoppard.”

Q: Is there any author who has greatly inspired you?

“There are so many. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet many wonderful writers whose work and advice have inspired me. If I could go back in time, I’d have loved to meet Agatha Christie, whose books I devoured when I was young. I admire the work of William Boyd a great deal — ‘Any Human Heart’ is a favourite. I think reading great authors inspires you to raise your game as a writer.”

Q: Which 10 books would you recommend that everyone read?

“The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa.

Any Human Heart by William Boyd.

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter.

Damage by Josephine Hart.

Light Years by James Salter.

The Beautiful Indifference by Sarah Hall.

The Republic of Love by Carol Shields.

Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido.

The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley.

The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler.”