Today we travel to Manchester, England to chat with Lucy Knott about how being a professional wrestler, Jack Kerouac, being a twin, Johnny Depp, learning Italian, Harry Styles, dance parties for one, and Hulk Hogan come together as part of Lucy’s past and current life.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Lucy Knott. I am a former professional wrestler turned Author. It’s just me in my cosy little house in Manchester, England, where you will most likely find me hugging books, drinking lots of coffee and occasionally indulging in a little dance party for one while I whip up recipes from my Nanna and Grandad’s cookbook. Along with my twin sister, Kelly, we run theblossomtwins.com where you can find book reviews each and every week, in addition to lots of delicious Italian family recipes.
How many published books do you have?
I have had three books published with HQ Digital UK. Those being ‘How to Bake a new Beginning’, ‘The Ingredients for Happiness’ and ‘Wishes under a Starlit Sky’.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer and what ignited your author’s flame?
I’ve always loved reading and writing and enjoyed scribbling in notebooks as a kid. I adored the likes of Harry Potter and was very much a book worm growing up. However, I read Jack Kerouac’s book ‘On the Road’ when I was sixteen, because I was going through a Johnny Depp phase and he happened to mention it, and I fell in love with the book and built up a fascination with the Beat Generation and Kerouac’s love for and style of writing.
From that moment I dreamt of being able to write like him and absorbed many of his other books. It wasn’t until I was in my late twenties though that I actually sat down to write. I was in a really happy place in my life and was consuming some wonderful romantic books by the likes of Rebecca Raisin and Holly Martin. I’d had an idea brewing for a while and decided that I would put pen to paper and see what I could do.
What do you do when not writing or marketing your books?
I am a teaching assistant which keeps me busy. I’m always thinking of ideas and activities for the kids and planning for the next day. But 7 days a week I am up at 5am to get my writing in, which I love, and then my evenings are usually spent learning Italian, hanging out with my family, cooking and reading or creating crafts for work. Ooh and I do love watching movies too.
If you could have a fantasy tea or coffee date with an author or famous person from the past or present, who would it be and what would you ask them?
This is where I get excited and have to roll out my giant list and be naughty, cheat and not pick just one…
Author from the past would be Jack Kerouac or Louisa May Alcott. That would be a dream. I have so many questions and feel both conversations would be rather splendid in completely different ways. I think I’d just want to sit and listen to Jack talk and try and figure out how his brain works and Louisa May Alcott, arrgh, I wouldn’t know where to begin.
Author from the present would be Maxine Morrey as I’d very much like to pick her brain on how she writes the most beautiful, kick ass leading ladies and the most lovely men.
Famous people would be Harry Styles. I have a bunch of questions about the differences and similarities between writing books and writing songs that I would love to ask him.
What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself through writing?
I guess it’s not so much of a surprise but really one of the biggest things I’ve learnt, and continue to learn through writing, is that no matter how much my mind tells me I can’t do it, or when I have days where I want to cry and think I’m rubbish, or even when I feel overwhelmed with edits, I actually can do it and I can get through it. It might seem silly or maybe a little obvious but sometimes I’ll sit and stare at my books and think ‘oh wow, I did it’ and I have to remind myself of that occasionally. I think it’s a great lesson for anything in life too.
What is the most crazy or inspiring thing that has ever happened to you?
My twin sister, Kelly, and I were professional wrestlers for thirteen years. We had a lot of crazy things happen during that time but I feel one of the craziest/inspiring things was getting to work with Hulk Hogan on TNA British Bootcamp. We had a lot of pinch me moments where we were like ‘Hulk Hogan is watching us wrestle right now and giving us advice’. We also met our childhood hero Jeff Hardy and that was an incredibly inspiring moment too, one that my sixteen year old self will forever be grateful for.
You are about to speak publicly to a group and read from your books. What song do you listen to before speaking? Or, what do you do to prepare yourself?
Right now it would most likely be Harry Styles ‘Adore You’ or ‘Treat People with Kindness’ just because those songs make me happy and get me dancing and feeling positive. I love it when songs just make you feel confident and giddy on life.
If I was being specific to my books maybe for ‘How to Bake a new Beginning’ and ‘The Ingredients for Happiness’ I would put on some Fedez, how about ‘L’Italia per me’. I played that song for my Nanna sometime last year and she smiled listening to it. As both those books are based around an Italian family, I think that song would be perfect while at the same time it would probably make me cry.
For ‘Wishes under a Starlit Sky’ lets have some Little Mix, either ‘Shout out to my ex’ or Breakup song’ to get a little girl power going.
At this stage in your life, what advice would your young self give to your more mature self?
Probably to remember that there was a time when I was thirteen years old where I believed whole heartedly in becoming a professional wrestler and that I went for it without worrying so much about what if’s or that I might not be able do it. I think somewhere along the way to adulthood, all these doubts creep in and we let fear take over when we should remember that we still have the capability of achieving our dreams no matter how big or small. No dream seems too silly or far fetched when we are kids and I always want to hold on to that as an adult.
If you could turn into one of your characters for a day, which one would it be and why, what would you do? If you write non-fiction or memories, what fictional character would you invite into your story and why?
I think it would be fun to be Sabrina from ‘How to Bake a new Beginning’ and ‘The Ingredients for Happiness’ for a day because she is the manager of Rock band ‘San Francisco Beat’ and I think it would be quite cool to step into that world and see how it all works. Maybe I could swap places with her while they’re recording their album so I can see what goes into writing, recording and producing a song. Plus, she has the cutest wardrobe filled with skater dresses in the most wonderful and beautiful pastel colours.
What’s the last movie you watched and why did you choose to watch it?
I watched ‘Shazam’ because I think the last time I watched it was around New Year and that was so long ago now. It’s one of my favourites. I just love it so much and was having a day where I needed to smile! ?
Do you believe things happen for a reason? Do you have an example from your own life to share why you believe this?
I do, but in the sense that you have to create the reason, if that makes sense? Some people go through such incredible pain and hardships that I wouldn’t wish to simply dismiss that with an ‘It happened for a reason’. Sometimes life can be so cruel that you just don’t want to believe in any reason for why something so bad happened. But I believe that we can create the reason over time as a way of coming to terms with things and moving forward.
One of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through was my Grandad passing away. My sister and I were living in America at the time. We had been home for Christmas and had planned another visit home in the August. We were four days away from that return trip and our worlds crumbled. Unfortunately the way we found out wasn’t the best due to receiving messages of condolences from family who didn’t realize the time difference and we were in the middle of work. Our parents and little sister didn’t get the chance to prepare us and it was utterly shattering for everyone. Being on a plane flying home knowing that he wasn’t going to be there was one of the most painful experiences I’ve been through.
I have days now, nearly three years later, where I am mad, angry and just want to scream at how it all happened. He was my world and not getting to hug him one more time or say good bye still haunts me, but the only way I can think to get through it is believing that he was giving me a lesson in strength. One of my biggest fears while living in America was something happening to my family and me not being able to get to them. I have now faced one of my biggest fears in life and I am still here and still smiling.
Tell us about your most recent book.
My most recent book is ‘Wishes under a Starlit Sky’ and it’s about script writer Harper Hayes who, after finding out her husband is having an affair, sets about re-writing her own story. She takes a trip with her best friend Madi to see her parents in Colorado where she experiences lots of wonderful adventures and lessons in self-love.
It was wonderful to have you on MTA, Lucy! I love having dance parties for one! It’s my go to feel good time, and what I do when I can’t get out for a walk. I’m fascinated by your past as a professional wrestler. WOW! Wishing you all the best and continued success! – Camilla
Where we can find the books:
It’s available now on Amazon, WHSmiths, Kobo, Waterstones and HarperCollins too.
Connect with Lucy:
Twitter: @theblossomtwins
@LucyCKnott
Instagram: theblossomtwins
LucyCKnott
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