by Libby Page
Thank you! I have dreamed of being an author since I was around six years old, so having that dream come true has been an amazing experience. I quit my job in marketing shortly after receiving my publishing deal, and I feel so lucky to now be able to spend all my time doing the thing that I love. I didn’t really know much about the publishing process when I wrote my book, so it has all been a huge learning experience for me.
For Kate, “Seeing her own name . . . printed alongside her article in the Guardian feels surreal but thrilling” (214). Before becoming a novelist, you also worked as a journalist there. Can you tell us about the first time you saw your name in print?
I actually first saw my name in print when I was very young. As a child I entered every writing competition I could find and subscribed to a magazine for young writers. I entered far more competitions that I won, but when I first saw a poem I had written in the magazine it really inspired me. It made me believe that if I loved writing as much as I did, and worked really hard at it, that maybe one day I might be able to do something as exciting as having my own book published. I feel so grateful for those early experiences that fueled my drive to write.
Like you, Kate is both a swimmer and journalist. Is this where the similarities end? Are there any autobiographical elements in your story?
I think most writers draw on their own experiences in some way to fuel their writing. Although Kate is very different to me in many ways, there are certainly aspects of my life that I used as inspiration for my writing. I moved to London from a small town (actually much smaller than Bristol, where Kate is from) so know what it feels like to arrive in a big city and struggle to find your feet. I think there is a perception that your early twenties are going to be the best years of your life, but I know for myself and many of my friends there were also lots of stressful elements in trying to find our way in the world. That was definitely something I wanted to explore in my book, and I hope that anyone who may have had a similar experience is able to relate and realize they are not alone.
Can you tell us about your writing process? The Lido is intricately plotted, moving seamlessly between past and present and between Kate and Rosemary’s stories. Did you plot out the entire book before you began writing it?
I spent about six months prior to writing The Lido planning the story. This didn’t mean plotting the entire book; instead I wanted to really flesh out the characters and the themes in the story before starting to write. That way it meant that the characters and the story were able to take themselves in their own direction to a certain extent. That said, I had the idea for the final line of my book very early on. I found that it helped to know the point that I was working towards.
Your descriptions of life in Brixton from the lido to the market stalls are incredibly vivid and written with great affection. Did you base those descriptions on time spent at there? Do you still visit Brixton? Are there any other places in London that you love?
I lived in Brixton for a while as a student, and really fell in love with the area. It felt to me a very distinct community but also a community that was under threat. By the time I started writing the book I had actually moved to North London, but I drew on my fond memories of Brixton and went back regularly for inspiration. I do still spend time there and it will always hold a very special place in my heart. But one of the things I love about London is that there are always new places to discover. I now live in North East London and have enjoyed getting to know that area—from the River Lea that I run alongside most mornings to local community groups that I have become involved with. Some other favorite places in London include Hampstead Heath and the swimming ponds there, the canals in Little Venice, and the beautiful view from the top of Primrose Hill. I feel very lucky to live in this city!
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? Anything that you wished you knew?
My main advice would be to stick at it! I have wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember, but there were certainly times when I doubted I could actually make it happen. It took me a year to find a literary agent, and I was close to giving up when I found my now agent. I am so glad that I persevered. As writing is (usually!) a solo activity it can at times be quite isolating, so I would definitely recommend keeping friends and family close—I feel so grateful to have the support of my loved ones when I’m finding the writing tough, or just want someone to talk to about an idea. Also, don’t be afraid to step away from your writing if you’ve hit a block—I find some of my best ideas come when I am out for a walk or a swim and my mind has a bit more space to wander.
Similarly, do you have an advice to aspiring swimmers? Swimming in the lido brings a sense of peace to Rosemary and Kate. What would you like to tell your readers who are reluctant to take the plunge?
I actually only really learned how to swim a few years ago, so I would say it is never too late to discover a love of swimming! I learned to swim as a child but was never very confident in the water. A few years ago my sister, who is a strong swimmer, gave me some lessons and with a lot of practice I learned to improve my stroke and my confidence. Don’t be put off if you have to start small—I started being only able to manage a length or two at a time. For me swimming outdoors is more about the experience of being in the water than it is about swimming, so even a quick dip can feel really rewarding.
Both Kate’s and Rosemary’s first experiences swimming were particularly memorable to them. What was yours like? Did you swim in a local lido? If so, can you tell us about it?
As a young child we had a tiny local outdoor pool that we went to with my school. I don’t remember much about it other than it always feeling very cold! Throughout my childhood I enjoyed splashing in pools on holiday with my family, but it’s only as an adult that I’ve become a confident swimmer and really taken to the water.
What do you hope that readers take away from The Lido?
I hope that reading The Lido might make readers consider the value of places in their own community, whether it’s a local library, bookshop, or swimming pool. It’s easy to take these for granted, but I think our towns and cities would be so much sadder if such places no longer existed. They represent values of community and friendship that I believe are important to all of us as humans and are worth fighting for.
Are you working on anything now? Can you tell us about it?
I have been working on a second novel—the theme of which is still to be revealed! It is a standalone book, so not related to The Lido, but I hope that readers of The Lido will enjoy it too. Watch this space!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
© NATALIE DAWKINS
Libby Page graduated from the London College of Fashion with a BA in fashion journalism before going to work as a journalist at the Guardian. Besides writing, her second passion is outdoor swimming. Libby lives in London, where she enjoys finding new swimming spots and pockets of community within the city. The Lido is her first novel.
@libbypagewrites
@theswimmingsisters
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’
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Copyright © 2018 by Elisabeth Page
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First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition July 2018
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Interior design by Carly Loman
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Page, Libby, author.
Title: The lido / Libby Page.
Description: New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017049161| ISBN 9781501182037 (hardcover) | ISBN
9781501182051 (softcover) | ISBN 9781501182044 (Ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Reporters and reporting—Fiction. | Female
friendship—Fiction. | Older women—Fiction. | BISAC: FICTION /
Contemporary Women. | FICTION / Literary. | FICTION / General.
Classification: LCC PR6116.A355 L53 2018 | DDC 823/.92—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017049161
ISBN 978-1-5011-8203-7
ISBN 978-1-5011-8204-4 (ebook)
