Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Two Crows Sorrow is my first novel.
I am a journalist with Saltwire Network base, writing lifestyle articles for Atlantic Canada. I can also be heard as the Kentville community contact on CBC Radio, Information Morning.
I live in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada with my husband, David (a history professor at Acadia University), two sons (Daniel & Thomas) and 5 resuce pets. I love to travel and hike and am always up for an adventure!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Two Crows Sorrow is a creative non-fiction about the life and death of Theresa McAuley Robinson in a rural community in Nova Scotia in 1904.
Several years ago I was commissioned to write the scripts for Valley Ghost Walks, and came across this story in my research. I kept thinking about the story for years afterwards, and finally decided to try writing it, although I solely write as a journalist.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write using cue cards and online timers.
Before beginning, I wrote each event on a cue card. Through my research, I knew all the pieces that had happened, but needed to decide what order to tell them in. So, I arranged all the cue cards in order, and sat down writing card by card.
When I write, I set my online timer, usually for 30 minutes. As a freelance writer who works from home, it is easy to get distracted, either by an incoming email or Facebook notification. I turned off all my social media, and often the phone, and did a dedicated half hour, every day.
I have a wonderful friend who checked in with me almost every day to make sure I was doing my scheduled time!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the Atlantic Canada true crime books by Debra Komar. However, I wanted my novel to read like a story rather than a journalistic account. I found it difficult to find something similar to the style I wanted to write, as creative non-fiction is a newer genre.
What are you working on now?
I am continuing to write newspaper articles for Atlantic Canada, but am always looking for the next intriguing local historical murder.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
In conjunction with my website, www.laurachurchillduke.ca, I heavily rely on my author Facebook page to promote my book. I find the local and personal connections is what helps me the most.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
There is never a good time to start writing. There will never be a perfect moment or a time when you are not too busy.
Make writing a priority, and even if you set the timer for just 30 minutes a day, it is better than nothing. Once you start, you will become so invested, you may reset the timer several times!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just do it. Be Brave.
Don’t worry about what other people are going to think, or if you are good enough. Just try it.
I was worried about the reactions from Two Crows Sorrow, but it has been better than anything I ever would have imagined.
What are you reading now?
I love Fredrik Backman’s novels, like A Man Called Ove, and am now reading Beartown. I love Backman’s characters as they make me think about them long after I have closed the book.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I would love to publish another book about another local true crime story. I am always on the lookout for another great story that equally captures my imagination as did Two Crows Sorrow.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I love when people give me books they enjoyed! So, I would like to have several books I hadn’t read before, as I rarely read a book twice!
Author Websites and Profiles
Laura Churchill Duke Website
Laura Churchill Duke Amazon Profile
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