Laura L. Engel
Author Interview - Laura L. Engel
Author of You'll Forget This Ever Happened -- Secrets, Shame, and Adoption in the 1960s
It's the Summer of Love, 1967 -- there is no celebrating love for Laura. A teen-age unwed mother hidden away in an Unwed Mothers Home in New Orleans, Louisiana. The traumatic experience of being forced to relinquish her secret son to a closed adoption leaves Laura diminished and damaged. She is told she will forget this child and go on with her life. Her life soon takes a completely different path, and she soon realizes, that forgetting her son is impossible, no matter where life takes her.
Author Interview - Laura L. Engel
Author I draw inspiration from: Gosh, so many! Maya Angelou, Anne Tyler, Anne Patchett, Isabel Allende, Elizabeth Strout - I admire so many authors.
Author Interview - Laura L. Engel | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book: Bedtime and 2 a.m. when I cannot sleep- now that I think about it - actually anytime and anywhere!
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: Atticus Finch - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Author Interview - Laura L. Engel | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: When my mother first read The Pokey Little Puppy to me as a toddler I fell in love with books and by the time I was in kindergarten I wanted to write my own book - Life got in the way and it only took me 70 years!
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: Paperbacks & eBooks
The last book I read: Hour of the Witch - Chris Bohjalian ( loved it!)
Author Interview - Laura L. Engel | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer: Both - I usually start with ideas and journaling on paper and then settle down to my desktop where I write my best.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: Amber - Forever Amber (I first read this book what seems like a hundred years ago) as a 13-year-old. Fell in love with Amber and the Restoration period in England in the 1600s. It began my long love of England and English history and I think I have read that book at least 4 times during my life.) Amber is quite the character, but I think I would maybe think her over the top in real life, but she was the first character I thought of. So many beloved characters over the years.
Author Interview - Laura L. Engel | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a: Artist
Favorite decade in fashion history: late 1960s - mid 1970s
Place I’d most like to travel: UK - again - my favorite all time city is London and I love traveling through the smaller towns and villages of England. My primary ancestors hailed from England and Scotland. I can never make too many trips to the UK!
My signature drink: In the morning Yorkshire English Breakfast Tea and in the Evening -Any excellent Chardonnay.
Favorite artist: Music: Carol King -Sting - Elton John- Nora Jones. Art: Monet, Rembrandt, ( i love classical art, not modern) and my daughter in law Virginia Mashburn Barron ( of course!)
Number one on my bucket list: Write a book that makes a difference, Live in the UK for 6 months. Buy a cabin in the mountains......OH, there are so many things I would love to do in this Chapter before the last Chapter in my life.
Anything else you'd like to add: Thank you for this opportunity. I am thrilled to be invited to Hasty Book List!
Find more from the author:
FB- @Laura L Balius Engel and @ Laura L Engel Author
IG- @Storytellerlaura
Author Bio: Laura L. Engel, born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast moved to San Diego, California over 50 years ago. She is married to the love of her life, Gene, and the mother of five beloved grown children and an adored golden retriever, Layla Louise. Laura is the proud Grammy of 10 cherished grandchildren.
In 2016 Laura retired from a 35-year career in the corporate world with plans to quietly catch up on hobbies and travels with her husband Gene. In October of that year her plans changed when a miracle happened in her life. She soon found herself busier than ever taking writing classes and writing up a storm about a secret she thought she would take to her grave.
Along with writing her memoir, Laura holds the office of President of San Diego Memoir Writers Association and is an active member of the International Women Writers Guild. She is also a member of San Diego Writers Ink and San Diego Writers and Editors Guild.
Today finds Laura fulfilling her life-long dream having written her first book, a memoir she never dreamed she would write, You’ll Forget This Ever Happened -Secrets, Shame, and Adoption in the 1960s published by She Writes Press and available May 2022.
