Lucy Ashe
Author Interview - Lucy Ashe
Author of The Dance of the Dolls
THE DANCE OF THE DOLLS is a historical fiction thriller about obsessive love featuring two ballet dancers—identical twin sisters Olivia and Clara Marionetta—with a terrifying climax set in the world of ballet in pre-war London.
The Dance of the Dolls tells the story of identical twin ballerinas rehearsing for Coppélia at the recently opened Sadler’s Wells Theatre. Superficially, even their differences are complementary: Olivia aspires to be the perfect ballerina while Clara is rebellious and independent. Clara takes up a relationship with the bohemian and passionate Nathan, a pianist at the theater. Meanwhile, Olivia is unaware that she has cast a spell on another frequent visitor to Sadler’s Wells: Samuel, a bashful apprentice ballet shoemaker who steals into the building as often as he can to watch her dance.
But as the sisters rehearse, danger lurks. The story of Coppélia and the dancing doll threatens to become a dark and sinister reality. Olivia becomes jealous of Nathan’s adoration of Clara, while Clara discovers that being adored can feel suffocating. Samuel dreams of being recognized by Olivia and wonders how far he would go to achieve his goal, while Nathan, a musical child prodigy, struggles to adapt to adulthood and begins to blur the lines between reality and his dark fantasy world.
Author Interview - Lucy Ashe
Author I draw inspiration from:
My favorite writer is Sarah Waters. I admire the way she builds a vivid sense of time and place alongside gripping and dramatic character-driven stories: 'Fingersmith' is my favorite.
I also love Tracy Chevalier’s novels, in particular her focus on works of art or important cultural moments in history - I adored 'The Girl With a Pearl Earring'.
Recently I have loved 'The Confessions of Frannie Langton' by Sara Collins. Set in both Georgian England and a Jamaican sugar plantation, it is about a woman’s fight for justice and the right to be heard.
Author Interview - Lucy Ashe | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
On the sofa, under a blanket, maybe a glass of wine close by....
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
It would have to be Mr Rochester from Charlotte Bronte's 'Jane Eyre'. I'd try to resist the temptation to ask him all sorts of questions about why he thought it was okay to lock up his wife in the attic, and instead try to capture some of that thrilling tension he has with Jane. He's such an attractive villain, and he'd be all serious and silent, but I know some of those terrible pick-up lines he uses on Jane would be just beneath the surface.
Author Interview - Lucy Ashe | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I wrote a little book about our family holiday in France when I was eight years old, and on the back cover I included a photograph of myself labelled 'the author twin.' I suppose I knew back then that I wanted to write a novel one day (and probably one partially inspired by my relationship with my twin sister). However, my focus for a long time was entirely devoted to ballet training, so it wasn't until I left intensive ballet that I could start thinking about writing more seriously.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
Hardbacks are stunning and a real treat, but I don't buy many. They take up too much space in my apartment, and don't fit in a handbag easily. Sometimes I can't resist, though, if the book is truly beautiful.
Paperbacks are my preference. I am not very good at keeping a book in a pristine condition, and like to annotate, bend the spine, turn the corners... A paperback lends itself well to my desire to get close and personal with a book.
Ebooks are essential for me. I have a waterproof kindle and I always have an ebook on the go for reading in the bath. They're great for holidays, too, when packing is an issue.
Audiobooks are perfect for the morning when I am getting ready for work. I prefer a light read for an audiobook, as I am usually multi-tasking.
The last book I read:
The Maidens' by Alex Michaelides: this was an excellent read, fast-paced, thrilling, quite scary in places, and with a fascinating psychological aspect. I loved the Cambridge, UK, setting and the description of college life.
Author Interview - Lucy Ashe | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
I plan my novels with pen and paper, and I love that moment of starting a new notebook and jotting down those first ideas. I can never have enough notebooks! Writing historical fiction requires significant amounts of research, some of which I record in my paper notebooks, some I keep in files on my laptop. There is too much to write everything down by hand!
Once I feel confident with where my research has taken me, I start a new document on Microsoft Word and plan a detailed chapter by chapter plan for the novel. This is a long process, and it will change many times before I am happy, but I like to have the entire novel plotted before I start writing. And then the novel itself grows gradually in one Word document on my laptop.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
I recently read and adored 'The Spectacular' by Fiona Davis. Her brilliant Rockette character, Marion Brooks, reminded me a little of myself: a dancer, always looking for excitement, an overactive imagination, and full of self-doubt. I know we'd have the best nights out, and would talk for hours about love, ambition, and our dreams.
Author Interview - Lucy Ashe | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
My first thought was that I'd have continued as a ballet dancer, but I am not sure I'd want to do that forever: many of my ballet friends are starting to retire from dance now - the body will struggle to continue with high intensity ballet forever.
Until very recently I was working full time as an English teacher. I miss teaching so much, and I know I will return to the classroom soon - it is a wonderful career and I love the creativity of teaching English, and exploring literature with young people.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
1960s - the novel I am writing at the moment is set in 1963 and I am obsessed with the fashions emerging in London at the time: Mary Quant's boutique on the King's Road, miniskirts, slip dresses, tight cropped pants, op-art and its influence on fashion, paisley prints, Carnaby Street, the relaxed and chic uniform of the Mods. I get distracted easily searching through photographs of Brigitte Bardot!
Place I’d most like to travel:
Our honeymoon to Japan was cancelled three times because of Covid. Therefore, one day, if we get round to booking the trip again, I'd love to walk the Kumano Kodo trail, staying in ryokans along the way. We chose Japan for our honeymoon because we'd both stayed there before, but separately, and wanted to share our love for the country with one another. I danced for a theatre company in Tokyo in 2010, and fell in love with the city during my time there.
My signature drink:
A negroni - or, even better, a sbagliato which is basically a negroni topped with sparkling wine. My favourite food is Italian (I could live on pasta), and a negroni is the perfect addition to a delicious Italian meal.
Favorite artist:
My interests are often related to my current writing projects. So, right now, I am loving the Abstract Expressionist artists, specifically Jackson Pollock. I love to lose myself a little in the paintings, letting whatever the feeling or thought that emerges take over.
However, I have one constant favourite artist - and that is Taylor Swift. I can always find a song that suits my mood, and sometimes it feels as though she is speaking directly to me. There is an emotional honesty to the lyrics that resonate with me.
Number one on my bucket list:
I have recently moved to New York City from London, UK, and this is my first time living in a new country. I adore New York City, and I want to travel across America, exploring cities and national parks. My dream would be to organise a book tour across the country, visiting new places and meeting readers. One day soon perhaps!
Find more from the author:
https://www.instagram.com/lucyashe_author/
https://twitter.com/LSAshe1
TikTok: lucyashe_author
Author Bio:
Lucy Ashe is the author of the historical fiction novel 'The Dance of the Dolls', published in the US and Canada in 2023 by Union Square & Co. Her novel is entitled 'Clara & Olivia' in the UK, published by Oneworld Publications. It was described by Publishers Weekly as a ‘fiercely memorable debut from a writer to watch.’ Her second ballet-themed historical novel, 'The Sleeping Beauties', will be published in 2024.
Lucy trained at The Royal Ballet School for eight years, first as a Junior Associate and then at White Lodge, the Royal Ballet School’s residence in Richmond Park. She has a Diploma in Dance Teaching with the British Ballet Organisation. She studied English Literature at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, while continuing to dance and perform, as well as teaching ballet to students. After graduation, she obtained a PGCE teaching qualification and became an English teacher. She taught English at Harrow School for nine years and was the Head of English and Senior Head of Subjects, before moving to New York City in the summer of 2023.
Her poetry and short stories have been published in a number of literary journals and she was shortlisted for the 2020 Impress Prize for New Writers. She also reviews theatre, in particular ballet, writing for the website Playstosee.com.
