Charlotte Lathwell Bio And Interview
Charlotte Lathwell, was born in Middlesex, in 1971. From the age of eleven, she was raised in a children's home, which she left at eighteen. Sion she married her first husband, with whom she had two children. She still resides in Hillingdon, Middlesex. Charlotte had a varied carreer, for a time, she worked in San Diego, before having her first child. Later she worked at QPR Football Club as a hospitality, and security supervisor, before she become a qualified Sports Injury Therapist. Charlotte worked with horses for a few years, and then left to work for a commercial investigation company. In 2012, she started working with the NHS as a Medical Secretary.
Later Charlotte began studying psychology at university. This had more reasons, to understand the events in her childhood and depression, which followed her since long ago. Suring her studies, she got know better and developed a passion for forensic, criminal and behavioural psychology. The minds of serial killers and serious offenders she finds particularly interesting. Charlotte is currently in the third year of her BSc degree, and still works for the NHS.
Her interests and one of her therapy sessions gave her an idea. When her therapist asked her to try something, she always wanted to do, Charlotte started to write. Her daughter also encouraged her and more and more chapters of the book, 'A Scar's Pathway', the first novel in the Dr Turner series, was born. The trilogy is now finished, but meantime in her fourth year of Psychology degree, Charlotte is working on other projects too.
The interview
1. Do you have any favourite from the classic crime and detective stories? If yes, which is that and why?
This one s easy. It is without a doubt the 1938 James Cagney classic, Angel's with Dirty Faces. It's a story of two boys who grew up in a rough neighbourhood as best friends. They both take very different directions in life. One continues on a life of crime, including robbery and murder. The other becomes a priest and does his best to do good, resulting in a testing of their friendship and results in a tragic end. I love this crime thriller because it shows how two very similar backgrounds can have very different outcomes depending on the path you chose to take.
2. Everybody has a point, from when they start calling themselves an author. When was it for you?
Some people say, you become an author the moment you pick up a pen. But for me, I think it was when the final chapter of my first book was written. I sat back and thought "My God, I actually did that. It was a great feeling."
3. What made you decide, that you want to become an author?
I guess, like many I had always wanted to write a book. Although I had always imagined something more biographical. However, I was having some counselling at the time and my counsellor suggested trying something I had always wanted to do. I have always had a passion for criminology so I began to write a story. I showed it to my daughter who encouraged me to turn it into a book. So, that was it! The writer in me was out.
4. There is any historical serial killer, who you find especially interesting?
Yes! Jeffrey Dahmer (AKA The Milwaukee Cannibal). Not so much for the murders, although his modus operandi is largely what inspired the serial killer in Dark Scars. It was more the psychology, the development and triggers which turned this, once, some say happy, child into one of the most horrific and prolific serial killers of the 20th century.
5. Behind the villains in your trilogy, there is any real person, or murder case as an inspiration, and if yes, who, or which one was it?
I suppose I sort of answered this in the last question. I fact all my dark characters are based on a mix and match of several real people.
6. There is any old, unsolved case, which made you always curious and did you ever created your own theory about it?
Ah, good question. Like many amateur sleuth' out there, it has to be none other than Jack the Ripper. I agree with the theory that it as a member of the aristocracy. I have the theory that it was discovered and covered up, with the Ripper being either sent away or 'dealt with'.
7. Do you have any favourite place or time for writing?
Yes. It's an awful habit, but I write better at night. Insomnia an I are old friends, so what better time to write than when my mind is most active.
8. If you should choose your best poem until this, which would be it and why?
Easy this one. It's 'If' by Rudyard Kipling. For me, it's inspiring and comforting.
9. Do you have any new, ongoing novel project, next to your Dr Turner series?
Yes, I have three at the moment. One is a work in progress, and the other are ideas for which I have written notes on. I am on a writing hiatus at the moment because I am in my fourth year of a Psychology degree. Not writing is killing me though.
10. If you could live anywhere in any fantasy universe, where would you live and what would you be?
It would have to be somewhere, I could do all the things I am doing now but as a younger me. At 47, I've started a new path later in life than some. It would be nice to have all the experience and knowledge I have now at a younger age.
Thank you for your answers, Charlotte! And you, my readers, what would you ask from Charlotte Lathwell? 🙂
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