During our infertility journey, a book was recommended to me time and time again. It was a book recommended by other women that had also struggled to fall pregnant, those that had undergone IVF, those that had experienced unexpected loss, and those that truly understood the emotional toll that infertility takes on not only your body, but also your mind. This book is called “The Underachieving Ovary”, and honestly I feel it is a book that everyone should read. I cried, laughed, got excited, and had my heart shattered – all in one book. And once I had finished it I did some more research into the author, JT Lawrence, and was amazed to discover that she is South African.
I have always been a bookworm and love nothing better than curling up in a spot of sunshine to devour my latest book. My husband often returns home over a weekend to find me cuddled up under a blanket with a cup of tea in one hand, and my book in another. And JT Lawrence has been one of my favourite authors ever since that first book of hers that I read. I couldn’t believe it when she responded to my email requesting a short interview for my blog, and feel so honoured that one of my role models took the time to answer my questions and come on board. So without further ado, here is the amazing JT Lawrence!
Your name: Janita Lawrence – known as JT Lawrence to readers
Social media handles: Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, BookBub, Website and Email.
What are some fun facts about you:
- I’m currently obsessed with growing food in my victory garden
- I’m addicted to walking and podcasts
- I went to boarding school
- I used to be an art director in advertising
- I wear a wolf hat in winter
- I bake bread and make kombucha
- I grew up with Roald Dahl bedtime stories (thanks, Mom!)
- I wear black almost all the time
- I love Agnes Obel’s music
- I’m fascinated by psychedelic medicine
- I read gardening books to unwind
- I used to draw and paint
- I’m currently volunteering for the Covid-19 vaccine trial
- I was on a billboard once
- My 8-year-old son says I’m the “strangest mom he’s ever met”
- I’ve been skydiving (and scuba diving with ragged tooth sharks)
- In January I met a cow on a mountain and I haven’t been able to eat beef since. Lasagne used to be my favourite dish. Now we eat a lot of lentils.
Tell me a little more about you: I’m a mom to 3 free-range children, 2 cats and a kitten, a hamster, and a dozen happy chickens. Ten years ago I wouldn’t have been able to imagine a life so full of chaos and magic.
In our house we believe that love is love, black lives matter, feminism is about equality, trans women are women, science is king, kindness comes first, and it’s great to grow your own food.
How did you get into writing: I’ve always written–and always been delighted by peoples’ reactions–apart from a family friend who used to recite a poem I wrote when I was 8 every single time we saw him. 30+ years later, my whole family still know the rhyme.
Twinkle twinkle little dragon
How I wonder about your wagon
Going sixty miles per hour
Eating people sweet and sour.
What genre are your books: I hop between genres. I’ve written psychological suspense, thrillers, sci-fi and non-fiction: memoir. At the moment I’m focusing on urban fantasy due to the success of BLOOD MAGIC.
Which book holds the most meaning for you: This is like asking which child is my favourite, the answer to which is usually the one who is not currently crying.
Who do you think these books would appeal to: Anyone who enjoys escapist page-turners and staying up all night reading “just one more chapter”.
Where can people purchase your books from: Amazon is the best place, but I do sell signed paperbacks to local readers.
What do you wish more people knew about you: I hate phone calls.
The first book of yours I ever read was “The Underachieving Ovary” & it helped me through my infertility journey – what inspired you to write this: My underachieving ovary! I hoped that getting the story out there would be healing for me and helpful to others. Infertility is a lonely place to be.
Why are you proudly South African: At the moment, my favourite thing about SA is the long growing season and the blue sky.
Quote you live by: “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” — Einstein
Anything else you want to add: If any of your readers would like to try out my work, they can grab this bundle of stories, free of charge. http://eepurl.com/cm-QVf
I am still pinching myself that I have been able to feature the one and only JT Lawrence here, and can highly recommend her books to you. Even husband (who is not a reader at all) has really enjoyed the books that he has tried, and he currently has one sitting on his nightstand.
I really enjoyed getting to know JT Lawrence better, and adore her honesty and sense of humour. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, and please let me know when you manage to read one of her books yourself.
