I will not title this entry ‘Hello, World’, but hi.

My name is Olivia Lusk. I’ve always loved to write, so much so that I published a Kindle-exclusive book at age 7 that should never see the light of day again. Luckily, I have deleted it. The problem is that I have not been able to finish a project since.

About two summers ago, I took a holiday to the Dordogne department of France, where I spent two weeks sans l’internet conceptualising a story that would develop into my most fleshed-out idea in years and eventually become a perfect goodbye to the first chapter of my life.

I never thought I’d want to leave my home, a posh little place in the west of London, as it was just so nice and everything was so easy. Unfortunately, life isn’t simple. I reached a point where there wasn’t much beauty left for me, and I decided to travel as far north as possible. I figured that I’d have to conquer my fear of change and get out before I found myself trapped and expired. I still have yet to make peace with it all, balance my resentment with my gratitude, and that’s where my project comes in.

Originally, the idea of this novel came about when I realised my sour teenage attitude had rendered me completely unable to produce a narrative in which a romance works out. Even the good relationships were crushed under my Doc Martens as I decided that my characters would have to part ways to focus on themselves. I made it my goal to bring hope to my readers and write a romance novel. Having never been in a real relationship, I knew it would be difficult, but I was and still am dedicated to my craft. I figured that the best way to tackle this would be to ask myself exactly what it would take for me to feel secure with another person. Another thing I knew I would have to do was challenge my characters, take away their trust in their feelings, and have them realise just how strong a human relationship can be. So, my plot was born.

Over the year and a half before I moved out, I let my own coming-of-age experiences shape my plan for the novel. The main character became more and more like me, and it became my goal to show people her age that they can learn from their mistakes and build a life that they love.

Two months after I moved out, I started dating someone I deeply admire, someone who has shown me trust and security I never thought existed. He makes me feel as though there is nobody more qualified to write about love than myself. I know that isn’t true, but nevertheless I felt a bout of inspiration that urged me to start setting achievable goals. I’d have a time frame that would pull this project from my dreams into my reality. I want young adults everywhere to know that they can love and be loved, and I want them to know this soon. 

As I stumble into adulthood, this story wraps itself around my heart. It just might be the most important thing I’ve ever worked on. Moving to a new place and meeting people of all ages and disciplines, I’ve never felt more capable of anything. I see my friends building portfolios with love and care and I feel hope in place of my teenage jealousy. I know I can get this story out there.

Please consider following this blog and joining me on my journey.