Lauren Beukes
Lauren Beukes
Lauren Beukesis a South African novelist, short story writer, journalist and television scriptwriter...
NationalitySouth African
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth5 June 1976
order trying patterns
There are patterns because we try to find them. A desperate attempt at order because we can't face the terror that it might all be random.
media wings trying
Shakespeare would have it wrong these days. It's not the world that's the stage - it's social media, where you're trying to put on a show. The rest of your life is rehearsals, prepping in the wings to be fabulous online.
lived love moved south spend time york
I moved to New York for love, and it was a disaster, in 2000. And then I had American friends who had lived in South Africa, and they were in Chicago. They said, 'Come and spend some time with us, and we'll help you get over it.'
seen south time
I've seen so many screw-ups of representations of South Africa, and it makes me so angry every time.
amazing assistant both came twitter
Twitter is amazing. I advertised for the position of research assistant on Twitter, and both of my researchers came from there.
cruel given hannibal men opportunity powerless serial time
I did a lot of research on real serial killers, and they're not Hannibal Lecters. They're cruel men who are given the opportunity to do something terrible, and a lot of the time it's about impotence. They feel powerless in the real world.
against angry art fiction good interested leaks telling violence women
Fiction is about telling a good story, first and foremost. But of course, everything I'm interested in or angry about leaks into my writing, from art to violence against women.
course exposed passions shaped
Being a journalist, being exposed to the world, to social injustice, to intolerance, growing up here, under apartheid, benefitting from that, has all shaped who I am and what my passions are, and of course that's going to come through in my writing.
anime
I've always loved Japanese legend, anime and manga.
twelve cracks ems
So are you an inmate or a rubbernecker?" she asks. "Rubbernecker," I answer without hesitation. "You?" "I'm a screw. Or on staff, anyway. Used to be an inmate. Repeat offender. Crimes against my body. Puking sickness followed by heroin, which led to more puking sickness." I'd be surprised at her forthrightness, but that's addicts for you. The twelve steps crack 'em open and then they can't shut up.
dream origami disappear
She would disappear folded like origami into her own dreams
war relentless loud
The future is not as loud as war, but it is relentless. It has a terrible fury all its own.
real people feels
Only other people can make you feel real.
memories forget
Memory is curated. All this paraphernalia you collect to ward off forgetting