Goodreads Choice Awards 2025

Ask the Author: Laura Swan

“The movement never died out. Mostly ecumenical now. And yes, young people are reclaiming this movement in Europe. In the US, mostly in the form of Catholic Worker houses” Laura Swan

Answered Questions (11)

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What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?
Laura Swan the cousin I didn't know I had but Ancestry tells me he's mine but I don't know where he is but then his granddaughter appeared but then stopped responding!
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If you could travel to any fictional book world, where would you go and what would you do there?
Laura Swan I have to choose one, and only one?
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I just finished The Wisdom of the Beguines. Wow - what an amazing group of women. Insofar as it seems to have been primarily a Catholic movement, do you see any potential for a resurgence among lay Catholic women today?
Laura Swan Sorry for the delay, Jay. Women already are forming small beguine groups, Australia and Europe.
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What books are on your summer reading list this year?
Laura Swan I am currently reading Karl Marlantes' THE DEEP RIVER. Engrossing
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Can you tell us a two-sentence horror story?
Laura Swan This nation elected Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. Now look what is happening!
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What’s the best thing about being a writer?
Laura Swan Writing has deepened my sensitivity to words
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How do you deal with writer’s block?
Laura Swan Exercise! Exercise! Exercise! And I do mean physical exercise.
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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
Laura Swan Write about what makes you mad or makes you curious. This will keep you coming back to the computer
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What are you currently working on?
Laura Swan A contemporary novel
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How do you get inspired to write?
Laura Swan What makes me angry or what makes me curious gets me writing. But writing is a discipline. You gotta keep showing up
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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?
Laura Swan While I've known about the Beguines for years, this was written at the request of the publisher. Renewed research unearthed far more than I had originally known.
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Laura Swan
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