Creative Thursday - Lisa Ballantyne

After a little break we return to our Creative Thursday interviews. This week is shawlands noveliest Lisa Ballantyne.

Describe your creative practice or what it is you do?
I am a novelist. My debut novel, The Guilty One was published in 2012 and my second novel will come out in 2015. I am currently working on my third novel. I am a full time writer at the moment, and tend to write in the afternoon and early evening. It is something I have always wanted to do since I was very young, so despite giving up a demanding, exciting job to devote myself to writing, I am still loving it.

I am from a small town in West Lothian, and have lived in Glasgow for nearly ten years, coming here initially to work in the International Office of University of Glasgow. I am very well travelled, having lived and worked in China for 6 years, and travelled to many different countries in my previous career. I still really enjoy travelling and meeting people from different cultures to my own. I think it's hard to write well unless you've lived a fair bit.

Tell us about your favourite piece of your work?
My favourite piece of work is still forming in my mind!

What's next?
I was delighted to be awarded one of the prestigious Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowships to spend a residency in the fabulous Grez-sur-Loing, France (just an hour south of Paris). I will head to France in July this year and hope to finish the novel that I am working on at present. I am immensely grateful to the Scottish Book Trust and Creative Scotland for the opportunity. http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing/scottish-book-trust-training-awards/the-robert-louis-stevenson-fellowship-2014

What is your favourite creative blog/ website or other source of inspiration?
Timothy McSweeney's - Dave Eggers publishing company's daily humour website http://www.mcsweeneys.net/tendency

What key piece of advice do you wish you'd known?
Always have a back up!! True technological advice for writing and wise advice for the heart and for future plans!

Tell us your favourite place/ space in the Southside?
I have so many: Lovestruck Cafe, Queen's Park for running and Pollok Park when I'm stressed, Glad Cafe for evening, Young's Interesting Books for wasting time, Biscuit for their French Toast.

Name another Southside creative whose work you admire?
I am a great admirer of William McIllvaney. Although he has moved away, he used to be a Shawlands resident.

If money was no option what would you change about the Southside?
Shawlands Arcade - get rid of it!

Tell us one other interesting fact about you?
I speak Mandarin. I am very tall.