L.A. Larkin

Author, Social Commentator

Thriller author, L.A. Larkin, has been likened to Michael Crichton and John Grisham. Her debut novel, The Genesis Flaw, received glowing reviews and was nominated for four crime writing awards. Her second thriller, Thirst, was published in August 2012 and has been described as ‘the best Antarctic thriller since Ice Station. L. A. Larkin divides her time between writing novels, her public speaking engagements and running thriller writing courses. She is a member of The Australian Society of Authors, Sisters In Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the UK’s Crime Writers’ Association.

Where were you born?

London and migrated to Australia in 1998. A few years later I became a citizen.

What other jobs have you had?

After a successful career in magazine publishing, where I became publisher, I returned to university to study corporate responsibility, sustainability and strategic public relations at the University of Sydney. I was awarded a merit scholarship for academic excellence. I went on to work for one of Sydney’s leading climate change consultancies, Energetics. Since the success of The Genesis Flaw, I divide my time between writing novels, my public speaking engagements and running thriller writing courses and workshops.

What themes are recurring in your work?

My thrillers tap into the hot political, social and environmental issues of our time, such as climate change and food and water security. I believe all creative endeavour seeks to explain the human condition – who we are and how we interact with this world.

What are you passionate about?

My own writing and encouraging other people to write. I am very passionate about my thriller writing courses and workshops. I am one of the very few Australian thriller authors who teach creative writing on an on-going basis.

What have been the highlights of your career?

I feel incredibly lucky to have been invited to speak at so many book festivals including Sydney, Brisbane, Literati, Byron Bay, GenreCon and even The UK’s Guildford Book Festival and CrimeFest 2013. I love doing radio interviews and have really enjoyed being live in air with the likes of James Valentine from 702 ABC Sydney and Michael Cathcart from the ABC’s Books & Arts Daily Show. I was thrilled to chair a panel debate on Antarctica Under Threat and I get a real thrill out of teaching children about Antarctica. I have met incredible authors like Michael Robotham, Val McDermid, Tara Moss and John Birmingham. But the biggest kick of all is when someone tells me how much they enjoyed one of my books.

Haven’t I seen you before?

Possibly. I have appeared on Channel 7’s Today Tonight program with my hacker source. Or perhaps we’ve met at festivals or when I was doing a talk at a conference/ corporate event. Look forward to meeting you again!

Anything else you’d like to share with us?

I am known for the extreme lengths I go to when researching my thrillers. To research Thirst I spent time in Antarctica and learned about crevasse rescue, Polar survival and even how to sew up a wound. I have had several cryptic conversations with explosives experts and I am sure I must have set off alarm bells by now!.