Would You Rather with Laura Kemp

Please welcome Laura Kemp, author of Mums on Strike.

About Laura:

Laura Kemp started writing to get out of doing a real job. A journalist for fifteen years, she turned freelance after having a baby because she couldn't get out of the house, washed and dressed, until lunchtime at the earliest. A columnist and contributor, she regularly writes for national newspapers and magazines, and spends too much time on Twitter (@laurajanekemp). Married with a son and a neurotic cat, Laura lives in suburbia, where she starts every day vowing she's definitely not going to drink tonight. Mums on Strike is her second novel. To find out more visit her website at www.laura-kemp.com or join her on Facebook at Laura Kemp Books.

Would You Rather... with Laura Kemp

Chips, chocolate or cheese? 

I have just spent hours agonising over this - I really am a very deep thinker when it comes to savouries. I love chips and I love cheese and I could survive without chocolate. But to choose between chips and cheese is impossible. But I couldn't have them together - not a fan of cheesy chips. Can I just have crisps instead? 

Bridget Jones, Becky Bloomwood or Carrie Bradshaw? 

Definitely Bridget Jones. I'm completely unglamorous, hate shopping and it is not uncommon for me to fall over when drunk.

Wine, beer or vodka? 

Oooh, yes, please. Oh. Just one? White wine for the way it works quickly.

Camping or spa vacation?

I took a year out to travel the world so I've had my fill of roughing it. But spa treatments always make me go bright red and sweaty. I'll plump for an all-inclusive holiday in the Med with a kids' club.

Water or Mountains?

As long as I'm not on a boat, I love the water. The mountains make me feel hemmed in. God, I'm such a laugh, aren't I.

Zombies or Vampires?

Neither. So as well as being a fussy claustrophobic, I'm a scaredy cat too.

Dogs or Cats?

Cats because we always had them growing up and I owe my porn star name to my first - Mitzi Marsh - and because my cat Pillow would be upset if I said dogs. Also they sort out their own shit.

Coke or Pepsi?

Pepsi, just like I prefer Adidas to Nike. 

Coffee or tea?

Tea first thing, coffee injected in the eyeball until bedtime.

Dine out or take away?

A takeaway. I love being out when I'm out but I'm a secret hermit so I'd much rather stay in. And it's got to be chicken tikka balti with half-rice half-chips, which is a Welsh thing where I now live, plus bhajis, a naan and some mango chutney. 

High heels, sneakers or flip flops

I look like a drag act in heels so trainers every time - unless I'm on that all-inclusive holiday in which case flip-flops.

Physical book or ebook?

Physical book. I love the feel of one, the fact you can quickly flick back to remind yourself of something without getting confused by the technology and because I spend far too much time on my iPad, it's good to unwind in bed away from the glare of a screen.

Paperback or Hardcover?

Paperback. I don't have the biceps for hardbacks.

Pen or Pencil?

Pen because pencils need sharpening and I'm lazy.

Mad Men, Downton Abbey or Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad for its incredible plot and characters.

Drama or Comedy?

Comedy but in a heartbreakingly sad way - such as Early Doors and Rev. 

Twilight or Hunger Games? 

See zombies and vampires.

Lipstick, lipgloss or chapstick? 

Lippy makes me feel self-conscious because I just don't have the plump lips required for a slick of red. Unfortunately. So lipgloss, usually Vaseline.

Facebook or Twitter

I love Twitter. It's immediate, funny, educational and it's where I get all the news. I have actual friends on there I've never met. My non-Twitter friends think it's weird but if you're working from home, it's like sitting in a virtual office. Come and say hi on @laurajanekemp!

Plot your entire novel or fly by the seat of your pants? 

I'm definitely a fly by the seat of your pants writer - that's not to say I don't plot my books because you need to have the structure of a beginning, middle and end and an idea of what's going to happen in each chapter. But my writing comes to me as I do it so I like to keep it bare bones and go with the flow.

Mums on Strike

Every morning before she's opened her eyes, she starts her mental inventory of jobs to do. And just like yesterday, the day before and every day since she became a mum, she's woken up knackered.

So when her husband deliberately steps over the grape because it's 'her responsibility' to run the house, it tips her over the edge.

He wasn't always like this - they used to share everything.

Then the kids came along and he saw it as an excuse to sit back.

But this time things are going to change. Lisa has made a decision. She's going on strike.

Available at:

Amazon UK