We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with debut author L. Costevelos. Known for her imaginative blend of psychological thrillers, romance, and fantasy, L has captured readers’ hearts and minds with her first novel Wanderlust, a haunting, twisting story that challenges the very nature of reality itself.And what a conversation it was.For those of you who joined us live (thank you, paid subscribers!), you already know how deeply inspiring and refreshingly honest L was.From Dreams to DebutL. Costevelos has been a storyteller since childhood, always imagining the mystery hiding around every corner. During the interview, she shared how her sense of adventure, from solo backpacking trips across the world to living with a cat who thinks he’s a dog, shaped the writer she is today.Her path to publishing Wanderlust wasn't without its challenges. L spoke openly about the doubts she faced while writing her first novel, the moments of fear, the bouts of imposter syndrome, and the question every writer wrestles with: "Am I good enough?"Inside the World of WanderlustWe dove deep into Wanderlust, a novel that begins with Raine Black holding a knife and no memory of the crime she’s accused of.L explained that she wanted to write a story where reality wasn’t fixed, where readers would constantly question whether what they were reading was truly happening or just a fractured, desperate version of the truth.She revealed that mental health was a natural part of the story's evolution:“I didn’t set out to write a book about mental health, but as Raine’s story unfolded, it became clear that the lines between trauma, fantasy, and survival were impossible to ignore.”One of the most interesting behind-the-scenes details? The character of Nicholas, the creature who guides Raine into the parallel world of Wanderlust, came to her in a dream during a particularly stressful time. She wrote the first scene with him almost immediately after waking up, and he never left the story.The Creative Process and What's NextWhen it comes to writing, L described herself as a "plantser" — someone who plans just enough to get started but loves discovering the story as she writes.She also shared how important it is to embrace mistakes along the way:“Your first draft isn't meant to be perfect. It's meant to be passionate. Trust that you can fix it later.”As for what’s next?L teased that she is working on a brand-new psychological thriller, darker and even twistier than Wanderlust, but she’s taking her time, making sure the story lives up to the standard she’s now set for herself.She also hinted (with a knowing smile) that she may return to the world of Wanderlust one day.Final ThoughtsL. Costevelos is the kind of writer, and person, who makes you believe in the power of stories all over again. Her journey to Wanderlust, filled with resilience, creativity, and raw honesty, is a reminder that every great book starts with someone daring to say yes to their wildest ideas.We are so excited to see what comes next for her. If you haven’t yet picked up Wanderlust, now is the time, trust us, you won't want to miss the ride.Thank you again to all our paid subscribers who joined us live and got early access to this incredible conversation. Keep an eye out for the public release of the interview in two weeks!Until then, keep writing, keep dreaming, and keep chasing those stories.CJ & Chris
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
thewccs.substack.com/subscribeBecome a supporter of this podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support.
Connect...
