Debut novelist Lottie Hazell sinks her teeth into literary stardom with Piglet, the story of a bride-to-be whose insatiable appetite swells alongside her mounting disappointment in her fiancé. Delectably read by narrator Rebekah Hinds, the audiobook is a provocative exploration of the necessities of nourishing desire, especially for women. It left me hungry to learn more about the author and how she married her “heart pursuit” of fiction writing with her love of food to dish up such a savory listen.
Haley Hill: Did a certain moment—or perhaps a certain meal—inspire you to write your debut novel?
Lottie Hazell: The first scene I wrote was one where Piglet makes she and her fiancé, Kit, a carbonara. This scene comes quickly after Kit confesses a terrible truth to Piglet, one that threatens to shatter the life she has so carefully built for them. The image of Piglet, continuing to cook and eat with this person, someone who had betrayed her, was fascinating to me. This moment, in combination with the carbonara—“with lots of garlic and more egg yolks than were necessary”—felt rich, in so many ways, to explore and form into a novel.
Speaking of “Piglet,” did you begin writing the story with that name in mind for your main character, or did it come to you later?
Once I had named her, she was always Piglet. The characters were all nameless at one point, before I started to experiment with different monikers—I am fascinated by nicknames, pet names. But Piglet was always Piglet. Defiantly so!
Piglet is a very ambitious character who loves to prepare elaborate meals to perfection. Did you channel her drive while faced with the task of writing your first full-length novel? What did the experience teach you about the value of seeing large projects through to completion?
Hm, I can't say I channeled Piglet, who is ambitious, yes, but also lets her ambition drive her decision-making at the expense of sense. I am thinking of choux pastry. (This reference will make more sense once you've listened to the book!) As a writer, I am more stoic: I plan, I write, I edit. There isn't nearly as much bombast in my process as there is in Piglet's endeavors. But I think it is fair to say that, although Piglet's undertakings are food-related and mine are in fiction, we share the same sense of gratification upon finishing such huge projects.
“Piglet was always Piglet. Defiantly so!”
How would you compare two of your creative mediums, designing board games and writing fiction? Did your experience with the former influence your approach to establishing the plot or setting a pace for your novel?
Until I was asked a similar question very recently, I hadn't considered my writing and game design as connected disciplines. That says much about how I experience them as creative mediums—separately! I find writing to be a heart pursuit, whereas game design exists more in my head. However, I certainly am hoping to create a certain experience for the reader and am interested in how novels can be gamified. So perhaps these two modes of mine have more in common than I once thought.
Lastly, what do you believe is the role of food in fiction?
Oh! A huge question that I can answer in a word—or, well, two: nearly everything. I believe food is a language in itself and an essential undercurrent of character. It can tell us about class, gender, and social dynamics; it can illustrate personal preferences, rituals, and history; and it can be used to explore appetites in all of their various forms.
