Sofie Laguna Interview - Part Two

Sofie Laguna

Part Two – Parenthood, nits and Tom Hardy.

Anthony:      Do you think it's difficult being an artist in Australia?

Sofie:           I can really only speak for myself. I mean, I was an actor for a long time and that was pretty difficult. You’ve got to be resourceful. And I was unemployed. I didn't have the dream acting work that I wanted. That was pretty difficult for a long time. But I should be speaking politically, really, shouldn't I? About what it's like for other people and not just me. I don't know what is it like for other people out there. I like being an artist in Australia. I don't know how politically correct that is to say. I suppose I should be saying things like, we are not recognised the way we should be. All the funding that goes into sport. The way our people don't read enough. I should be saying all those political things. I suppose I'm aware of all of those things. There's not enough money. People aren’t buying enough books. For me personally, I love being an artist in Australia. I consider myself lucky.   (pauses)   I’ve got to start the car. I've got Bluetooth.

Anthony:      Ah, okay. We can wrap it up…

Sofie:           That's ok. I'll be driving along a bit.

Anthony:      So, you've been talking and done all that with the kids? Got the kids into the car at the same time?

Sofie:           No, the kids aren't in the car. I'll Bluetooth. It’s a fantastic thing, which means we can talk as I drive. It's unbelievable.

Anthony:      Have you seen that film Locke with Tom Hardy?

Sofie:           Because of the kids, I don't see any movies anymore.

Anthony:      It's called Locke. The entire film is set in the car while he's talking on Bluetooth.

Sofie:           Is it good?

Anthony:      It's absolutely brilliant. Well, you know how good Tom Hardy is.

Sofie:           Well you see, I'm a bit out of the loop. Before kids I saw every single thing that came out. Every single film, you know. But I'm out. I'm out.

Anthony:      Now it's Jimmy Giggle and the Teletubbies.

Sofie:           Hahaha pretty much.  No it's not. It's Paw Patrol and the Octonauts! Pirates versus Zombies.

Anthony:      Haha Dirtgirlworld.

Sofie:           No, that's all over man!

Anthony:      It's back! It's back. They've done a live action version.

Sofie:           Haha no there's no Dirtgirlworld at our place. I've got two boys you know. Maybe that changes things.

Anthony:      Alright. What else can I ask you? I guess that was the question really. Has having children changed you as a writer and as a person?

Sofie:           Oh God, that's a good question. Has it? My Mum reckons I'm happier now then I've ever been.

Anthony:      Yeah? That's nice.

Sofie:           Since I've been having kids. That's what she reckons.

Anthony:      Mum's know these things.

Sofie:           Haha yeah they do. But I am too busy. And that's uncomfortable. It's too much. It's definitely too much as in... So I quietly wrote my book in my own bubble on the edge of having kids, and that suits me. But then I did this. I didn’t know what this was sort of… all going to mean. It was all this, you know, like the publicity and people reading it and going out into the world. I didn't know what this whole sort of thing was going to mean. This career thing.

Anthony:      So it's become like that now? It wasn't like that before?

Sofie:           Well the Miles Franklin was a wave of publicity that lasted about three or four months. That was a big wave. But this wave has been bigger.

Anthony:      Really?

Sofie:          Yeah, this wave has been bigger. I don't know why. Maybe because I... I actually don't know why. Maybe the nature of the book or because of that prize or maybe a combination.

'That' prize

Anthony:      Combination perhaps. Or now it's easier to say ‘Sofie the Miles Franklin Prize winner…’

Sofie:           Exactly. Meanwhile, of course, I still have to do all the same house work. There's a lot of housework.

Anthony:      Oh it's chaos. But you've got two kids. That's so much worse than what I had.

Sofie:           There's shitloads.

Anthony:      Haha

Sofie:           You know they’re kids, so they get sick all the time and viruses and all that.

Anthony:      Nits.

Sofie:           Oh nits! I’ve had nits!

Anthony:      So have I! Haha

Sofie:           I had such bad nits. I thought I’ve got to go to the chemist. But I didn’t know it was nits. I thought I had a scalp condition.

Anthony:      Haha!

Sofie:           Haha It felt like my head was on fire!

Anthony:      It brings you back to earth doesn’t it? From Miles Franklin winner to nits. Haha

Sofie:           Haha yeah

Anthony:      You’ve got to put the stuff in the hair.

Sofie:           That stuff doesn't work. You’ve got to use conditioner.

Anthony:      Oh really?

Sofie:           Yeah. You've just got to put loads in every night for ten days. Literally half a cup of conditioner and comb it through and that's the only way.

Anthony:      Oh God. Did you put the plastic cap on the head?

Sofie:           haha The whole family had to do it. For ten days.

Anthony:      I know. It's shocking isn't it?

Sofie:           Did you have them as well?

Anthony:      Before I became a father, I was a step parent to three. So all five of us had it at the same time. And it would be the same thing.

Sofie:           Oh ok. So are you still that step parent of three?

Anthony:      Well they're grown up now, so I don't have to worry about nits. I just have to worry about pregnancies.

Sofie:           Hahaha

Anthony:      But I'm not with their mother anymore. I’m a single parent now.

Sofie:           Seven year old.

Anthony:      Yes. The seven year old. Same mother to the step kids. So she's got four kids and I've got one.

Sofie:           Right got it. So it's not as complicated as it first sounded.

Anthony:      Well I never wanted kids. So I suddenly ended up with three overnight. It was add hot water and stir. So, it was interesting.

Sofie:           Unbelievable.

Anthony:      Interesting, yeah.

Sofie:           I can imagine.  What the hell have we done?

Anthony:      I know. And it's too late. You can't go back.

Sofie:           Haha. You know this guy said to me the other day…  look, don't worry about it, because I was saying look, I’ve got to cook every night. He said it only last another twenty years, don't worry about it. haha

Anthony:      Oh shit.

Sofie:           I better get off the phone. I'm going on the road here.

Anthony:      Alright. I don't want you to have an accident or anything. Just quickly to finish up. Have you got something coming up next or going to have a break or…?

Sofie:           I’ve got a trip up to Sydney but I can't see myself having much of a break, just because that's not my personal style so much. As soon as I've got the energy and space, I'm sure something will happen.

Anthony:      Another adult novel?

Sofie:           Who knows? I'm not even sure about that. I just know that I am better when I am writing. I think, you know, I'm a bit physical. Maybe it’s a good way for me to manage myself when I am writing.

Anthony:      Okay then Sofie. Thank you very kindly for the chat. I really enjoyed it.

Sofie:           It was my pleasure.

Anthony:      Take care and drive safe. Check out that Tom Hardy film. Locke.

Sofie:           Haha right. I’ll try. Bye now Anthony.

Buy The Choke here

ebook Here.

Part One of the Interview here.

Other Interviews Here.