As suckers for a good love story, we were delighted to get our hands on Natalie Murray’s new book, Lights, Camera, Love. Set in Sydney with detours into the Hunter Valley, the story follows hip-hop dance teacher Evie Scott, who lands a dream movie role opposite her teen crush, only to find herself drawn to his fiercely loyal manager, Kye Evans.
Exploring themes of belonging, identity and found family, Natalie balances the sparkle of showbiz with the rawness of real emotion. We caught up with her to chat about dance, inspiration and why she loves writing romances that are both heart-fluttering and deeply human.
The main character Evie is a dance teacher. Do you have a dance background?
I spent many years studying dance as a teenager and young adult, and I loved every single second of that time. I reached the point where I was being paid to perform, and I was even cast as one of the ensemble dancers in a Bollywood movie that was filming in Sydney. Eventually, I moved into a job in TV, and I had to give up dance. I can still be spotted in the occasional salsa dance class, though – I have a particularly strong attachment to Latin dancing, which has never left me.
What drew you to set the story within the film industry?
I wanted to write a book set in a world I was already familiar with, but one that was also vibrant, exciting, and full of interesting characters. I’d already used a newsroom setting for my first book, Love, Just In, so the next natural choice for me was the film industry, which I also had some personal experience with and had always found fascinating. It offered a perfect mix of glamour and behind-the-scenes drama.
Exploring themes of belonging, identity and found family, Natalie balances the sparkle of showbiz with the rawness of real emotion. We caught up with her to chat about dance, inspiration and why she loves writing romances that are both heart-fluttering and deeply human.
Are any of the characters (especially the actors) or film industry people based on anyone in real life?
None of the characters in Lights, Camera, Love is based entirely on one person, but some (especially the film industry characters, as you noticed) are amalgamations of memorable people I’ve encountered in the entertainment business. Some of them are memorable for the worst reasons – there are a number of horrendous things that the character of Buzz does or says in this story that are unfortunately pulled directly from my experiences. But there are also some really beautiful character traits that are inspired by my friends and former colleagues. As they always say, no one is truly safe around an author!
Kye’s a foster child and I found this element of the story really beautiful – what inspired you to go down that path for him?
Thank you! I have some close friends who are foster carers, and watching what they do has been incredibly inspiring. I decided to explore more of this world and asked one of my friends if she would be willing to share some of her experiences with me. Of course, Kye’s foster story is completely original, but it grew out of some of those conversations. Lights, Camera, Love is also themed around abandonment, belonging, and found family, so I thought this would be a meaningful way to examine those themes through Kye’s background and perspectives.
“The books I love to read balance light and shadow (even the most epic romances), so when I sit down to write, a blend of light and dark themes inevitably pours onto the page. But I also like to write stories that feel grounded in reality, and real people are messy and complicated, just like their relationships.”
The romance feels so warm and uplifting but also explores deeper themes like belonging and identity. How do you balance lightness with weight in your writing?
It’s something that comes very naturally to me. The books I love to read balance light and shadow (even the most epic romances), so when I sit down to write, a blend of light and dark themes inevitably pours onto the page. But I also like to write stories that feel grounded in reality, and real people are messy and complicated, just like their relationships. To me, compelling romance isn’t just about two characters falling in love – it’s about them becoming more fulfilled, balanced, and healthy people because of that love. That’s why I always write characters who are flawed, struggling, and somewhat lost in the world, because it makes them relatable, and their growth throughout the story is what (hopefully!) wins readers’ hearts.
If Lights, Camera, Love was adapted into a film or series, who would you dream-cast as Kye, Evie and Austin?
This is a tough one because Evie and Kye are both very gifted dancers, so they would need to be played by actors who can really tear up the dance floor! I’m not sure who would be the most ideal in that sense, but I can picture the Australian actress Alicya Debman-Carey bringing Evie’s warmth to the screen, and the Australian actor Sam Corlett as Kye, because he has that gorgeous smile that Kye is famous for. In terms of who would play Austin, I have always imagined the lovely Leo Woodall.
Need a nice quick read with a happily ever after? Add Lights, Camera, Love to your list! Thank you Natalie for sharing your insights – we are so lucky to have such talented authors here in Newcastle.
