Lorraine Elliott barely needs an introduction, particularly if you’re in Australia, you eat, or you blog. A very talented lass who cooks, travels, loves cake, and tells entertaining tales all day long on her blog Not Quite Nigella.
When I first started blogging five years ago, I was blown away by how professional she already was. Here I was stumbling around Blogger and Google Friend Connect and wondering what a Twitter was, and Lorraine was travelling, eating, reviewing restaurants, and making things from fancy salt she had bought in some exotic country. Her photography was stellar, her recipes flawless.
I was so surprised when she would come to leave a comment on my blog if I had taken the time to visit her and leave a comment. I couldn’t believe she had the time, or cared. But she kept coming even though my photography resembled an accidental pocket-dial film of someone on a week-long bender in Vegas. I’m ashamed to say, internet, that although I read her blog often, I took to only commenting when my own post that day wasn’t ugly.
THE SHAME.
I’m also cringing as I type this – but I once emailed her, all fresh-faced and bright-eyed, bursting with newbie blog enthusiasm and I was all “I know you’re busy, but please give me some advice” aka holy shit you’re awesome, how do I be awesome, please? She wouldn’t remember and I’m loath to bring it up and make a total fool of myself, but she was so kind, and gave me some pretty solid advice. She’s not just a pretty face that makes ice cream macarons in its spare time, she happens to be a pretty decent gal.
Folks, Lorraine is a Kickass Chick.
Who are you?
What do you do?
If you asked my neighbours they’d say played music too loudly during the day and the tv too loudly at night but really I sit in front of my computer most days or cook things in my kitchen or eat out.
Why do you do it?
Oh wow, I’ve never been asked that! Because I love it?!
How did it start?
As an accident! I didn’t even know what a blog was but my husband suggested it. I thought that I was just writing to my family and friends really. How naive was I? I mean this is the internet!
Were you scared, or did you know it had that something that would see it through?
When I pushed the button for publish, it was as if I thought it was connected to some nuclear reactor or something. In reality, nothing happened, nobody read it and life went on ๐
Have there been rough patches where you doubted yourself and your choice to blog? What did you do?
There are definitely more challenging patches. There are politics like in all walks of life but I have a moment and then move on. I have very fast changing moods!
How do you make blogging work with your lifestyle?
Haha well I don’t know if it really does since I am unable to make free time for myself but it’s by my own doing. If I didn’t love it then I’d resent it because it takes up so much time.
What does a typical day look like for you?
If I am at home, I like to start the day at 9am and have a cup of tea and check comments and emails and maybe deal with the images. There are so many emails and forms of social media that that takes up most of the morning.
Lunch is at 11:30-12pm because I don’t eat breakfast (I know, bad for you right?) and then I work on recipe development, especially if I need to shoot images before the sun goes down (before 3pm in Winter for best light in our place). Then it’s editing stories because that never seems to end (and yep I always miss typos, it’s a curse).
By the afternoon I feel a bit more warmed up and can start to write my posts. I find it hard to do cold first thing in the morning – the words flow much easier the later in the day and I do most of my writing in the late afternoon.
I break for dinner at 6:30pm until 7:30pm and then I visit everyone else’s blogs because I love that part (it’s socialising!) and do more editing and then I go to bed around 11pm. I watch television until 1am and it’s usually something scary so I have trouble sleeping…
Would you recommend this work/way of life to someone else?
I would recommend it to people that a) have a supportive network b) have an obsessive personality or love a particular topic and c) like to pursue long term goals.
What is the best piece of work advice youโve ever been given?
Someone once said that you could be the tastiest, juiciest peach in the world but there is always going to be someone that comes along and says that they hate peaches. That made me laugh and is quite true.
Vegemite or peanut butter?
Peanut butter. By the tablespoonful. With honey.
Aye to being peaches people hate! Do you love Lorraine too?!
See other Kick-Ass Chicks: Cate Bolt of Foundation 18, and Kelley Sheenan of Peppermint Magazine.
Hugzilla says
I love that quote about the peaches. It’s one of my favourites as well. And I LOL’d at only commenting when your own post wasn’t ugly. In my current state I can totally understand that!
Veggie Mama says
Avert your eyes! EVERYTHING SUCKS.
cityhippyfarmgirl says
That peaches quote is gold. And Yay to Lorraine! I’m lucky enough to have had a couple of lunches with her and yes it is true…she is a kick ass chick!
Veggie Mama says
I ate all her fries once.
Erin says
I do love Lorraine! What a superstar. And yes, so many peeps don’t like peaches. Which is cool.
Veggie Mama says
Even juicy peaches with minimal fur.
Sally // Scribe & Spoon says
I have long admired Lorraine from afar, she is such an inspiration. Interesting that she mentioned long-term goals, too. There is very rarely a fast-track in this blogging business, is there?!
Veggie Mama says
ha no! I always describe it as like the stock market. There is no elevator to success, ya gotta take the stairs.
Vanessa says
Great interview Stacey and so lovely to learn more about you too Lorraine. Looking forward to meeting you IRL soon too! x
Veggie Mama says
At least you won’t watch me maul her like I did in the Whitsundays! I basically grovelled at her feet. I’ll be cooler this time.
Chris (Chew Your Chow) says
Love the interview! Been a fan of Lorraine for a few years now ๐
Veggie Mama says
She is hard to resist! Much like those macarons.
Barbara Schieving says
I absolutely love Lorraine. In fact, I’ve adopted her. ๐ A very fun article.
Veggie Mama says
ooh I wonder if she’d let me do that?
mscate says
Huge Lorraine fan!
Veggie Mama says
We should get badges made haha
pamela hayward says
My day isn’t complete without reading her daily blog or foodie comment. She is lovely -albeit quirky but that is part of her charm. it is funny to hear about her father and her mother In law. She is a foodie mate!
Veggie Mama says
I love the stories about Mr NQN’s parents!
Sonia from Sonia Styling says
Lorraine is super rad! Love her sass and sparkle. And the fact that she just eats whatever the hell she wants. x
Veggie Mama says
Yeah that’s my kinda girl!
The Plumbette says
Great interview! I love to read a typical day in someone else’s life.
Veggie Mama says
I do too! I think that’s why I like reading blogs so much too – that peek into how everyone else lives their lives.
Eva Taylor says
NQN aka Lorraine is totally a ROCK STAR! Has responded to my questions quickly and with such detail it always blew my mind. You did a great interview, loved the day in the life bit. Now to check out your lovely blog.
Eva https://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com
Veggie Mama says
Yeah she doesn’t hold back does she?! So generous. I owe her a lot.
Alison Pereira Rodericks says
Lovely to get an insider’s peek into Lorraine’s life! Interesting questions and answers that are so NQN! I love how she always makes time to visit all her readers’ blogs.
Veggie Mama says
Me too, it’s such a nice gesture. It must take her ages!
Lauren @ Life at Number Five says
I love reading about other people’s blogging habits! Lorraine is totally a Kick Ass Chick!!
Veggie Mama says
I do too! I”m so sneaky but it’s so interesting!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
Thank you so much everyone for making me feel so welcome on Stacey’s fabulous blog (she’s a kick ass chick if ever I met one)! I’m blushing at the super kind words from you all! I had so much fun answering these questions and I’m like you, I love taking a peek into someone’s life too! xxx
Malinda says
Silly question – Yes I love Lorraine too! Who doesn’t?
Veggie Mama says
Haha apparently nobody!
www.boyeatsworld.com.au says
She s the kick-assiest of them all! ๐
Veggie Mama says
Isn’t she? I hate her ๐
Vicki @ BoiledEggsandSoldiers says
Love Lorraine loads! Great interview and I love being able to have a sneak peek into her day.
Veggie Mama says
Imagine what her days are like when she’s overseas eating in exotic locations!
Ms Polka Dot says
Love this interview idea!
Veggie Mama says
It’s just my sneaky way of nosing around other people’s business ๐
Melissa Walker Horn says
Team Peanut Butter, for sure.
Veggie Mama says
noooooooooo!
Melissa Walker Horn says
Yeah, sorry. Haha. Though that said, I LOVE Vegemite too. But in terms of preference, the old PB wins. ๐