Confessions of a Debut Novelist

Welcome to Season 2 of Confessions of a Debut Novelist! This week, I’m talking to Heather Darwent about her psychological suspense novel The Things We Do To Our Friends, which has just become a Sunday Times Bestseller. In this episode we discuss what it’s like to be a debut novelist with the added pressure of your book being compared to big, famous novels, her long journey to find an agent including rewriting and resubmitting, and why patience is key during the publication process. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Things We Do To Our Friends: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780241538821Follow Heather on Twitter: @HeatherDarwentFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk *affiliate link - if you buy books linked to the Bookshop.org site, I may earn a commission.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Louise Finch about her YA novel, The Eternal Return of Clara Hart. This is the last episode of season one of the podcast before a new season next week and what a book to end it on. Louise’s book is a really great novel tackling tough subject matter. We talk about writing about toxic masculinity and rape culture for teens, looking after yourself when writing about difficult subjects and using a really fun time loop structure!Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Eternal Return of Clara Hart: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781915071026Follow Louise Finch on Twitter: @LouFinchWriteshttps://louisefinch.co.ukFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk *affiliate link - if you buy books linked to the Bookshop.org site, I may earn a commission.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Ella King about her literary novel Bad Fruit. In this episode we discuss how boredom during chemotherapy inspired Ella to write again, exploring toxic family relationships and generational trauma, and how competition success gave her confidence to query agents. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Bad Fruit: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008476557Follow Ella on Twitter: @TheRealEllaKingFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk *affiliate link - if you buy books linked to the Bookshop.org site, I may earn a commission.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Shauna Lawless about her historical fantasy The Children of Gods and Fighting Men. I really wanted to talk to Shauna about her route to publication because I knew originally she was writing purely for fun when her husband was doing the kids’ bedtime routine every other night and she used that hour to pursue her passion. Her book deal came in an interesting way too because she submitted her novel to an open submission opportunity at publishers Head of Zeus before she even had an agent. So we talk about this and how she blended Irish history and mythology. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Children of Gods and Fighting Men: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781803282626Follow Shauna on Twitter: @shaunaLwriteshttps://shaunalawless.comFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk *affiliate link - if you buy books linked to the Bookshop.org site, I may earn a commission.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Margaux Vialleron about her literary novel The Yellow Kitchen. In this episode we talk about the freedom and pleasure of writing in a second language, how she used her own diaries to write about the political landscape of 2019 and the unusual way she inhabits her characters – by texting herself in character! Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Yellow Kitchen: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781398508477Follow Margaux on Twitter: @MargauxVllnhttp://theonionpapers.substack.comhttps://salmonpinkkitchen.comFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk *affiliate link - if you buy books linked to the Bookshop.org site, I may earn a commission.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Kenny Boyle about his contemporary novel The Tick and the Tock of the Crocodile Clock. Kenny’s debut novel was published by an indie press and Kenny’s done so much work himself to promote it so we talk about his advice for writers nervous about publicity and spreading the word about your book. We also talk about how his novel started life as a one woman play and how his own mental health inspired him to delve deeper into his main character’s life. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Tick and the Tock of the Crocodile Clock: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781785633027Follow Kenny on Twitter: @KennyIBoylehttps://kennyboyle.co.ukFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk *affiliate link - if you buy books linked to the Bookshop.org site, I may earn a commission.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Heather Parry about her gothic horror Orpheus Builds a Girl. Heather has been involved in the literary scene for years but has had quite a meandering and frustrating route to getting her first novel published which we talk about in this episode, also how she took inspiration from a true story and made it her own, and how she thought carefully about language choice and musicality when creating distinctive first person narration.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Orpheus Builds a Girl: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781913547400Follow Heather on Twitter: @HeatherParryUKhttps://heatherparry.co.ukExtra Teeth Magazine: https://www.extrateeth.co.ukFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk *affiliate link - if you buy books linked to the Bookshop.org site, I may earn a commission.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Natalie aka N.A. Cooper about her thriller Ripple Effect. I was so inspired hearing Natalie’s journey to publication. She’s done no courses or creative writing classes, encouragement came solely from her family and her own passion to keep going. She researched indie publishers herself online and ended up with a three book deal with Cambridge based Bloodhound Books. We also talk about her tips for adding suspense and battling perfectionism in those early drafts.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Ripple Effect: https://amzn.eu/iwW2UM9Buy Unravelling Alice: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781504080101Follow Natalie on Twitter: @NACooperAuthorFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmshttps://www.chloetimms.co.uk*affiliate link - if you buy books linked to the Bookshop.org site, I may earn a commission.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Kasim Ali about his contemporary novel Good Intentions. This episode really is a must-listen. Being an editor, Kasim talks openly about what it’s like on the other side of the process and gives some surprising advice as to why he thinks writers shouldn’t be on Twitter and shouldn’t follow editors or read The Bookseller. Intrigued? Keep listening. Kasim’s had rejection after rejection, writing in every genre imaginable, but the key to it all is writing for the fun of it. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Good Intentions: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008450656Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmshttps://www.chloetimms.co.uk*affiliate link - if you buy books linked to the Bookshop.org site, I may earn a commission.