Confessions of a Debut Novelist

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Alice Bell about her crime novel Grave Expectations. We discuss how she created her crime solving duo of a medium and a teenage ghost, how she works out whodunnit and why then works backwards and why now that she's published bookshops have become a place of fear. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Grave Expectations: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781838958398Follow Alice: @ABeeWordshttps://alicebellauthor.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 Aoife Fitzpatrick about her historical novel The Red Bird Sings. We discuss the unbelievable true story that inspired her gothic novel, how her research trip to West Virginia helped her get the tone and the voice right and why she applied for arts council funding.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Red Bird Sings: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780349016641Follow Aoife: @aoifefitz_Follow 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 Bridget Walsh about her historical crime novel The Tumbling Girl. We discuss writing a historical working class character who pushes against the constraints of the era, working with a great indie press and Bridget’s advice to anyone who think it’s too late to write their novel. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Tumbling Girl: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781913547516Follow Bridget: @bridget_walsh1https://bridgetwalsh.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.

Jericho Writers are offering listeners of this podcast a very special discount. Use the code PODCAST15 for 15% off annual membership.In this special episode I’m talking to Rose Wilding about her psychological suspense novel Speak of the Devil. We discuss why a writing workshop made her want to behead a fictional man, breaking all the writing rules by having 8 POVs and how Rose’s ADHD diagnosis changed how she approached writing. This week’s episode was originally a special live episode with Jericho Writers and they’re offering a special discount for listeners. Jericho Writers is a writing community with a difference. Their members are the heart of everything they do, and their absolute favourite thing to do is to celebrate each member’s success, whether that’s writing another chapter or getting that book deal. Jericho Writers offers everything you need to help you write, edit and get your book published, from tutored video courses; online and in-person events; one-to-one mentoring; live masterclasses and expert editorial services, to interviews with publishers, agents and authors – they’re with you for every word. Jericho Writers are offering listeners of this podcast a very special discount. Use the code PODCAST15 for 15% off annual membership.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Speak of the Devil: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399804981Follow Rose on Twitter: @Rose_WldngJericho Writers: https://jerichowriters.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 Senta Rich about her commercial novel Hotel 21. We discuss the differences between writing a screenplay and a novel, why a first person voice was so appealing to her and creating hooks in your story. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Hotel 21: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781526650498https://sentarich.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 Katie Bishop about her psychological suspense novel The Girls of Summer. We discuss how the #MeToo movement inspired her teenage character’s troubling first romance, how she used the present tense to let the reader experience events alongside her character and how she structures her day as a full-time writer. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Girls of Summer: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781787636002Follow Katie on Twitter: @WhatKatieBWroteFollow 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 to Santanu Bhattacharya about his literary novel One Small Voice. We discuss how he wanted to explore the experience of millennial Indians in a rapidly changing world, using the structure of his novel to add intrigue and suspense and the advice from Max Porter that transformed his work. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy One Small Voice: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780241582336Follow Santanu on Twitter: @santanu_bxFollow 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 Katie Lumsden about her historical novel The Secrets of Hartwood Hall. This episode is a fascinating one. Katie had an agent for seven years, wrote several books that went on submission and unfortunately failed to get a book deal and she's also been a fiction editor for a Big 5 publisher, so she's really seen things from the other side. In this episode we discuss all of that, as well as her playing with gothic tropes, purposefully writing for the market and whether a following on social media makes a difference in terms of book sales.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Secrets of Hartwood Hall: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780241556078Follow Katie on Twitter: @katiejlumsdenKatie's BookTube channel - Books and Things(mentioned: Writer's HQ Plotstormers course)Follow 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 Alison Stockham about her psychological suspense novel The Cuckoo Sister. We discuss how her novel’s sisters represent two sides of motherhood, when she realised she was writing in a way that wasn’t working for her and creating a divisive ending. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Cuckoo Sister: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09YTJ48YQFollow Alison on Twitter: @AlisonStockhamhttps://linktr.ee/alisonstockhamauthorFollow 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.