Confessions of a Debut Novelist

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Tom Newlands about his contemporary novel Only Here, Only Now. We discuss how homesickness in lockdown inspired this novel, why he wanted to explore the intersection between neurodivergence and poverty during adolescence and why Tom thinks avoiding all advice was the reason he finished his book.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Only Here, Only Now: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399607896Follow Tom: tomnewlands_https://www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/breakthrough-writers-programmehttps://www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/breakthrough-mentoring-programmeFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk (**Discoveries Prize 2025** https://www.womensprize.com/writers/discoveries/)*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 Genevieve Wheeler about her contemporary novel Adelaide. We discuss turning a therapeutic journaling exercise into fiction, putting a mental health diagnosis authentically on the page and writing about a toxic relationship from both sides. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Adelaide: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035912742Follow Genevieve: @geewheelerhttps://genevieveewheeler.comFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk (**Discoveries Prize 2025** https://www.womensprize.com/writers/discoveries/)*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 Sarah Chamberlain about her romance novel The Slowest Burn. We discuss writing an opposites attract love story, why she used dual perspectives to help give both characters growth in the romance and why, if you like writing dialogue you should try writing first drafts like screenplays.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Slowest Burn: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781408730195Follow Sarah: @sarahchamberlainauthorFollow 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 Nikkitha Bakshani about her contemporary novel Ghost Chilli. We discuss using life writing and repressed memories to inspire fiction, the difficult editing choice she made to delete an entire timeline and how she used astrology to deepen her characterisation.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Ghost Chilli: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780349727509Follow Nikkitha: @nikkitahaFollow 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 Tawseef Khan about his contemporary novel Determination. We discuss how his personal experience working as an immigration solicitor inspired this novel, why he chose to embrace similarities between him and his protagonist to make her come alive and his advice to see characters as a Rubik’s Cube. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Determination: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781804440902Follow Tawseef: @itsmetawseefFollow 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 David Goodman about his thriller A Reluctant Spy. We discuss why our huge digital footprints inspired his premise of spies borrowing civilian lives, why he loves writing stories with multiple POVs and how after years of rejection, David took one last shot to impress an editor after pitching the novel and writing 15k words over just a few days. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy A Reluctant Spy: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035416011Follow David: @WordsByGoodmanhttps://www.davidgoodman.netAeon Timeline: https://www.aeontimeline.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 Lucy Jane Wood about her fantasy novel Rewitched. We discuss how 90s witchy nostalgia inspired her story, her unusual route to publication where she got an editor before an agent and how her YouTube career has helped her become a bestseller.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Rewitched: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035045457Follow Lucy: @LucyJaneWoodyoutube.com/c/LucyWoodFollow 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 Oisín McKenna about his contemporary novel Evenings and Weekends. We discuss how starting with one character and writing about the most important people in their lives gave Oisín his cast of characters, creating propulsive secrets and storylines to engage the reader and the challenge of being a debut author and receiving reviews. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Evenings and Weekends: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008604172Follow Oisín: @ois_mckFollow 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 Rachel Blackmore about her historical novel Costanza. We discuss how to create accessible historical dialogue, why she swears by the 8-act structure and why age should never put you off writing a novel. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Costanza: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780349131092Follow Rachel: @rjblackmore1Story Structure (8-Acts) book Rachel mentions: https://amzn.eu/d/7ih4PvFFollow 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.