Confessions of a Debut Novelist

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Silvia Saunders about her contemporary Homesick. In this episode we discuss, why she wanted to write about male mental health, how writing comedy comes from putting unlikely characters together and what kept her going after 10 years of querying.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Homesick: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008667016Follow Silvia: @silvsaundersFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk 

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Emma Cowing about her historical novel The Show Woman. In this episode we discuss, how the novel was inspired by her incredible family history, writing about the hidden history of women in the circus and how she wrote this novel in just 7 weeks. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Show Woman: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399737395Follow Emma @emmacowinghttps://emmacowing.comFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk 

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Krystelle Bamford about her literary novel Idle Grounds. In this episode we discuss, how the book started with a Greek chorus of voices, how she found moments of dread that work to be sinister for her young protagonists but also pay off for adult readers and why she recommends going with an agent at the start of their career.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Idle Grounds: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781529154580Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk 

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Danielle Giles about her historical novel Mere. In this episode we discuss, why she describes writing historical fictional as creating a translation of the past, what she loves about the horror genre and what she learnt from 5 years of writing a novel that didn’t sell.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Mere: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035051229Follow Danielle: @daniellegileswriterFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk 

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Jo Morey about her psychological suspense novel The Night Lagoon. In this episode we discuss, why her title changed in the UK, how her main character’s hearing loss adds to the novel’s tension and Jo’s strategy for getting an agent, including keeping an on-going query letter. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Night Lagoon: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008713898Follow Jo: @jomoreystoryFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk 

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Mel Pennant about her crime novel A Murder for Miss Hortense. We discuss how Miss Hortense was inspired by Mel’s grandmother and golden age mysteries, the importance of balancing lightness and humour within the tragedy and resilience of the Black British community and what it’s like to write a novel when you’re used to writing plays. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy A Murder for Miss Hortense: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399814379Follow Mel: @mel_pennantFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk 

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Barnaby Martin about his dystopian novel The Quiet. We discuss how his writing career began with video essays on YouTube, his tips for taking history and making it more extreme when writing dystopia and why he believes you need to know the theme of the novel before you start writing. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Quiet: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035051489Follow Barnaby: @BarnabyMartinListening In: https://www.youtube.com/@ListeningInFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk 

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Lisa Smith about her historical novel Jamaica Road. We discuss how the idea for this novel came from a creative writing exercise and voices that wouldn't leave her alone, using real newspaper extracts to make the political backdrop come alive and how a cancer diagnosis and a competition inspired her to take her writing seriously.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Jamaica Road: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780349703572Follow Lisa: @lisa4884smithhttps://www.lisa-smith.co.ukFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk 

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Seán Hewitt about his literary novel Open, Heaven. We discuss having to transport himself back to the intensity and naivety of teenage years, using 1st person perspective to explore what love feels like when you don't know whether the other person feels the same and why you should frame a query letter as you giving agents an amazing opportunity.  Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Open, Heaven: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781787335196Follow Seán: @seanehewitthttps://www.seanehewitt.comFollow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimmsBuy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimmschloetimms.co.uk