I'm a Sunday Times bestselling thriller author

[BestsellingAuthor101]

I saw the other thread by the author and found it interesting. Thought I'd throw my hat in the ring here.

I'm published by Penguin Random House. I've published between 6 and 10 Sunday Times bestsellers (vague due to outing - I can be much more candid on my answers if I am not outed). I'm a woman. They're psychological thrillers. I am a full-time writer. I quit a professional career when my books sold well, and I now live off the writing income. AMA.

I really want to know who you are so I can see if the books are on BorrowBox, I'm always looking for a good thriller 😂 I love finding an author I like and trusting them to read all their books.

I am currently on the second draft of a book I've been writing on and off for years. Mostly this is for fun and to relax but I did toy with the idea of self publishing it or approaching a publisher in the future. Have you any advice for a newbie who may be thinking of trying to get published?

What was your professional job beforehand?

Congratulations on your success :)

Do you write under your own name? If so how do friends and family react to that? If not, do they know it's you?

How old were you when you started writing properly?

Do you think creative writing courses are worth it?

Do you recommend any good 'how to write' books eg Stephen King's on writing always gets good reviews.

Do you have writer friends?

How do you sort mortgage/ pension/ sick pay with an insecure self employed income?

How much time do you spend reading?

Do you get lonely?

Do you writer in cafes or at home? If at home do you have a dedicated writing room?

If you used to be an ahp I think I know who you are as coincidentally I am reading one your books right now. If you are who I think you are, I don't read the description on the back anymore as I know I will like your book regardless to what it is about

Have you met Lisa Jewell? If so, do you share ideas?

Is there any chance I could have stayed in your house?

Do you find that your writing is influenced by whatever you're currently reading or watching and if not, how do you maintain a strong independent "author's voice"?

Did you use to be a damsel? If so, I won’t put you, just interested in if you are who I think you are!

@senorafridgidaire

Do you have an English Lang/Lit degree or similar? I have ideas for books but I always think I would struggle a bit with having a good enough grasp of grammar, sentence construction, plot mechanics etc.

Nope! No qualifications necessary.

@Cheeseandlobster

I would love to do what you do. I actually started a psychological thriller last year but didn't have the time to work on it often enough.

However I am about to go part time at work so am hoping to work more reliably on it.

My questions are:

Do you set yourself targets. So for example a chapter a day or a certain amount of words?

I read prologues are a REALLY bad idea. My book has a relatively long prologue. What do you think about them?

How did you begin your writing career? Did you bite the bullet and leave your job or did you initially fit writing into your previous life?

Lastly which authors do you really rate and / or read yourself? I find there are some fabulous but really underrated authors out there. Camilla Wray for example. Her books are amazing but I never really see people talking about her books which is a huge shame.

1. 2000 words a day
2. Not at all, of course it depends but plenty of thrillers have them. You just need to keep posing questions to your reader and answering enough of them to keep them reading but not so many that they're sated!
3. I wrote alongside a day job for three years
4. No comment because people will try to guess who I've left out!

@Neolara

"You get paid in three instalments: upon signing a contract for two books (so you get one third of the entire amount), upon delivering a book (one sixth of the entire amount), and publication of that book (another sixth). And then delivery and publication of the second book make up the final two sixths."

Do you also get a percentage of the sales from the books? So if a book sells brilliantly you get more than if it doesn't sell so well.

Yes, once you have earned out your advance.

@ShirleyPhallus

Are you BA Paris?

Behind Closed Doors is truly one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Nope

@Claudethecat

Have you ever written in any other genres?

No, only thrillers so far

@OhLookMoreShit

I would love to be a novelist. Do you think it's something you can learn or sharpen your craft on, or is either a talent or it's not. Any tips?

You can definitely learn but I think innate talent makes that easier. I'd compare it more to a craft than say, sport. I think most people could learn to write a good book. Perhaps not a great one.

@Lavendersquare

You have mentioned your two book deal which sounds great, but I've always wondered if authors are like songwriters and get royalties (or similar) on top?

So if you write a blockbuster that sells millions of copies do you get extra £'s for each one sold over a certain number?

Yes definitely.

@Anoisagusaris

Do you really believe that? There are a lots of books that have had commercial success but are at best mediocre. Financing of promotion, contacts in the media and other factors can lead to large volumes of sales but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the book is a brilliant piece of writing.

I don't say that all commercial successes are good, or that all books that are bad won't be commercial successes. But I think most HUGE successes appeal to a vast slice of the general population, which is what I like to do: write relatable fiction. Of course some bestsellers are purchased. But I think the ones that truly take off are because lots of people want to pick them up - and recommend them.

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross

Who’s your favourite writer?

Are there writers that have inspired you?

Again, no comment. As there is already a lot of speculation here about identities.

@rookiemere

How long did it take to write your first novel and is that the one that got published? How did you get an agent?

About 11 months and no, I wrote many that got rejected by agents

@Flubber88

I am currently on the second draft of a book I've been writing on and off for years. Mostly this is for fun and to relax but I did toy with the idea of self publishing it or approaching a publisher in the future. Have you any advice for a newbie who may be thinking of trying to get published?

Finish the book. A hard truth, but the most important one. Everything goes from there

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

Do you write under your own name? If so how do friends and family react to that? If not, do they know it's you?

Yep, and I wouldn't do so again! It's a little weird. Lots of people assume you're rich. Lots of people assume you earn nothing, too. You walk into family parties and their friends queue up to pitch their books to you. It's a weird life. But mostly a good one.

@felulageller

Do you think creative writing courses are worth it?

Do you recommend any good 'how to write' books eg Stephen King's on writing always gets good reviews.

Do you have writer friends?

How do you sort mortgage/ pension/ sick pay with an insecure self employed income?

How much time do you spend reading?

Do you get lonely?

Do you writer in cafes or at home? If at home do you have a dedicated writing room?

Do you think creative writing courses are worth it?

I think they can help hone a book and get an intro to an agent but totally not necessary: I've never done one

Do you recommend any good 'how to write' books eg Stephen King's on writing always gets good reviews.

• I've never read any!

Do you have writer friends?

• yes, tonnes. It's a small world.

How do you sort mortgage/ pension/ sick pay with an insecure self employed income?

• I pay my mortgage with my earnings. I pay myself the same each month whether I get sick or not. I pay some of my earnings into a pension.

How much time do you spend reading?

• half an hour a night in bed?

Do you get lonely?

• not in covid times!

Do you writer in cafes or at home? If at home do you have a dedicated writing room?

• I write all over the place, yes, trains, cafes, the gym, the kitchen counter, and an office too.

@Cheeseandlobster

If you used to be an ahp I think I know who you are as coincidentally I am reading one your books right now. If you are who I think you are, I don't read the description on the back anymore as I know I will like your book regardless to what it is about

I don't know what an AHP is so I don't think I was one!