I'm a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling thriller author

[Bestseller101]

• ask me anything!

Congratulations. Was it very expensive to adjust the door sizes in your sumptuous apartment/house.

How many books have you written?

How did you start out?

@Theasparrot what a shame you felt the need to say that.

@breathequietly 10.

Do you plan everything out or are you more of a wing it type of author?

If the first how long does the planning stage take vs writing it all down?

@Xmasbaby11 I queried agents on the so-called slush pile. Didn't know a soul. Got signed by an agent on my second novel.

@SaltburnIsNotAboutTheBeach I do plan but I also do multiple drafts. I think a lot while finishing up the previous novel, then I spend about a month or two on a draft plan. Then I write for a year.

Are you considered a best-selling author in the UK or Australia or anywhere else in the world, or only the USA?

@JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue the US, UK and Canada.

That’s much longer than I imagined!

Thank you for answering.

Oooh as an avid reader, I’m intrigued! I’m part of a book club - please can you put book club type questions at the end of your books, some do and some don’t! Also - where do you get your inspiration from?

I thought that my comment was quite funny

You must be so proud of yourself 😃

Did you like writing as a child/youngster?

I admire you. Well done. I wish you continued success. 👏🏼

How exciting!! Well done OP. Have always wanted to ask this - so many blurbs promoting books feature quotes from fellow authors. How does this happen, is there back scratching. PS am hoping you are Marián Keyes 🥰

How do you stop yourself doubting the value of the story you are working on as you are going? This is my biggest downfall as an aspiring yet failed writer

@Claysta I will pass that on as I do get a lot of messages about that on social media! As for inspiration... the news. Life. Quirky stories. What if questions.

@DelightfulDoris definitely

@MuchasSmoochas it's genuine. Authors (me, anyway) quote for books they enjoy and books they are happy for their readership to read based off their recommendation. I think authors who are friends are more likely to blurb a pal, but it's still a public act.

Jo Jo Moyes? 💃

@LordBummenbachsMagnificentBalls I could write an essay on this, but in short it's about figuring out whether the self doubt is just that, in which case I just write it as fast as I can and then edit later, or if the doubt is because there is an issue with the book, in which case I stop and think.

It's thrillers, so not MK or JM.

What genre do you write in? I’m assuming commercial fiction.

Have you had the same agent throughout, or have you moved agency?