In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Stacey Thomas about her historical novel The Revels. We discuss adding a touch of fantasy to historical fiction, her advice for making a historical setting feel lived in and what happens when other books come out that sound similar to yours? Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Revels: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008566654Follow Stacey: @Staceyv_ThomasStacey's Instagram, for posts on her journeyFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Mira V Shah about her psychological suspense novel Her. We discuss subverting stereotypes of British Asian women in fiction, how she added pace to her novel and after Mira’s blog on the realities of being a debut gained traction online, she talks about how to manage expectations and look after yourself. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Her: Follow Mira: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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Lynsey May about her contemporary novel Weak Teeth. We discuss why Lynsey wanted to write about teeth, how her inspiration began with just one striking sentence and why she chose to write an open ending. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Weak Teeth: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781846976308Follow Lynsey: @LynseyMayFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Rajasree Variyar about her contemporary novel The Daughters of Madurai. We discuss how she was inspired by a shocking news story about infanticide which she remembered from her childhood, why her intense research trip to India made her complex characters more authentic, and finding a way to give agency to historically and culturally oppressed female characters. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Daughters of Madurai: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781398707269Follow Rajasree: @Raji_WarriorFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Jenny Mustard about her contemporary novel Okay Days. This is a really interesting episode because I asked Jenny if she thinks her large following had any impact on her sales and we talk a lot about social media and whether writers should worry about the size of their following. We also discuss how she wrote the first draft in eight weeks and how it took her a while to realise she was writing in the wrong genre at first.  Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Okay Days: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399713467Follow Jenny: @jenny_mustardhttps://www.youtube.com/@JennyMustardFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Claire Daverley about her contemporary novel Talking at Night. We discuss how the characters of her novel lived in her head for years before she found a way to put them on the page, why she made the contentious decision not to use speech marks and why this novel was third time lucky in getting an agent. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Talking at Night: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780241604830Follow Claire: @ClaireDaverleyFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Sarah Jost about her contemporary novel One Last Chance. We discuss writing as a non-native speaker, the challenges of writing a time loop love story and how Sarah tries to practise what she calls “writers’ mindfulness” to cope with the challenges of being published. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy One Last Chance: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780349431536Follow Sarah: @swissSarahUKFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Alex Hay about his historical novel The Housekeepers. We discuss creating an ensemble cast of characters, how it took a clear idea and a story that felt fun and more “him” to attract an agent and how this novel turned him into a mega planner. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Housekeepers: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781472299338Follow Alex: @AlexHayBooksFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Jenna Clake about her literary novel Disturbance. We discuss using witchcraft to write about female agency, the challenges of novel writing vs poetry and how Jenna Whatsapps herself notes on the go to keep her ideas alive. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Disturbance: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781398712072Follow Jenna: @jennaclakeFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Margaret Meyer about her historical novel The Witching Tide. We discuss why she was inspired by women who had been wiped from the history books, writing a non-verbal character and how working in male prisons taught her the power of story. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Witching Tide: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399605854Follow Margaret: @Margaret_MeyerFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Pim Wangtechawat about her literary novel The Moon Represents My Heart. We discuss how she set up the rules for time travel in her novel, the challenges of writing in her second language and what it’s like when your book’s optioned by Hollywood star Gemma Chan. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Moon Represents My Heart: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780861544684Follow Pim: @PimsupaWhttps://pimwangtechawat.netFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Jo Leevers about her commercial novel Tell Me How This Ends. In this episode we discuss how personal loss inspired her story, why adding a mystery element gave the book momentum and why asking questions during the publishing process is important. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Tell Me How This Ends: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781662506383Follow Jo on Twitter: @JoLeevershttps://linktr.ee/joleeversFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow about her literary novel All the Little Bird-Hearts. In this episode we discuss writing from the perspective of an autistic woman as an autistic author; how she left school without qualifications before studying for a PhD in later life; and her advice for neurodiverse authors navigating the publishing industry. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy All the Little Bird-Hearts: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781472288004Follow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Krystle Zara Appiah about her contemporary novel Rootless. In this episode we discuss writing to break stigmas about Black women’s mental health, how Rootless started life as a NaNoWriMo novel and how it felt to lose 60,000 words! Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Rootless: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008528836Follow Krystle on Twitter: @krystlezaraFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Rachel Dawson about her historical novel Neon Roses. In this episode we discuss showcasing Wales in her proudly Welsh book, her ambition to write an empowering and empowered queer book and how lesbian punk photography informed the creation of her love interest. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Neon Roses: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399801928Follow Rachel on Twitter: @RachelCDawsonhttps://racheldawson.cymruFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Soula Emmanuel about her literary novel, Wild Geese. In this episode we discuss her subversion of an Irish emigrant novel, her goal to write a beautiful book and why she likes to experiment and try things out early on in a draft. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Wild Geese: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781804440148https://soulaemmanuel.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Isabelle Schuler about her historical novel Lady MacBethad. In this episode we discuss the themes of gender and ambition that inspired her novel, how she turned a 60 minute pilot episode script and TV Bible into a book and what it’s like to be confronted by bad reviews.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Lady MacBethad: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781526647252Follow Isabelle on Twitter: @BelleSchulerFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Stephen Buoro about his literary novel The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa. In this episode we discuss the wonderful moment a powerful voice came to Stephen and he reached for his Blackberry to write it all down, how that opening passage is still the same in his published novel, and how his Booker Prize scholarship transformed his writing career. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781526637994Follow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Kara Gnodde about her contemporary novel The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything.  In this episode we discuss how fragments of inspiration came to her like pieces of a puzzle, why she struggled with the structure of her novel and the importance of enjoying every win whilst keeping your expectations in check during publication. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781529096347Follow Kara on Twitter: @KaraGnoddehttps://www.karagnodde.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Alice Slater about her thriller Death of a Bookseller. In this episode we discuss how she created separate playlists, played movies in the background as she wrote and used different vocabulary lists to create the distinct narrative voices in her novel, why after years of tinkering she was able to finish the novel in a month and why she loves BookTok. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Death of a Bookseller: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781529385328Follow Alice on Twitter: @alicemjslaterhttps://alicemjslater.com/What Page Are You On? podcast - Writing Craft EpisodeFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Ryan Love about his commercial novel Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out. In this episode we discuss writing different coming out stories to capture a variety of experiences, how lockdown was a now or never moment to achieve his novel-writing dreams and how he wrote the first draft in 3 intense weeks. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008541200Follow Ryan on Twitter: @RyanJLFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Carole Hailey about her thriller The Silence Project. In this episode we discuss how frustration with politics inspired her theme of silence, why she’s glad her other novel didn’t sell and the strange way she found her agent, by not winning a writing competition.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Silence Project: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781838956066Follow Carole on Twitter: @CaroleAHaileyFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Jessica George about her contemporary novel Maame. In this episode we talk about writing a personal story about grief, how Maame was her actually her sixth novel and second attempt at getting a book deal and how she prefers to start writing her novel by hand.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Maame: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781529395570Follow Jess on Twitter: @JessGeorge_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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Charlene Carr about her commercial novel Hold My Girl. Technically Charlene is not a debut novelist as she’s written 10 self-published novels, but Hold My Girl is her first traditionally published novel and I was very keen to talk to her about the transition between self and traditional publishing and the differences she’s experienced. In this episode we discuss how her self-publishing career began, how and why she decided to get a traditional publishing deal, her compelling novel premise which was based on a real-life fear and how the first thing she wrote was the novel’s closing lines. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Hold My Girl: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781802793321Follow Charlene on Twitter: @charcarr1Follow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Eleanor Shearer about her historical novel River Sing Me Home. In this episode we discuss how she was inspired by the strength of Black women in her family, starting her research by interviewing families in the Caribbean to focus on the emotional thread of the novel and her strict writing routine of writing 500 words every day, literally every day.  Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy River Sing Me Home: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781472291363Follow Eleanor on Twitter: @eleanorbshearerFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ about her speculative novel Dazzling. In this episode we discuss how she used old forms of storytelling in this coming of age tale, layering deeper meaning within fiction and her writing routine which involves scrapping everything she’s written and starting again!  Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Dazzling: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781472289643Follow Chịkọdịlị on Twitter: @chemelumaduFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I'm talking to Amita Parikh about her historical novel The Circus Train. In this episode we discuss how her fascination in magic and love of science inspired The Circus Train, how raising the stakes in her novel transformed it into a manuscript agents were interested in and why she adopts a healthy approach in describing writing as something she does versus it becoming who she is entirely. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Circus Train: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780349994130Follow Amita on Twitter: @amitaparikhhttps://www.amitaparikh.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I'm talking to Jon Barton about his crime novel Dive. In this episode we discuss the challenges involved in turning his screenplay into a novel, how to approach writing an authentic voice from a woman’s perspective when you’re a male writer, and how to cope with the aspects of publishing that are out of your control. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Dive: https://amzn.eu/d/6Mnq6dvFollow Jon on Twitter: @jnbartonFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I'm talking to Emilia Hart about her historical novel Weyward. In this episode we discuss adding a touch of magic to an otherwise grounded story, using themes and motifs to link multiple timelines, and Emilia shares her top tips for querying your dream agent. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Weyward: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008499082Follow Emilia on Twitter: @EmiliaHartBooksFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Emma Denny about her romance novel One Night in Hartswood. This is a really fascinating episode, not only because Emma got her book deal by successfully pitching it to Mills and Boon for their Twitter based competition, but also because she doesn’t have an agent. We also discuss building a connection in a slow burn romance, how fanfiction helped her rediscover her love of writing and find a community and her tips for writing sex scenes. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy One Night in Hartswood: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008539191Follow Emma on Twitter: @Emma_denny_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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Fran Littlewood about her contemporary novel Amazing Grace Adams. In this episode we discuss how Fran wanted to counteract lazy stereotypes about middle aged women and tackle the peri menopause authentically, her method of keeping chapters interesting by “throwing a bomb into the room” and how her first two novels lacked that irresistible hook to attract editors. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Amazing Grace Adams: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780241548516Follow Fran on Twitter: @_franlittlewoodFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Jyoti Patel about her contemporary novel The Things That We Lost. In this episode we talk about how Jyoti’s Merky Books prize win lead to publication, the importance of taking yourself seriously as a writer and how small tweaks to dialogue and using slang gave authenticity to her teenage protagonist. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Things That We Lost: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781529186338Follow Jyoti on Twitter: @Jyoti__Patelhttps://linktr.ee/jyotisbooksFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Georgina Moore about her contemporary novel The Garnett Girls. Georgina speaks about what it’s like to be on the other side of book publicity and how authors can best support their publishing team. And also, why writing dialogue was the aspect she found hardest. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Garnett Girls: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008506339Follow Georgina on Twitter: @PublicityBookshttps://www.georginamoore.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Anindita Ghose about her contemporary novel The Illuminated. The Illuminated was published in India in 2021 but Head of Zeus acquired it for publication in 2023. So of course, I wanted to hear how that happened. We also discuss, the difficulty of moving past a very polished, beloved first chapter, a brilliant technique involving the senses which Anindita employed to make her characters’ chapters distinct and an amazing story about being bold and brave as a debut author – and contacting your writing heroes! Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Illuminated: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781803289779Follow Anindita on Twitter: @aninditaghosehttps://aninditaghose.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Victoria MacKenzie about her historical novel For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy on My Little Pain. Having heard about Victoria’s achievements, you’d assume getting an agent and a book deal would be easy but in this episode, Victoria explains why it wasn’t that straight-forward. We also discuss how she was inspired by a woman from history who we know little about and how writing the novel she wanted to read allowed it to pour out of her in a matter of months. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy on My Little Pain: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781526647887Follow Victoria on Twitter: @forthygreatpainhttps://victoriamackenzie.net/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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Cailean Steed about their thriller Home. In this episode we discuss creating a fictional cult, how an agency open day led to Cailean signing with an agent and how they beat the difficulties of trying to write something completely new. But first, here’s Cailean with an excerpt from Home.Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Home: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781526641663Follow Cailean Steed on Twitter: @CaileanSteedhttps://www.caileansteed.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season 2 of Confessions of a Debut Novelist! This week, I’m talking to Heather Darwent about her psychological suspense novel The Things We Do To Our Friends, which has just become a Sunday Times Bestseller. In this episode we discuss what it’s like to be a debut novelist with the added pressure of your book being compared to big, famous novels, her long journey to find an agent including rewriting and resubmitting, and why patience is key during the publication process. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Things We Do To Our Friends: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780241538821Follow Heather on Twitter: @HeatherDarwentFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Louise Finch about her YA novel, The Eternal Return of Clara Hart. This is the last episode of season one of the podcast before a new season next week and what a book to end it on. Louise’s book is a really great novel tackling tough subject matter. We talk about writing about toxic masculinity and rape culture for teens, looking after yourself when writing about difficult subjects and using a really fun time loop structure!Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy The Eternal Return of Clara Hart: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781915071026Follow Louise Finch on Twitter: @LouFinchWriteshttps://louisefinch.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Ella King about her literary novel Bad Fruit. In this episode we discuss how boredom during chemotherapy inspired Ella to write again, exploring toxic family relationships and generational trauma, and how competition success gave her confidence to query agents. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*Buy Bad Fruit: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008476557Follow Ella on Twitter: @TheRealEllaKingFollow 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.