Confessions of a Debut Novelist

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Elizabeth O'Connor about her literary novel Whale Fall. We discuss how she created a fictitious island community, her technique for overcoming problems with plotting and how she signed with an agent before she even had an idea for a novel. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy Whale Fall: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035024728 Follow Elizabeth: @Elizaroconnor Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Emily Howes about her historical novel The Painter’s Daughters. We discuss discuss using present tense in historical fiction, trying to sustain tension in the saggy middle of a novel and what theatre class taught her about writing through the body. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy The Painter’s Daughters: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399610780 Follow Emily: @EmilyHthinks http://www.emily-howes.com Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Olivia Ford about her commercial novel Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame. We discuss using real people as a starting point for creating characters, her tips for finishing a novel when you work full time and the challenge of writing an uplifting novel and including sadder and serious subjects as well. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780241638514 Follow Olivia: @_OliviaFord Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Kristen Perrin about her mystery novel How to Solve Your Own Murder. We discuss playing fair with your readers when writing crime, how she used flash fiction character sketches to help flesh out her side characters and her surprise but successful move to withdraw her full manuscript from interested agents and resubmit after feedback. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy How to Solve Your Own Murder: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781529430059 Follow Kristen: @Kristen_Perrin https://www.kristenperrin.com Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 McIlroy about her psychological suspense novel The Glass Woman. We discuss her world-building in a novel where the technology is slightly more advanced than our own, writing about AI before it had hit public consciousness and the impact this had on trying to sell the novel and the challenge of switching between the private writer and the public author. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy The Glass Woman: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781915523044 Follow Alice: @alice_mcilroy Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Musih Tedji Xaviere about her contemporary novel These Letters End in Tears. We discuss how she was inspired by a courageous gay couple in Cameroon who stayed together despite the laws forbidding their love, the challenges of using second person and why she made the tough decision to relocate for her safety and career. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy These Letters End in Tears: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781914344381 Follow Xaviere: @MusihX Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Miranda Pountney about her contemporary novel How to Be Somebody Else. We discuss her “un”-coming of age story, why poetry encouraged her to be experimental and why it’s important not to rush the writing process. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy How to Be Somebody Else: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781914344381 Follow Miranda: @mirandapountney Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Toby Lloyd about his literary novel Fervour. We discuss we discuss taking inspiration from Bible stories, how he tried to represent a variety of Jewish experiences and why having your work critiqued is one of the most valuable things you can do when starting out. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy Fervour: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399724616 Follow Toby: @TobyLloyd19 Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Jodie Matthews about her contemporary novel Meet Me at the Surface. We discuss writing the weird and creepy but keeping the world grounded, researching the Cornish folklore of where Jodie grew up and why she loves Bookstagram and thinks finding a community of readers is just as important as a writing community. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy Meet Me at the Surface: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008585006 Follow Jodie: @JodieRMatthews Jodie's Instagram: @jodierhianmatthews Heather Parry's Substack mentioned: https://open.substack.com/pub/heatherparry/p/things-have-to-happen Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Madeleine Grey about her literary novel Green Dot. We discuss writing the "other woman" in an affair with empathy, how Madeleine's work as a critic gave her an understanding of how novels work and the importance of keeping note of overheard conversations and funny observations. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy Green Dot: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399612760 Follow Madeleine: @gray_madeleine_ Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Hinds about her historical novel The Knowing. We discuss giving her female characters agency in a Victorian era, her brilliant tips to find an agent, how she uses fanfiction as a playground and the long and difficult submission process she went through. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy The Knowing: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781915798138 Follow Emma:@EmmaLouisePH https://emmahinds.com Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Jennie Godfrey about her commercial novel The List of Suspicious Things. We discuss what it means to be a super lead and how it feels emotionally to know your book is primed for success but also what it's like to carry that pressure on your shoulders, how Jennie developed her characters when she realised they were a bit 2D and how to be mindful when you're writing about real life historical events in our recent past. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy The List of Suspicious Things: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781529153293 Follow Jennie: @jennieg_author Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Marsh about her historical novel A Sign of Her Own. We discuss how her novel was inspired by a part of history that’s not well known, putting a deaf woman at the heart of her novel and her career-changing prize success. TRANSCRIPT: download Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy A Sign of Her Own: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035401611 Follow Sarah: @SarahCMarsh Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Marsh about her historical novel A Sign of Her Own. We discuss how her novel was inspired by a part of history that’s not well known, putting a deaf woman at the heart of her novel and her career-changing prize success. TRANSCRIPT: download Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy A Sign of Her Own: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035401611 Follow Sarah: @SarahCMarsh Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Bull about her crime novel Miss Austen Investigates. We discuss why Jane Austen makes the perfect detective, how Jessica knew the time was right to query her dream agent and what it's like writing a novel that went onto sell in 18 territories. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy Miss Austen Investigates: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780241642085 Follow Jessica: @NovelistJessica Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Georgia Summers about her fantasy novel The City of Stardust. We discuss how she was inspired by stories from her childhood describing portals to another world, using real places to inspire her fantastical world building and her insight as a former editor and whether she writes with commercial decisions in mind. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy The City of Stardust: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399714204 Follow Georgia: @ge_summers Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Fiona Williams about her contemporary novel The House of Broken Bricks. We discuss discuss using nature writing to reflect the story's mood, reading work aloud to find rhythm and melody in a sentence, and how exposing the publishing process is for introverts. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy The House of Broken Bricks: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780571379552 Follow Fiona: @FeeWilliams75 Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Hester Musson about her historical novel The Beholders. We discuss the challenges of writing in a diary form, how to transform one dimensional characters and the crushing story of how Hester thought she was going to be published with a different novel, but it sold only to Italian publishers, then was dropped completely. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy The Beholders: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008558611 Follow Hester: @HesterMusson Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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 Lottie Hazell about her contemporary novel Piglet. We discuss how Lottie does what she calls “playful method writing” by cooking along with Piglet to connect with her character’s headspace, why food is a great way for writers to explore characters and after working in marketing at a publisher, her advice for new authors. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy Piglet: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780857529565 Follow Lottie: @LDHazell https://www.lottiehazell.co.uk Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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-Claire Wilson about her commercial novel This Child of Mine. We discuss why she uses first person perspective to help readers live through her character’s light and dark, how she chose to transform her novel into a commercial style and building a writing platform before she had a book deal. Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop* Buy This Child of Mine: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008608088 Follow Emma-Claire: @ECWilsonWriter https://linktr.ee/ecwilsonauthor Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms chloetimms.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.