WRITERS ABROAD MAGAZINE : THE THIRD SPACE
In Behind Closed Doors you chose a potentially controversial and sensitive subject , psychological control and abuse . How did you tackle the research for this ? When I set out to write Behind Closed Doors , I had no idea it would turn out the way it did . When I realised that it was going to be much darker than I intended , I researched cases of women who had been kept prisoner – the internet is a great source of information . Some were so harrowing that I had nightmares . One woman was kept in a pit – not a room , just a hole dug under the house - and her captor would throw food down to her , as if she were an animal . The one thing that touches me are the messages I receive from woman who have been through something similar to Grace , and who are grateful that Behind Closed Doors has helped bring the subject of psychological abuse into the open . With psychological abuse there are no physical signs which means it is much harder to detect – and so much more difficult to talk about .
Do you plan everything before writing or does your story unfold as you write ? I ’ m not a planner at all . I usually know the beginning and the end , and then the rest is a journey , often led by my characters . It ’ s like going on an adventure !
Does living abroad create barriers to getting agents and publishers in your opinion ? No , I don ’ t think so . In these days of email , agents and publishers wouldn ’ t really know someone lives abroad unless they are told in a covering letter . And I think it would only add something to a writer ’ s profile , not detract from it .
We would love to hear more about your new book , ' Bring Me Back .' Bring Me Back is another psychological thriller and comes out in March 2018 . It tells the story of Finn , whose girlfriend disappeared twelve years before . He told the police the truth about the night she disappeared - just not quite the whole truth . Now he ’ s moved on - but his past won ’ t stay buried .
Do you have a set place to write in or do you write wherever you are ? I recently bought myself a little writing desk and a comfortable chair , which I ’ ve set up in front of a window , so that ’ s now my favourite place to write . But I can write anywhere – on a plane , a train , even with lots of noise going on around me .
Most writers don ' t enjoy the self-promotion aspect of their job . How about you ? It ’ s something I really don ’ t enjoy . I would rather not do any self-promotion , although I will tweet that I have a new book coming out . I ’ ll also re-tweet any reviews or comments about my books . But I draw the line at asking people to buy them . If you could invite any famous people to a dinner party , who would you invite ? This is such a difficult question and my answer changes every time I ’ m asked it ! My only constant is Oscar Wilde , so I ’ m going to pretend you said dead or alive and choose a tête-à-tête with him .
10 | NOVEMBER 2017