Confessions of a Debut Novelist

After four years and over 200 episodes, Confessions is coming to an end! I want to thank all the debut novelists for coming on and being so honest and frank about their experiences and sharing such inspirational wisdom about their writing process. And a massive thank you to all of you lot for listening! Please keep supporting debut authors.

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In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Autumn Woods about her romance novel Nightshade. In this episode we discuss how to tackle a hate to love dynamic, how she starts with a wish list and builds the story from there, and the incredible story behind how her novel went from being rejected by agents, to a self published number one Amazon bestseller then to a traditionally published deal.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Nightshade: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035084005

Follow Autumn: @autumnwoods.author

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Thomas R. Weaver about his sci-fi novel Artificial Wisdom. In this episode we discuss how his career in tech helped him speculate on the future of everyday technology, his advice for keeping motivation and momentum going and how Andy Weir who wrote The Martian inspired Thomas to get his book deal. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Artificial Wisdom: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780857507846

Follow Thomas: @tom_weaver

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

B...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Kerry Downes about his contemporary novel That Time Everything Was On Fire. In this episode we discuss why she wrote to feel seen and control the narrative when she was going through IVF, how to make both characters in a dual narrative equally important and to navigate restructuring a novel when you're working with a timeline constraint.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy That Time Everything Was On Fire: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008665746

Follow Kerry: @kerrydownes

Hi everyone it's Chloe! Just a quick podcast to let you know I haven't disappeared off the face of the Earth! As most of you know I'm a one woman band - all the recording, editing and publishing is done by me. Some of you also know I've taken on some extra work lately including a big and important writing project which has had very tight deadlines and has meant during the podcast at the same time is practically impossible. I'm planning to bring it back on a regular basis very soon but in the meantime thank you for your...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Gurnaik Johal about his literary novel Saraswati. In this episode we discuss how to write a climate change novel without lecturing the reader, transitioning from short stories to a hyperglobal novel with big scope and the challenge of writing seven distinct protagonists. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Saraswati: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781788169486

Follow Gurnaik: @gurnaikjohal

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://lin...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Charlotte Paradise about her contemporary novel Overspill. In this episode we discuss, navigating intimacy alongside trauma, using personality types to find conflict between characters and her advice for chronically ill and disabled writers. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Overspill: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008559984

Follow Charlotte: @charlotteparadise

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms

chloetimms.co.uk 

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Jasmine Burke about her romance novel Quarter-Love Crisis. In this episode we discuss, how her lifestyle blog got her discovered by an agent, prolonging the will they won't they in a romance and her tricks for fitting writing in around work.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Quarter-Love Crisis: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781408749692

Follow Jasmine: @jaswritesstuff

https://jaswritesstuff.com

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's deb...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Hattie Williams about her contemporary novel Bitter Sweet. In this episode we discuss, how she wrote her novel in 7 weeks, how she tried to write fiction like it's a memoir and why you should pick the novel idea with the best ending.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Bitter Sweet: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781398722804

Follow Hattie: @hattiewilliamswrites

https://www.hattiewilliams.com

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut nov...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Aisling Rawle about her literary novel The Compound. In this episode we discuss, discuss the satire in her Love Island meets Lord of the Flies novel, building characters through dialogue and how TikTok helped her learn how to query. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy The Compound: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-compound/aisling-rawle/9780008710088

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms

chloetimms.co.uk 

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to William Rayfet Hunter about their contemporary novel Sunstruck. In this episode we discuss, creating the evocative atmosphere of a summer, the challenges of having a nameless narrator and why they had to scrap their ending. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Sunstruck: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781529919790

Follow William: @willhunterr

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms

chloetimms.co.uk 

Hoste...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Silvia Saunders about her contemporary Homesick. In this episode we discuss, why she wanted to write about male mental health, how writing comedy comes from putting unlikely characters together and what kept her going after 10 years of querying.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Homesick: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008667016

Follow Silvia: @silvsaunders

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms

chloetimms.co.uk...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Emma Cowing about her historical novel The Show Woman. In this episode we discuss, how the novel was inspired by her incredible family history, writing about the hidden history of women in the circus and how she wrote this novel in just 7 weeks. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy The Show Woman: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399737395

Follow Emma @emmacowing

https://emmacowing.com

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debu...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Krystelle Bamford about her literary novel Idle Grounds. In this episode we discuss, how the book started with a Greek chorus of voices, how she found moments of dread that work to be sinister for her young protagonists but also pay off for adult readers and why she recommends going with an agent at the start of their career.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Idle Grounds: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781529154580

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clo...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Danielle Giles about her historical novel Mere. In this episode we discuss, why she describes writing historical fictional as creating a translation of the past, what she loves about the horror genre and what she learnt from 5 years of writing a novel that didn’t sell.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Mere: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035051229

Follow Danielle: @daniellegileswriter

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut novel...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Jo Morey about her psychological suspense novel The Night Lagoon. In this episode we discuss, why her title changed in the UK, how her main character’s hearing loss adds to the novel’s tension and Jo’s strategy for getting an agent, including keeping an on-going query letter. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy The Night Lagoon: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008713898

Follow Jo: @jomoreystory

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Mel Pennant about her crime novel A Murder for Miss Hortense. We discuss how Miss Hortense was inspired by Mel’s grandmother and golden age mysteries, the importance of balancing lightness and humour within the tragedy and resilience of the Black British community and what it’s like to write a novel when you’re used to writing plays. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy A Murder for Miss Hortense: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399814379

Follow Mel: @mel_pennant...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Barnaby Martin about his dystopian novel The Quiet. We discuss how his writing career began with video essays on YouTube, his tips for taking history and making it more extreme when writing dystopia and why he believes you need to know the theme of the novel before you start writing. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy The Quiet: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035051489

Follow Barnaby: @BarnabyMartin

Listening In: https://www.youtube.com/@ListeningIn

Fol...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Lisa Smith about her historical novel Jamaica Road. We discuss how the idea for this novel came from a creative writing exercise and voices that wouldn't leave her alone, using real newspaper extracts to make the political backdrop come alive and how a cancer diagnosis and a competition inspired her to take her writing seriously.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Jamaica Road: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780349703572

Follow Lisa: @lisa4884smith

https...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Seán Hewitt about his literary novel Open, Heaven. We discuss having to transport himself back to the intensity and naivety of teenage years, using 1st person perspective to explore what love feels like when you don't know whether the other person feels the same and why you should frame a query letter as you giving agents an amazing opportunity.  

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Open, Heaven: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781787335196

Follow Seán: @seanehewitt

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In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin about her contemporary novel Ordinary Saints. We discuss how her inspiration came from a true story about a modern-day teenager being made into a saint, why she deleted her first 20k words and how entering a competition to give herself a deadline changed her life. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Ordinary Saints: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781786584236

Follow Niamh: @niamhsquared

https://www.niamhnimhaoileoin.com

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotim...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Claire Gleeson about her contemporary novel Show Me Where It Hurts. We discuss how she was inspired to write a story of survival after a shocking act of familicide, writing intense grief and high emotion in a restrained way, and how she does all her writing in snatched moments between work and parenting. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Show Me Where It Hurts: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399734721

Follow Claire: @clairegleeson_writer

https://www.clair...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Chris Bridges about his psychological suspense novel Sick to Death. We discuss how Chris subverted tropes of having a sick protagonist, why almost 60 rejections from agents inspired him to write a more personal story and how having MS impacts his writing. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy  Sick to Death: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008698140

Follow Chris: @chrisbridgeswriter

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloe...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Niloufar Lamakan about her romance novel Aged To Perfection. We discuss changing the narrative by putting women in their 60s in the spotlight and writing them truthfully, why as a complete novice how a diary form helped her find structure and her experience working with One More Chapter, a digital first publisher who accepts unagented submissions. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Aged to Perfection: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008685492

Follow Niloufar: @nlamakan

Follow Chloe...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Kate Kemp about her crime novel The Grapevine. We discuss why she used a murder to explore a range of women in a 1970s suburban community, the challenge of writing from a 12-year-old narrator and how using social media to learn about the publishing industry helped her take the plunge to take her writing seriously. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy The Grapevine: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399618977

Follow Kate: @kate.kemp.writer

Follow Chlo...

Hi everyone! Just to let you know Confessions of a Debut Novelist will be going on a short break while I recover from pneumonia. Thank you so much for the wonderful Jennie Godfrey for recording this announcement for me. I look forward to sharing the best new books and authors with you soon.

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...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Celia Silvani about her psychological suspense novel Baby Teeth. We discuss how her research helped her delve into the world of internet forums and cults, the challenge of writing an unbiased and empathetic approach to the radical beliefs of her characters and why you should never send out the first draft of your manuscript to agents. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Baby Teeth: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781398714410

Follow Celia: @celiasilvaniauthor

Follow Chloe on T...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Louise Hegarty about her contemporary novel Fair Play. We discuss how absorbing so many Poirot novels helped her get the voice right for her detective, why she wanted to explore grief using a murder mystery and a puzzle box structure, and how her published stories attracted an agent. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Fair Play: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035036134

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/c...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Katie Buckley about her literary novel Hero. We discuss how she defines autofiction and why she loves it, what to do when you don’t have an instinct for plot and why she believes you need to be emotionally ready before you start querying agents.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Hero: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035413072

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms

chloe...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Bianca Gillam about her romance novel Bad Publicity. We discuss how her experience working within the publishing industry inspired her enemies to lovers romance, why she had to spend a few months away from the novel to get the ending right and why she thinks every aspiring author should think about having a clear vision for their book in terms of the cover and marketing package. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Bad Publicity: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781526676443

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Sanam Mahloudji about her contemporary novel The Persians. We discuss how this novel started life as a short story until Sanam realised there was so much more to say, why she began writing to free herself when she was working as a lawyer and how she impressed an agent at a book event by asking an insightful question.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy The Persians: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008589042

Follow Sanam: @sanammahloudji

Fol...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Lucy Rose about her horror novel The Lamb. We discuss how her ADHD meant she had to find her own way to write without a routine, why film-making and working with a production designer has made her a better writer and because Lucy has created a whole brand around her novel using TikTok and Instagram I wanted to ask her advice about how to use social media to build a brand if you want to. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Bu...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Salma Ibrahim about her speculative novel Salutation Road.  We discuss how she explored coming of age and migration with a parallel world twist, the challenge of writing the same character from two alternate worlds and why despite several agent rejections she decided to keep the speculative element. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Salutation Road: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035044344

Follow Salma: @salma.s.ibrahim

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Sarah Handyside about her contemporary novel Instructions for Heartbreak. We discuss how her own heartbreak was the catalyst to write this book, why the device of including a handbook gave her a helpful way to structure the novel and how a longlisting in the Curtis Brown First Novel Award attracted her agent. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Instructions for Heartbreak: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781035032754

Follow Sarah: @sarahhandyside

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Holly Stars about her crime novel Murder in the Dressing Room. We discuss how she wanted to showcase a different side to the drag scene and the variety of talent on show; the importance of having a non-binary main character and Holly’s experience of recording her own audiobook.  

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Murder in the Dressing Room: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780241683729

Follow Holly: @hollywstars

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy C...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Jenny Morris about her crime novel An Ethical Guide to Murder. We discuss setting the rules of her high concept crime novel with a fantasy twist, exploring the moral and ethical dilemmas of life and death and why her background in psychology helps her develop characters. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy An Ethical Guide to Murder: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781398534407

Follow Jenny: dr_jennymorris

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chlo...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Rachel Bower about her contemporary novel It Comes From The River. We discuss why asking your characters simple questions can take them in interesting directions, how she represented folklore from the North of England and the psychological challenge of keeping the faith in your novel during the writing process. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy It Comes From The River: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781526672667

Follow Rachel: @rachel_e_bower

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clot...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Catherine Airey about her contemporary novel Confessions. We discuss how she found the soul of her family saga by experimenting with different perspectives depending on her narrator, the challenge of writing about controversial topics such as 9/11 and when it came to finding an agent, how she chose between them.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Confessions: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780241675182

Follow Catherine: catherineairey

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut nov...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Holly Gramazio about her contemporary novel The Husbands. We discuss how online dating inspired her infinite husbands idea, why her background in video game design helped her figure out the rules of her magic attic and why turning 40 was the push she needed to start writing a novel. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy The Husbands: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781784745356

Follow Holly: holly_gramazio

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debu...

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Emma van Straaten about her literary novel This Immaculate Body. We discuss how her curiosity in a real life cleaning job inspired her, the challenge of getting into the mindset of an unpalatable character and how winning the Discoveries prize in 2021 changed her life.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy This Immaculate Body: @evswrites

Follow Emma: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780349127309

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms

Buy Chloe's debut nov...