Epic thriller All the Colours of Dark was one of the must-read books of 2024 - but author Chris Whitaker's road to success was a long one.

Whitaker has suffered his share of trauma - childhood abuse, stabbing, and losing millions of pounds as a stockbroker.

He turned to writing - a move he credits with saving his life.

Ahead of his upcoming appearance at Auckland Writers Festival, Whitaker says it was a 'vulnerable' place putting his creative work out for audience approval. 

"It felt like I didn't have anything else to offer - that was then, obviously, but now I've started writing a new book and I'm in love with that."

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