Confessions of a Debut Novelist

By Chloe TimmsArts Books

Confessions of a Debut Novelist episodes

December 24, 2025 The End of 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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4 min
December 23, 2025 Episode 4.35 Autumn Woods - Nightshade
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

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms
Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms
chloetimms.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
40 min
December 05, 2025 Episode 4.34 Thomas R. Weaver - Artificial Wisdom
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
Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms
chloetimms.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
53 min
November 20, 2025 Episode 4.33 Kerry Downes - That Time Everything Was On Fire
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

Follow Chloe on Twitter: @clotimms
Buy Chloe's debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms
chloetimms.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
42 min
November 06, 2025 A brief update!
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 patience and continuing support!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2 min
October 16, 2025 Episode 4.32 Gurnaik Johal - Saraswati
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://linktr.ee/chloetimms
chloetimms.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
38 min
October 02, 2025 Episode 4.31 Charlotte Paradise - Overspill
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
51 min
September 18, 2025 Episode 4.30 Jasmine Burke - Quarter-Love Crisis
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 debut novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms
chloetimms.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
40 min
September 11, 2025 Episode 4.29 Hattie Williams - Bitter Sweet
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 novel The Seawomen: https://linktr.ee/chloetimms
chloetimms.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
40 min
September 04, 2025 Episode 4.28 Aisling Rawle - The Compound
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
43 min

About Confessions of a Debut Novelist

From the publisher's feed

Listen to Confessions of a Debut Novelist, hosted by author Chloe Timms, to hear from new and up-and-coming writers about their debut novel. We talk writing journeys, tips and advice and what it's…