In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Salma El-Wardany about her contemporary novel These Impossible Things. In this episode we discuss how Salma built a brand, using Instagram to share her writing as a way into the publishing industry, exploring female friendship between Muslim women where their faith plays a positive role and how to approach the challenges of the editing process.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy These Impossible Things: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781398705777

Follow Salma on Instagram: @salmaelwardany

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 Eve Ainsworth about her commercial novel Duckling. In this episode we discuss writing uplit with grittier themes, writing a child’s voice authentically and transitioning from children’s to adult fiction.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Duckling: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781529157246

Follow Eve on Twitter: @EveAinsworth

eveainsworth.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 Elissa Soave about her contemporary novel Ginger and Me. In this episode we discuss the importance of editors and why Elissa thinks they’re the unsung heroes of the process, giving voice and agency to characters who are working class girls, and why you should always aim high and enter competitions even if you don’t have the confidence. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Ginger and Me: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780008458416

Follow Elissa on Twitter: @elissa_soave

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 Jane Markland about her contemporary novel Cielo. In this episode we talk about writing characters we rarely see in fiction, writing prequels and back stories for your characters so you know them really well and the value of a writing community. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Cielo: https://amzn.to/3t7OKFC

Follow Jane on Twitter: @markland_jane

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 Jendella Benson about her contemporary novel Hope & Glory. In this episode we discuss starting your novel in the heat of the moment, how her freelance writing career led to interest from an editor and staying connected to your work when you’re away from your manuscript. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Hope & Glory: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781398702295

Follow Jendella on Twitter: @JENDELLA

Jendella's blog post mentioned: https://jendella.substack.com/p/i-gave-my-first-talk-to-school-children

http://www.jendella.co.uk

https://jendella.substack.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 Eloise Smith about her middle grade novel Sister to a Star. In this episode we talk about what advertising taught her about writing for children, her unusual route to publication where her book deal came before an agent and writing something personal you care about rather what you think kids will like. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Sister to a Star: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781912626717

Follow Eloise on Twitter: @itsmeEloise

https://eloisesmith.net

https://goldeneggacademy.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 Claire Alexander about her commercial novel Meredith, Alone. In this episode we discuss how she found herself writing in an unexpected genre, resisting the urge to self-edit when you’ve got limited time to write and what happens when your agent isn’t keen on your original title.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Meredith, Alone: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780241542408

Follow Claire on Twitter: @ClaireAWriter

https://www.claire-alexander.co.uk

Claire's agent, Juliet Mushens's blog post about titles

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 Annie Kirby about her literary novel The Hollow Sea. In this episode we discuss exploring childlessness without cliched tropes or miracle births, playing with structure and how the Penguin Write Now scheme led to her book deal.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy The Hollow Sea: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780241522097

Follow Annie on Twitter: @DoctorKirbs

https://linktr.ee/doctorkirbs

http://www.anniekirby.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 Kate Dylan about her YA novel Mindwalker. In this episode we discuss the balance between writing what you want to write versus the reality of whether you want to get published, how her ideas often start with a single, opening sentence and the skill of writing commercial prose.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Mindwalker: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781529392685

Follow Kate on Twitter: @TheKateDylan

https://www.katedylanbooks.com/

https://www.katedylanbooks.com/sub-stories

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 Ronali Collings about her commercial novel Love & Other Dramas. In this episode we discuss how she’d given up writing until Bernardine Evaristo inspired her, diversity in genre fiction and challenging stereotypes across the board, and how important it is to remember that publishing a novel is about collaboration with your team and not just a lone struggle.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Love & Other Dramas: https://amzn.to/3zyurWq

Follow Ronali on Twitter: @RonaliCollings

https://www.ronalicollings.uk/

https://womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/features/for-writers/writers-toolkit/ronali-collings-its-never-too-late-to-follow-your-dreams

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.