This week, we're chatting to Cathy Hayward.

Cathy is busy. She runs an award-winning PR agency, bought a bookshop in Brighton on a whim, runs a 5 AM writing club, and manages a creative writing programme. Amongst all that she's just re-released her debut novel, 'The Girl in the Midnight Maze', and has just published her new novel, 'The Secret of the Brighton House'.

The novel is all about Jackie, who always thought her mother died in childbirth. However, when she's preparing for her own, much longed-for, child, she discovers a truth that will change everything. It explores trauma, history and psychosis, and you can hear how Cathy's own experience as a new mother inspired and influenced the story.

We discuss why she writes in dual timeline, and how she plans her space round that. Also, when characters develop tics, the mechanics of a plot twist, and how to go again after a rejected book.

Get a copy of the book at uk.bookshop.org/store/writersroutine

This week's episode is sponsored by Faber Academy. Enroll in 2025's Writing a Novel coursse - faberacademy.com/writing-a-novel

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Daniel Sellers is the bestselling author behind the 'Detective Lola Harris' series. Each involves a mysterious crime set across Scotland. The new one is 'Murder on Skye', which sees Lola track a potential murderous reality TV star out to the remote, windswept island.

It starts as Lola discovers the body of a woman pulled from the river. Instantly, she knows it's Kathryn Main, who has been missing for a while, and was on the juror which convicted reality star Carter Craig of a double murder. When his conviction was overturned, people started disappearing... Kathryn is the latest body to be found.

We discuss why readers have taken to Detective Lola Harris so well, and how he brings to life evocative locations around Scotland. You can hear why he has a tight schedule, how precise he is with word-count, and what he does to try and write THREE BOOKS A YEAR.

It took Daniel many. years to finally get published, and you can hear what, after years of rejection, he changed to finally get signed.

You can watch the episode fully visualised on the Writer's Routine YouTube channel.

This week's episode is sponsored by Faber Academy's 'Writing a Novel' course. Find out more - faberacademy.com/writing-a-novel

Support the show -

patreon.com/writersroutine

ko-fi.com/writersroutine

Get a copy of the book -

uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine

@writerspod

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Nayantara Roy is a TV executive for the channel Starz over in Los Angeles, and now a published author. Her debut is 'The Magnificent Ruins'. It tells the story of Lila, on the verge of a massive career breakthrough, only to inherit her grandfather's home in Kolkata. She returns to face a resentful family and an unresolved childhood.

We discuss learning from many sources and how she's grown from her debut. You can hear why with an office, she chooses to write in the sanctuary of the comfortable sofa, and how she remembers characters are thoughts and emotions, not just two-dimensional ideas.

Get a copy of the book - https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine

This show is sponsored by Faber Academy's 'Writing a Novel' course. Find out more about their January submissions - faberacademy.com/writing-a-novel

Support the show -

patreon.com/writersroutine

ko-fi.com/writersroutine

writerspod.com

@writerspod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.