Confessions of a Debut Novelist – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist, I’m talking to Ina Christova about her historical novel The Fabergé Girl. We discuss how much you can play with real figures in history, taking inspiration from Russian folklore and fairytale and how she overcame the challenges of bringing characters to life. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy The Fabergé Girl: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9786190113997

Follow Ina: @Ina_Christova

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 Sarah Brooks about her fantasy novel The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands. We discuss why her strange real-life experience on the trans-Siberian Express gave her the seed of an idea, how winning the Lucy Cavendish Prize changed her life and the incredible 11-way auction of publishers who wanted to buy her book.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781399607537

Follow Sarah: @Sarah_L_Brooks

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 Alan Murrin about his literary novel The Coast Road. We discuss authentically inhabiting the voices of three distinctive Irish women, why it took time to work out a fitting end for the novel and how he got the novel written by making bargains with himself.

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy The Coast Road: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781526663702

https://alanmurrin.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 April Doyle about her climate sci-fi or cli-fi novel, Hive. In this episode we discuss how April was inspired by a news report on the climate crisis, how she stepped outside of her comfort zone to help promote her novel and how her career as a creative writing teacher has informed her own work. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Hive: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9781913913779

Follow April on Twitter: @aprilcdoyle

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 Bea Setton about her literary novel Berlin. Apologies for the difference in sound quality in this episode, I forgot to record my microphone's input! In this episode we discuss why Bea thinks her protagonist Daphne is a realistic narrator rather than unreliable one, building tension and mystery retrospectively and getting through the pain of a first draft. 

Confessions of a Debut Novelist Bookshop*

Buy Berlin: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10990/9780857527974

Follow Bea on Twitter: @BeaSetton

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 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.