Authors

The real life inspiration behind The Echoes of Love by Jenny Ashcroft

Jenny Ashcroft, author of The Echoes of Love, a historical love story set in Crete both before the Second World War and during the occupation, is on the blog talking about the inspiration behind the book and its setting. Like Eleni, the main character in The… Read More

Comma, Comma, Comma, Comma, Comma, Chameleon!

Grammar’s a funny old thing. We’re delighted to have Michael Arndt, author of Snails and Monkey Tails on the blog today, discussing the ever-so-important comma. This PUNctuation riff on the popular 1980s’ song, by Boy George and Culture Club, is expressive of just how versatile… Read More

Sweet & Sour Friendships

Celebrating the publication of her new novel My Perfect Friend, author Sarah Clarke recommends six books that explore toxic friendships. Check them out below. The old adage holds that we choose our friends not our family. But sometimes friendships feel like they have an energy of… Read More

Read a deleted scene from Jeevani Charika’s Picture Perfect

Don’t miss this exclusive deleted scene from Jeevani Charika, featuring characters from Playing for Love and her new novel, Picture Perfect! Sam finished putting the branded tablecloths on the tables and looked around the function room of The Nest with a small sigh of satisfaction. She… Read More

Ruby Basu’s five top tips for fake dating

Ruby Basu guests the blog to share her best tips and tricks on fake dating, while sharing the books and films that inspire her. Ruby’s novel, The Love Arrangement is out now. Do your parents want you to settle down but you love being single and… Read More

‘I wanted to write about passing from a UK perspective’: Learn about the context of Louise Hare’s second novel, Miss Aldridge Regrets

Author Louise Hare gives insight into her research and extra context to her evocative and immersive second novel, Miss Aldridge Regrets, a gripping cross-Atlantic murder mystery set in the 1930s. Read below for an extract! The choice to make my protagonist, Lena, mixed race but light skinned enough to pass came… Read More

‘A stabby Sex and the City’: The books that inspired How to Kill Men

Katy Brent talks about the books that inspired her when she was writing her debut comedy thriller, How to Kill Men and Get Away With It. I first started to write what would become How To Kill Men and Get Away With It back in 2018… Read More

Breaking the class barrier: Elissa Soave on being a ‘working class’ writer

Scottish debut author of Ginger and Me, Elissa Soave has been described by many times as a ‘working class’ writer. But is she? Elissa is on the blog today to discuss the class barrier in the publishing industry, and what her upbringing was like. Read More

Rising from the ashes of a broken life: The true story behind THE COUNTESS OF THE REVOLUTION

Celebrating the eBook publication of The Countess of the Revolution, we’re delighted to have author Lana Kortchik on the blog to talk about the inspiration and history behind the book, as well as her family’s connection to the Russian Revolution. I was always close… Read More

The killer idea behind The Night Watch

Neil Lancaster, author of the DC Max Craigie series, joins us to talk about the inspiration behind the latest instalment, The Night Watch, and the inspiration behind this thrilling read. “Well, it’s publication day for The Night Watch, the third of the DS Max Craigie… Read More

‘I want people to know how it feels’ — Tracey Lien

Tracey Lien, author of the unmissable and compelling debut All That’s Left Unsaid, joins us to discuss the inspiration and motive behind writing such a compelling novel. My goal for All That’s Left Unsaid was modest: ‘I want people to know how it feels.’ It seemed so simple – a… Read More

The Return – Anita Frank

An exclusive piece for the HQ blog, author Anita Frank share what inspired her to write her breath-taking new novel, The Return.  There is a moment in the BBC’s excellent adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South that, to my mind at least, captures the essence of… Read More