Both of these books were set in the beautiful but remote Scottish Highlands, and involve the characters being trapped there due to extreme weather. There's something about being trapped somewhere that gives a book that Agatha Christie edge. Nowadays, the challenge is to find a setting with zero phone signal!
When asked what comes first, for Lucy it is the characters, with the setting being the spark that lights the touch paper.
"In the event of heavy snowfall, you may find you aren't able to leave the estate."
The words that inspired the premise for The Hunting Party. Unintentionally chilling...
And where do ideas typically form? In the shower, apparently. Cally doesn't always plan out the twists straight away, and once added a plot twist during a round of edits... and yes, it came to her in the shower. Writing tip: take lots of showers!
When asked about becoming an "overnight success", Cally says it only took 10 years to achieve that (eek!), and advises it takes 10 books to make a career. I'd like to share with you Cally's bucket list because I think I'll be adding these to my own...
1. Become a Richard and Judy book club read
2. Have posters on the London Underground
3. Release a hardback book
... all of which were achieved in 2019. What a woman!
Here's a little more about these inspiring women.
Cally Taylor is the Sunday Times bestselling author of 6 psychological thrillers including Sleep, which I reviewed here.
Lucy Foley's first crime novel, The Hunting Party, was a Sunday Times bestseller and her second, The Guest List, lands February 2020.
Olivia Kiernan's second novel in her series, The Killer in Me, was published in April (and I cannot wait to read it!).
Thanks Waterstones for putting on such a great event!
Roxie Key
@RoxieAdelleKey
