I am enormously pleased to have as my guest this week psychological suspense writer, Louise Jensen, whose novels, The Sister and The Gift, have both been number 1 bestsellers and sold for translation in ten different countries. Having just read The Sister, and thoroughly enjoyed it, I couldn't wait to ask her a few questions about her writing.
You’ve written two psychological thrillers, had you
written anything before?
I have been writing non-fiction for years for health
and wellbeing publications, writing mainly about mindfulness and chronic pain.
Writing a novel had always been the dream but time and family meant it was
something I kept putting off although looking back I think it was fear that
held me back. Beginning something and knowing you need to write 90k words is
incredibly daunting.
What made you decide to write a novel?
I lost a great deal of my mobility in my 30’s and with
more time on my hands I decided to write a book about mindfulness, which I
teach. I went along to a local writing group to find out a little about
self-publishing and I was given 3 words and 10 minutes to do a ‘hot pen’
exercise. I wrote the opening to The Sister and for days afterwards I couldn’t
stop thinking about Grace and Charlie and decided to try and expand my snippet
into a short story but I couldn’t stop writing.
Had you always had a burning desire to write in this genre?
I didn’t realise I was a crime writer until I was
offered a book deal and my publisher wanted to talk about marketing. I wrote
the story I wanted to tell, one I would like to read. One that made me scared,
one that moved me to tears. I’m contracted for 2 more thrillers, I’ve recently
released The Gift, the second and I’ve had to write knowing it needs to slot
into a genre which has been more difficult. Ultimately I love feeling unnerved
but I also love the emotion in commercial fiction so I try to blend the two
genres.
‘The Gift’ is your latest novel. Can you describe it
in one sentence?
Jenna hasn’t been the same since her heart transplant;
recognising people she’s never met, discovering secrets she shouldn’t know,
seeing a murder that never happened.
Are you a planner or a pantster?
Oh I wish I could plan. Particularly now writing to a
deadline. I generally start with an idea and a strong female lead and see where
it takes me. Throughout the writing process though I always bear in mind what
the character wants and what is stopping her from getting that. This means everything I
write stays connected to these points and doesn’t veer too far off track.
What would you say would be your typical writing day?
I catch up on social media when I wake and then after
the school run I write until around 12. After lunch I’m not very creative in
terms of getting new words down so it’s time for blogging, admin and editing. I
try to finish around 4 so I can spend some time with my son.
You’re published with Bookouture. Can you tell me a
little about your road to publication?
My road to publication was relatively easy, although I
did receive the inevitable rejections every writer has. The Sister wasn’t
finished until November and I had a contract by January. That said I’d been
very careful in making sure it was absolutely ready. I paid for a professional
critique which was enormously helpful and I made some last minute tweaks after
receiving my report.
You’ve recently been interviewed by ITV news. Was that
scary?
ITV rang me the night before as I’d just reached my
second UK no.1 in a year so I didn’t really have time to get nervous, plus, if
I’m honest I thought it was a joke and didn’t expect them to turn up. The
interviewer was lovely and really put me at ease and it was a great experience
for all the family.
Any other novels in the pipeline?
I’m due to release my third psychological thriller
with Bookouture at the end of this year so I’m in the infancy stages of writing
it. Not quite knowing yet what it will be about but that’s half the fun!
Thanks so much Wendy for inviting me onto your blog.
Find out more about Louise:
Buy Louise's books here:
Louise is a USA Today Bestselling
Author, and lives in Northamptonshire with her husband, children, madcap
spaniel and a rather naughty cat.
Louise's first two novels, The Sister and the Gift, were both No.1 Bestsellers, and have been sold for translation to ten countries. The Sister was nominated for The Goodreads Awards Debut of 2016
