Hi everyone!
In this Issue:
Last night on #SJsTwitterBookClub
The Writers’ Lodge
#SJsTwitterBookClub
This week’s #SJsTwitterBookClub featured author Sabine Durrant (@SabineDurrant), who dropped by to talk about her amazing slow-burn thriller “Sun Damage”.
I asked Sabine if she’d give us a spoiler-free, tweet-length introduction to the book. She said, “It’s about a young grifter who’s hanging around the south of France with an older more professional con artist. A “play” goes wrong and she ends up taking on the identity of their victim as a chef in a private villa. Will the man she is escaping find her? Will she pull off the con of her life?”
Sounds intriguing, right? And it’s a wonderful book!
During a fascinating discussion, we talked about the difficulty of writing spiky, complex characters who are also likeable.
And we also talked about Sabine’s methods when she writes her books.
(Click on one of the above tweets to be taken to the discussion thread)
We also, perhaps inevitably, got onto the subject of ‘the twist’. I asked “What's your take on 'The Twist'? Do psychological thrillers need one? Can the twist ever be too much of a millstone around one's neck? Does a book with 'shocking twist' on the cover start off at a disadvantage as people are looking for it?”
Sabine said, “Yes I think “the twist” has become an albatross. Def a disaster if it’s on the cover. We’re all sophisticated readers now. But a metaphorical bomb in a book is a good thing. Has to hit you in the chest.”
Another fascinating discussion about a fantastic book. If you haven’t read it yet, do so now!
The Writers’ Lodge
“Chock full of brilliant insight and advice. It’s things like this that help to keep the flame alight.”
Are you a writer? Do you want to write?
In this week’s issue we looked at WORKING WITH AN AGENT and how to get going when you’re just not feeling it
Some exercises to get the engine running
Working with an agent
Getting the book right
Knowing where to send it
Deals and contracts
Translation rights
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