Meet bestselling author Paula Hawkins, whose new book The Blue Hour explores a psychological thriller set on a Scottish island. Paula discusses her writing process, research on art, transition from a finance journalist to a novelist, how she wrote four romance novels under a pen name and her experiences following the success of The Girl on the Train. She also shares her writing advice, emphasising the importance of feedback and understanding your readers’ experiences.
00:00 Introduction 00:34 Writing tip with Nat Newman 02:53 Storyboarding for writers 06:22 Win: The Stranger at the Wedding by A. E. Gauntlett 08:14 Word of the week: Palmy 09:30 Paula Hawkins and her latest novel The Blue Hour 21:19 From financial journalism to fiction 21:46 First foray into fiction 23:40 How Paula writes romance under a pseudonym 24:52 Finding the right genre 25:38 The birth of The Girl on the Train 27:48 Dealing with success and pressure 30:12 Writing process and challenges 40:34 Advice for aspiring writers 43:02 Fun fact: apophony
Paula Hawkins worked as a journalist for fifteen years before writing her first novel. Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, she moved to London in 1989. Her first thriller The Girl on the Train became a global phenomenon, selling over 23 million copies. Published in over fifty languages, it was a No.1 bestseller around the world and a box-office-hit film starring Emily Blunt. Paula’s most recent thrillers, Into the Water and A Slow Fire Burning, were also instant No.1 bestsellers. In 2021 A Slow Fire Burning was nominated for Thriller of the Year at the British Book Awards. Her upcoming thriller, The Blue Hour, will be published around the world in October 2024.
