- Barbara Copperthwaite
BLOOD TYPE: Sarah Hilary @sarah_hilary @headlinepg #writingtips #crime
CRIME AUTHORS SPILL THEIR GUTS ABOUT WRITING. Every Thursday top-notch authors of psychological thrillers and crime fiction share their writing secrets – and the secrets to their success – with you and me.
“I don’t plot. I’ve tried to, and it bores me.”
This week: SARAH HILARY
Tell us about yourself…
Criminal type and rehabilitated bookseller, responsible for the Marnie Rome series that started with Someone Else’s Skin (Crime Novel of the Year 2015) and continued to No Other Darkness (shortlisted for a Barry Award), Tastes Like Fear, and in 2017, Quieter Than Killing. Currently residing in Bath but with itchy feet (and fingers).
How do you pick character names? Do any have special meaning to you?
Names are so tricky and slippery. I can’t leave a blank and go back when I’ve thought of a name, even for minor characters or walk-ons. Everyone has to feel real from the outset, and that needs names. Marnie is in part as tribute to Winston Graham’s novel (filmed by Hitchcock). Noah’s surname is also a favourite first name of mine (Jake). Quieter Than Killing introduces a new bad boy who’s named after the actor who played my favourite vampire in Being Human (Aidan)… TO READ THE INTERVIEW IN FULL, CLICK HERE
