When I saw The Darkest Lies sitting at Number 1 in Psychological Thrillers in Canada, I couldn’t even speak.
June was a crazy rollercoaster of a month, and now I’m stepping off the ride, breathless, dizzy, wondering if I’ve dreamed it all, and thinking: ‘I want to go on it again!’ So many crazy dreams have come true, so many things that I didn’t believe possible. Each time I bring a book out, I worry that it won’t do as well as the previous book – but somehow it does even better.
I’ll start on a personal note, though, if I may. June has been a tough one health-wise. Those of you who have followed my blog and on social media will know I’m often hounded by niggling little illnesses, and now doctors are running tests to see if there is an underlying cause for this. It is impacting on my work, just at the very moment when my writing career is really taking off and I want to dedicate every waking hour to it. But I can’t. Having to take a step back is frustrating, but necessary in the long-term. I hope you’ll bear with me.
Good news has far outweighed bad news, though. THE DARKEST LIES has really flown in June, becoming an Amazon bestseller in four countries, as well as hitting the top 50 Kobo chart. INVISIBLE and FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD have also received a boost as a result – becoming genre bestsellers again in the UK and US, and entering the charts for the first time in Australia and Canada. Pictured below are my two self-published books sitting in the Top Ten of Amazon’s Noir chart in America, at numbers 5 and 9. What an unbelievable moment of pride that was!
As for The Darkest Lies, I’ve had to take pictures of its success, as it doesn’t seem real at the moment. Did I dream it all? Here’s a countdown (just imagine the Top of the Pops music playing right now, lol).
UK
In my home country, The Darkest Lies reached Number 28 in the Kindle store, sitting at number seven in the genre charts. It was also snapping at the heels of Paula Hawkins’ latest release, peaking at Number 3 in Hot New releases. Meanwhile, in two separate genre charts – Psychological Fiction and Crime, Thriller, and Mystery Series – it hit the Number 1 spot in Hot New Releases.
USA
America really embraced my new novel. The Darkest Lies sat comfortably at Number 49 in the entire Kindle store, as well as Number 3 in Psychological Fiction, and also Number 3 in Psychological Thrillers. It was also Top Ten in Suspense.
A real ‘pinch me, I must be dreaming’ moment occurred when I suddenly entered the Top 100 authors Thriller authors in America – check me out, just behind Liane Moriarty. How mad is that?!
The good old USA had one more incredible surprise up its sleeve for me, though. The Darkest Lies became a USA Today bestseller. Honestly, I often reference dreams coming true, but it never even entered my head that this might happen. I didn’t even realise until another author kindly let me know – thank you, Patricia Gibney! And thank you, America!
CANADA
When I saw The Darkest Lies sitting at Number 1 in Psychological Thrillers in Canada, I couldn’t even speak. That’s how shocked I was. I still can’t believe it. I have to keep looking at the photo, and even then, it feel as though it has happened to someone else and not me.
The book also reached Number 1 in Hot New Releases in Psychological Thrillers, as well as reaching Number 48 in the entire Kindle store.
AUSTRALIA
Hitting Number 11 in Psychological Thrillers in Australia is yet another moment of pride that I will never forget. I’m keeping everything crossed that my next book does even better – Top Ten, I’m coming to get you!
So, there you go. What a month! I count myself very lucky that my dreams are coming true. As I edit my next book, I am keeping everything crossed for the future, too.
Have you read The Darkest Lies? What did you think of it? I’d love to hear from you! Here’s a link to Amazon, if you’d like to leave a review x CLICK HERE
