Spotlight on Guest Author Sadie Ryan

This week I am featuring guest author Sadie Ryan. Her novel Behind Closed Doors was published on 14 May 2019 by Ruby Fiction.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi, there, lovely to be asked to be on your blog to talk about me and my novel Behind Closed Doors which was published on 14 May 2019. A domestic/noir/thriller debut.

I’m 54 years old and very proud of my age. It’s the time in my life where I feel most comfortable with myself and with who I am. It’s taken me along time to get to this place where I think life is just what it is…it’s just life…just live it.

I live in Cheshire, I have been married and divorced, have two wonderful children, a dog called Willow and a cat called Freddie. I’ve moved house six times in seven years, which is going some. After my divorce I couldn’t settle anywhere. I couldn’t settle in the county so then moved to the Midlands then found I really missed Cheshire and moved back. All that should have exhausted me and it did. I’m settled now and the thought of moving house again fills me with dread, although I’m pretty good at it.

I’ve been writing for ten years on and off.

I love my own company which is pretty important for a writer. I don’t like travelling as much as I used to when I was younger. Having said that, I love cruises and have travelled with Cunard in the last few years and been totally spoilt. I have to laugh, I think it’s an age thing or so my kids tell me, but who needs the hassle of airports if you can avoid them, right?

I love my garden and spend a lot of time there when I can and when the British weather allows me to.

2. Have you always written?

I’ve not always written, but I’ve always read a lot. I remember the first book that got me into a heavy reading pattern where I just became obsessed with books, that was Sweet Savage Loveby Rosemary Rogers. I was sixteen. From then on, I knew that I wanted to write. But I knew to do so I had to read a lot and learn and that’s what I did.

I started writing around ten years ago. I first started writing paranormal romance, a genre I still enjoy reading. I do have a novel hidden in the back of my drawer, which I hope one day to blow the dust off and take another look at it. I then wrote chick lit and finally fell into writing thrillers. I think sometimes you have to just write until you find your niche.

3. What did it feel like when Ruby Fiction said they wanted to publish your debut thriller?

It was a surreal experience to be honest after so long trying. I still can’t believe it’s happening. I was ecstatic with happiness and a little overwhelmed.

I have been writing for ten years on and off and submitted enough to damage the rainforest because many of those submissions used to be on paper. Nowadays, it’s so much simpler to email. Getting rejected by email is no less painful than an envelope thumping down on the door mat. Getting accepted is glorious either way.

After so many rejections I often became disheartened with the industry and thought I would never get published. But I read that I needed to believe more in myself and my writing. And that’s what I did. I finished Behind Closed Doors and sent it out and received a lot of positive attention, clearly positive thinking worked! Then it happened. I had American and UK publishers interested and when Ruby Fiction came along, I was immediately sold on them, and here I am, a published author, published by an amazing publisher with an amazing team behind them.

4. What was the inspiration behind your novel Behind Closed Doors?

The idea for Behind Closed Doors came after a trip to London and walking along the streets of Kensington near the Palace and looking at the small houses that are so very expensive around there. An idea struck me, I discussed it with my partner with whom I always draw out the plots of my stories. I spoke to some of the residents and my idea was born. I write organically, so whilst the idea for the story was there, as I wrote the story developed.

5. If you had to cast a film of your novel, who would play the lead parts?

I love this question because I actually picture my characters very distinctly when I’m developing them. Sometimes they change persona once I begin but often, I stay true to who I’ve decided on. In Behind Closed Doors, I’ve imagined Julianne Moore in the lead role of Tina Valentine, strong personality, intelligent with lots of depth. For the antagonist, Megan, I pictured Charlize Theron, beautiful and dangerous and the role of husband goes to Jon Hamm J. I love this aspect of developing my characters, with real faces it helps me create their story.

6. Where is your favourite place to write?

My favourite place to write is my office, with a blanket around my knees and a hot water bottle. I know I sound like an old granny, but really, I’m not, it’s just that sitting in one place for long periods of time you get cold. I have the blinds closed for less distractions. My little dog in her basket under the table and my cat squeezed in behind me on my chair.

I tend to lose concentration after about an hour and jump on the internet. I find this helps me clear my thoughts. Then I force myself to get back to work after about twenty minutes. Oh, and I always, always have chocolate nearby. Crackers as this sounds, when I get to a part in the story where I get stuck, having some chocolate helps me work it out! Maybe it’s psychosomatic, but hey-ho, it definitely helps me.

7. What can we look forward to from you next?

There is another psychological thriller already with Ruby Fiction, which I’m hoping will be coming out later this year. It’s about, deception, betrayal and murder. When a couple lose everything and crippled by debt, help comes in the form of a stranger, but it’s what lies behind the façade that makes it a race for survival.

I’m working on my third novel which is a work in progress at the moment but very nearly finished. This third book is slightly different than its predecessors in so much that it’s a crime thriller about a woman who’s been living a lie. I don’t want to say too much about this yet as I’m still working on it and things can change.

To keep in touch with Sadie try-

Her website www.sadieryan.co.uk

Twitter @The_SadieRyan

Facebook Sadie Ryan Author

Instagram sadie.ryan.author

About Behind Closed Doors

She’s in your house, now she wants your life …

Tina Valentine has it all: the loving family, the beautiful house, the successful career.

But then Megan Pearson starts work at Tina’s law firm and with her arrival the perfect world Tina has built for herself starts to collapse as it becomes clear that the newcomer is intent on infiltrating every aspect of her life.

Something is obviously wrong with Megan but nobody else seems to see it. As the mind games and manipulations continue, Tina comes to the sickening conclusion that now she’s opened the door to Megan, it’s going to be impossible to make her leave …

To buy Links

Amazon UK  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behind-Closed-Doors-gripping-thriller-ebook/dp/B07Q282G9P/

Amazon USA  https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Closed-Doors-gripping-thriller-ebook/dp/B07Q282G9P/

AppleiBooks  https://books.apple.com/gb/book/behind-closed-doors/id1457689508

Nook    https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/behind-closed-door-sadie-ryan/1131014859

Google Play    https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Jc-UDwAAQBAJ&dq=behind+closed+doors+sadie

Kobohttps://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/behind-closed-doors-157

 

Thank you for joining me this week, Sadie. Good luck with sales for your new book.

 

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