We chat with author Ali Lowe about The Private Island, which is a destination thriller full of scandal, secrets and glamour, perfect for fans of Big Little Lies and White Lotus.
Hi, Ali! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello! I’m a British-born Aussie with three children, two cats, a dog and a husband (not in order of importance). I was a celebrity journalist in London for six years before moving to Sydney. When my youngest child was one (he’s seven now) I did a novel writing course which is where I wrote my first book, The Trivia Night.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve always loved writing. Apparently as a child I always carried a notepad – even when I was watching TV I’d have one on the arm of the sofa. My two siblings were quite a bit older than me, so when they went off to uni I was effectively an only child. I spent hours in my own make-believe world, dressing up and making up stories. My dad had all the Agatha Christie novels, so I read those over and over, and watched all the Poirot and Marple films on repeat – it was probably a sign of things to come.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Five Go to Smuggler’s Top, by Enid Blyton
- The one that made you want to become an author: Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Last Time They Met, by Anita Shreve (that last chapter twist – inspired!)
Your latest novel, The Private Island, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Idyllic, remote, murderous, wealthy, twisty.
What can readers expect?
I’ve been told it’s a sort of The White Lotus meets Agatha Christie’s Evil Under The Sun, which I love. It’s a story of wealth, greed, lust and jealousy, set against the silky sand and swaying palms of Fiji’s beautiful Mamanuca Islands. Expect my usual cast of unlikeables and a few grisly deaths….plus several end-chapter twists.
Where did the inspiration for The Private Island come from?
My family and I have stayed at a beautiful island resort called Qualito (or Castway Island) in Fiji a couple of times, and it definitely inspired the book’s fictional island, Loloma, in terms of appearance and layout. Castaway is beautiful and remote, and for that reason lends itself perfectly to a glamorous, closed-room whodunnit. The first time we went I thought, ‘I have to set a book here’.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing Luella, who is caustic and mean. For some strange reason I really enjoy writing nasty characters. My husband thinks it’s because I am quite chilled out in every day life, and that writing characters like Luella is my outlet! I also loved writing Una, the staffer at Loloma who effectively solves the murders. She’s sarcastic, warm and clever and I particularly enjoyed writing her interactions with mild-mannered guest Kitty.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I always get to a point in every book where I think the story has got the better of me. My good friend Vanessa McCausland and I call it ‘the pit of hell’. Sometimes we’ll call one another and say, ‘I’m in the pit. Can we go for a coffee?’ It’s usually at the half-way mark, when I know I’m almost at the summit, but not quite, and there is still a lot of work to do.
What’s next for you?
I’ve just finished the second-round edits on next year’s book, which is a sort of Succession-style family drama, also set outside of Australia. And I’ve started on book six, but it’s very early days for that one yet.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
I’ve just had a sneak peek of Jessica Dettmann’s new book, Your Friend and Mine, which is fabulous. And The Eights, by Joanna Miller. I cannot wait to read this novel again, because it is utterly fabulous – and the author happens to be my big sister!
