We chat with author Gillian McAllister about Famous Last Words, which is an addictive thriller about a new mother’s world upended when her husband commits a terrifying crime. How well does she truly know the man she loves? And what danger does she face if her entire life has been built on a lie?
Hi, Gillian! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Of course! I’m a full-time novelist, ex-lawyer and 24/7 worrier who lives in the midlands, UK where I read, write, walk my dog and parent!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I don’t know if I ever discovered it so much as already had it living and breathing inside me from the moment I could hold a pen. Weirdly, writing was never particularly related to reading books for me – it was actually more about the physical and emotional act of textualizing my life and experiences through written words.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Magic Far Away Tree
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic – was the first book I read that compelled me completely, and made me realise that not every book written had to be a literary tome written by a fifty year old man! I found myself thinking, could I…?
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra
Your latest novel, Famous Last Words, is out February 25th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Husband takes hostages, wife “???”
What can readers expect?
I hope a twisty-turny thriller with intensity from page one – it’s a hostage situation, after all! But, underneath that, a look at marriage, enduring love, and why a good person might do something really bad…
Where did the inspiration for Famous Last Words come from?
I have been musing lately on taking traditionally male action thriller tropes and putting a female spotlight on them. What would a hostage situation look like if told by a woman whose husband is caught up in it? What would it be like if it was about the demolition of a marriage, rather than of a building?
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I always enjoy writing that first scene. The police tell my main character, Camilla, that her husband is caught up in a hostage situation, but that he hasn’t been kidnapped: he is the gunman…
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Definitely the reason for taking three hostages! It’s a high bar, and I always like my resolutions to be realistic…
What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned as a writer since your debut in 2017?
I’d say I do notice aspiring writers tend to become mired in tinkering, editing and re-editing the opening, so my advice is always to finish the draft, however painful. You can’t edit a blank page.
What’s next for you?
My next novel tells the story of a married couple who go on holiday with their teenage daughter who, on the first night, is kidnapped. The next morning, the couple receive an old-fashioned ransom, which tells them not to tell the police, and to meet them in a lay-by that night. The husband wants to tell the police, but the wife makes a decision: she is going to meet the kidnappers, and deal direct. They don’t request money – they ask for something much worse…
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up in 2025?
Definitely Yesteryear! I’m so excited to see a time travel spin on the trad wife novel.
