We chat with author Tess Amy about The Confidence Games, which follows two female con artists who must pull off the ultimate heist.
Hi, Tess! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m South African, and a life-long lover of books and nature. I was born in Johannesburg but have lived in Malta (a tiny island in the Mediterranean), as well as Italy and briefly in Thailand and Sri Lanka. As you might’ve guessed, I love to travel, experience new cultures and meet people (even though I’m an introvert!). What else? When I was younger, I wanted to be a game ranger, then an archaeologist, then a vet. Becoming an author strangely never crossed my mind until seven years ago when I got the idea for my first story. Now I can’t imagine being anything else.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve been a reader for as long as I can remember. My first “favourite” book was The Hobbit, which I occasionally re-read for nostalgic reasons. But as I said earlier, my love for writing remained undiscovered until seven years ago when I sat down to write my first book (which has since been published under a different pen name).
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
- The one that made you want to become an author: I realise this is a weird answer but the first book I ever wrote made me want to become an author. It was that feeling of “Hey, I like this writing thing. Let’s see if I can make a career of it”
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. I tell everyone I meet to read it!
Your contemporary fiction debut, The Confidence Games, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Thelma and Louise but happy
What can readers expect?
A wild, fun ride. A twisty, escapist adventure of friendship and found family and high stakes con-artistry.
Where did the inspiration for The Confidence Games come from?
A real life incident actually inspired this story. Several years ago, while I was living in Verona, Italy, I saw two girlfriends walking arm-in-arm in front of me across a bridge. They were giggling and whispering as they looked down at something one of them had hidden under her coat. And although I couldn’t hear what either of them were saying, or see what they were looking at, I immediately took out my phone and tapped out a note that read: Two best friends who are con artists (Book Idea!). A whole two years later, I sat down to write the first draft of what would become The Confidence Games, a book that has changed my life in all the best ways.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I think my favourite character to write, other than Emma (the MC), was Sophia. She’s such a precocious little genius, an old soul who’s wise beyond her years, and I had so much fun writing her scenes and dialogue — I actually used to laugh out loud as I typed them.
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I pitched my agent the idea for The Confidence Games back in 2022 and she loved it right away. I initially imagined Emma and Nellie’s story taking place in 1920’s London, but my agent (thankfully) suggested I give the tale a contemporary spin instead. I was hesitant at first, but Hayley (Hayley Steed of Janklow and Nesbit UK) has such a good eye for these sort of things — and I always trust her vision — so I decided to go with it.
Four months later, I had completed the first draft, and after nearly a year of back and forth editing and brainstorming with Hayley, the manuscript was ready to go on submission. Everything moved really quickly after that, and the book went to auction in the US within days. The situation in the UK was a lot less glamorous, and very, very slow, but we found a home there as well. I’ve come to learn that nothing in publishing ever goes the way you expect so it’s best to just sit back, strap in and enjoy the ride.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on my next book, a standalone murder mystery slash caper set in a fictional prison in California, which is run entirely by the women incarcerated there. Think a feminist version of Prison Break meets a modern day Chicago supported by a badass cast of female felons. It will be published in summer, 2025.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
So many! The Women by Kristin Hannah (me and everyone else, I know), Cabaret Macabre by Tom Mead, Stolen Pieces by SK Golden, The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley (my favourite Foley thus far!). I can’t wait to read Ruth Ware’s latest, One Perfect Couple and Alexander McCall Smith’s latest instalment in The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.
