Meet the Author: Susi Holliday

Susi (SJI) Holliday is a Scottish writer of crime and horror. Susi began with short stories and has since become the author of 11 novels, including the Banktoun trilogy, The Lingering, Mr Sandman and, most recently, The Party Season. Her Trans-Siberian railway thriller Violet is currently being adapted for film.

Susi is one of the authors taking part in the Skulduggery in Stowmarket festival on Saturday 27 April.

Who were your influences as you were growing up. and did you have books around you as a child or use a library?

I was a massive reader as a child, starting with all the books my mum read to me then encouraging me to read myself, I was reading all the Famous Five, Secret Seven and Mallory Towers books long before I was meant to, and I swiftly moved from those to Stephen King at a very young age! I adored my local library in Haddington where I grew up. I had to get special permission to take out more books at once than were usually allowed because I devoured them so quickly. Also, my dad had a shop that had a display of Mills and Boons. I read them too, very carefully, and put them back on the shelves for sale.

When did your interest in writing really develop and what was your journey to publication?

I loved English at school but sometimes felt restricted by the books on the curriculum - I struggled with some of the books usually called 'the classics' and preferred modern genre fiction. I thought I wanted to study English at university but my teacher talked me out of it so I did science instead and got degrees in microbiology and statistics and a job in clinical trials. It was many years later, while taking a break to go travelling on the Trans-Siberian Express, that I decided to try writing fiction.

I started a novel but had no idea what I was doing, then took a step back and wrote lots of short stories. I met my agent at a book festival but it was a few years before I actually sent him anything, and when I did he signed me up on a partial manuscript - and then the hard work started. I've now had eleven novels and a novella published by various publishers, plus lots of short stories. I still do the clinical trials job too, but only part-time.

Is there such a thing as a typical writing day for you?

Nope! Juggling writing with another job means I usually write in short bursts when I have the time. I can write anywhere - I don't need any sort of ritual, just something to write or type on. I like to plan my books with fairly detailed notes and outlines for weeks or even months before I start writing, and then when I do start I tend to draft quite quickly. I've tried winging it but I tend to come unstuck at 20k and abandon the project.

How did the characters of Detectives Carmine and Greene come to you?

I first developed them for The Deaths of December and I'm not really sure where they came from! I wanted Eddie to be a slightly grumpy but likeable officer with a complex family situation, a lost love and who was a fan of cheesy 80s music because it was a perfect excuse for me to indulge my own love for it; and I wanted Becky to be a bit sassy, determined, career-minded and close to her family - so in some ways she is the opposing force to Eddie but they both share the same goals. Plus I wanted to bring in a will they/won't they dynamic to mix in amongst their banter. I like both of them a lot, and they are very different from the characters in my standalone books who are all usually quite unlikeable for many reasons.

Can you tell us a little about The Party Season?

Firstly, quite annoyingly, I had the idea for this book before the movie 'Promising Young Woman' came out, but I didn't get the opportunity to write the book until last year - but basically it has a similar premise - a woman is out there killing men who she believes to be sexual predators. She picks them out at those kind of office Christmas parties where lots of companies share a venue - very easy for her to blend in with the other party goers!

You have used contrasting points of view in The Party Season including the killer. How do you go about getting into the thoughts of a serial killer?

I think reading horror novels at age 11 and being a massive fan of Hannibal Lecter probably helps! I'm fascinated by what makes people 'evil' - is there even such a thing, or is it just a horrible set of circumstances that leads to someone finding release In despicable acts? When I write from the perspective of the killer in any of my books, I try to create a character who is a normal person who has been pushed to the edge somehow. I think that we might all be capable of bad things if driven to it - whether they can be justified or not is another matter. In a lighter note, this is all just fiction and writing the bad guys is cathartic. It's a good way to deal with pent up frustration about literally anything.

What's next for you?

I don't have a novel out this year but I have a short story in a Christmas themed mystery anthology that will be out later this year. I'm currently spending my time looking after my baby daughter so work and writing are taking a bit of a back seat! I have lots of ideas percolating away though and I'm sure I'll be writing again soon.

We are always looking for good book recommendations. Aside from your own work what have you read recently that you really enjoyed?

I read it last year and it's not out yet, but Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville is a book that I can't stop thinking about. To avoid spoilers I will just say that it's about a mother who will do anything to protect her daughter, and it is one of the best books I have read in years, if not ever.

You are visiting Suffolk for the Skulduggery in Stowmarket festival on Saturday 27 April. What can we expect to hear from you and have you visited Suffolk before?

I'm happy to talk about all of my books and characters, settings, research and anything that anyone wants to know. And yes, I know this particular part of Suffolk fairly well as my husband is from Needham Market! I'm hoping Stowmarket still has a Wimpy?!

Can you tell us one thing about yourself that your readers may not know?

I wandered off in a caravan park when I was about 7 or 8 and got up on stage to enter a children's talent competition. I didn't win.