The Nile's Deep Dive Author Interview: Jess Kitching

Let’s start at the beginning with a little bit about you, Jess. Where did you grow up? What were some of your favourite books as a child and teen? How would you describe yourself as a young person?

I grew up in Bradford, a city in the north of England, and was the classic bookish teacher’s pet! I loved reading and writing, and aspired to be Jacqueline Wilson when I grew up.

When did the writer in you make themselves known? Was there any inciting incident? A book or a film that excited the desire to be a writer? Or was it some impactful experience, like being dropped on your head, that sent you running to the page?

Reading always made me want to write, but meeting Jacqueline Wilson for my 10th birthday made me realise that I could maybe do it as a career one day too.

I am asking you these questions because you have a new book, The Secrets of Strangers. What’s it all about? Can you give me your best elevator pitch (don’t worry, it’s not a very fast elevator)?

Janine is a writer, struggling with grief and writer’s block, who moves with her husband to a rural village in the hope that peace will help fix their problems. The isolation doesn’t help, of course. When Janine hears about the potential disappearance of a local woman who helped her on the lowest day of her life, her obsession with finding out the truth about what happened to Alexa Clarke begins

Where did this book come from? I mean, your mind, obviously, but can you give me some idea of the genesis of the work? Did anything external trigger your imagination, for example?

I got the idea for the twist first, which coincidentally is my favourite twist I’ve ever written! But the loss aspect from The Secrets of Strangers came from hitting 30 and the discourse around me turning to children. I knew people struggling with miscarriage and IVF who were being asked deeply personal questions while carrying an invisible burden. I wanted to explore this - and write a shocking twist!

Describe an average day when you’re in the middle of writing a book? Where do you write? What do you write with? Do you need silence, or do you like to have heavy metal music playing, like Stephen King? Do you ever get out of your pyjamas?

When I’m not working as a teacher, I’m writing . That’s headphones on, Taylor Swift blaring, snacks all around me, focused for hours on end (ideally!)! Then eventually remembering that I need to move and going for a walk…

At this stage of a new book’s life - it’s published, or about to be - the author (you) are already out and about promoting it - filling out annoying questionnaires like this one - but what you really want to be doing is getting back to writing your next book, or at least planning it, or thinking about it, so my question is, why? What is wrong with you? Is writing a compulsion? Discuss.

A compulsion, an obsession, a way of life… any of the above! Writing is my happy place. I love exploring new worlds and ideas that help me understand the world and my place in it.

I love learning what writers have been reading. What’s the best contemporary book you’ve read lately? Name three books you always recommend. And do you read books as part of your research? Did any stand out or surprise you? And lastly, books on writing, writers, the writing life - do you have a go to?

This Bright Life by Karen Campbell is the best book I’ve read recently. I also love and always recommend The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and One Day by David Nicholls. If I was going to suggest a book by someone who always nails a twist, I’d suggest any book by Christian White!

I once asked Peter Carey for writing advice and he said, ‘Don’t take advice from anyone.’ Ignoring this advice I ask you, is there something you’ve learned about the writing life that would benefit someone just starting out? What is it?

I actually agree not to take advice - there are so many different ways to write and so maybe authors have a process that works for them but is nothing like mine! However, the only piece I think worth listening to is finish the first draft. You can always edit that, but you can’t edit a blank page.

Imagine you’re a bookseller and you’re hand-selling your new book to a customer. What three books would you compare it to to make that sale?

I’d compare to books by Lisa Jewell, Christian White and Ruth Ware.

Thank you so much for answering our questions, Jess.