A Thriller for your Summer Reading List: Lying to You By Amanda Reynolds
Following on fromthe success of her first novel, ‘Lying To You’ is the latest release fromCheltenham’s very own, Amanda Reynolds. Imanaged to catch upwith her during her busy promotional schedule to find out more about some of the challenges aroundwriting and getting yourwork out to the public domain.
Can you give us anoutlineof your latest release? My latest book is LYINGTOYOU.A psychological drama full of secrets, obsession and betrayals:
When Jess TidywasMarkWinter's student, shemade a shocking accusation.Markmaintained his innocence, but the damagewas done. KarenWinter stood by her
husband through everything, determined to protect her family. Now, ten years later, Jess is back.And the truth about that night is finally going to come out . . .
Were there anydifferences in your approach towriting your second book?Does it get any easier? Writingmy second bookwas very different thanmy debut,CLOSE TO ME. Iwas lucky enough to have a two- book deal, sowhilst Iwasworking on the second book I knewitwas going to published. That'swonderful, but it
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the page hasmadememuch less precious about howandwhen Iwrite. I still prefer peace and quiet andmy own desk, but LYINGTOYOUwas alsowritten and edited on planes, in cafes, hotel rooms andwherever and whenever I had time. It's sometimes quite freeing towork in a different environment and strangely the only scene in LYINGTOYOUthat never changedwaswritten on a train as I travelled to London. Itwas a liaison between two characterswho should not have been together!
AmandaReynolds
can also be a pressure. Iwas fortunate to have a great editor to workwith atmy publisher, but LYING TOYOUtookme quite a fewrewrites before the story emerged. I always knewwhat Iwanted to say, but the way itwas structured andwho told that narrative changed a lot. In the end it became obvious howit should unravel and inwhose voice. It certainly doesn't get any easier to write a book, butmaybe I have a bit more faith in the fact that Iwill get there, in the end.
Howdoyoubalance the actual writingwith themarketing and launch cycle activities nowyou havemore thanonebookout? Balancing the promotional side of writingwith the need to getwords on
You have hadabusy yearon the festival circuit; can you share some of the highs andlows? I love literature festivals, always have, so it's a huge thrill to be invited to take part.One of the highswas definitely reading fromCLOSE TOME at theCheltenhamliterature festival; a career ambition. There haven't really been any lows, other than tripping as Iwent on stage, butmy husband assuredme no one noticed! I've travelled to Ireland, Italy, and theUS and it's beenwonderful. I've read at debut events in London and locally. The buzz of signing books or seeing themon festival shelves never diminishes, and the chance to connectwith readers and other writers, particularly aswriting is such a solitary occupation, is always welcome.
