cheltonian interview inspired by the Cotswolds
Best-selling author,AmandaReynolds, talks to The Cheltonian about her latest book, The HiddenWife - a psychological thriller inspired by theCotswold countryside – and her involvement in The Literature Festival inOctober.
You recently published your third book, The HiddenWife –what is it about? The HiddenWife is a psychological thriller which centres around the disappearance of a bestselling novelist’smuchyounger wife on the night of their tenth anniversary. Almost a year on, her husband Max decides he’s ready to talk to local journalist Seren, her first major scoop. She meets with Max in his remoteCotswold manor and begins to unravel what might have happened to enigmatic Julia Blake.
Where did you get the inspiration for the story? I’ve alwayswanted to write a book set in aCotswold manor. I love visiting National Trust properties and there’s a beautiful manor house nestling in the hills above the small village where I live which also inspired me. I imagined the kind of life you might live there andwondered what might cause someoneto leave such an idyllic location,walking out of their life without explanation. That’s when the plot for The HiddenWife began to take shape. Iwas also inspired by classic books like Rebecca and Gatsby where the house is asmuch of a character as the protagonists.
long road with plenty of rejections so you need tenacity and a willingness towork on multiple drafts, but it’s endlesslyworth it to see the finished result in readers’ hands.
Whatdoyou love mostabout living in Cheltenham? Somany things, the architecture, the tree- linedroads, the hills, the shops, especially thebook shops, cafes andbars,but if I hadto pickone thing itwould be the literature festival inOctober each
year.The leaves are turning goldwhen the tents goupand the town is filledwith
Howdid youbecomean author? I’ve always loved writing but only began seriously a fewyears ago when I found I had more time. It tookmea fewattempts to produce anything worthy of publication and things really took off after I found a literary agent and began towork editorially with her. Being published is often a
authors andbooks. I love thewhole buzzof it. I’mjudging the short story competition this year, soI get tobe a partof the festival for a thirdyear runningwhichmakesme very happy.
The HiddenWife is available from Amazon and all good book shops.
THECHELTONIAN OCTOBER/NOVEMBER2019 25 Psychological thriller
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