I’m a bit of a magpie! I collect all sorts of bits and pieces – from true crime TV and books (my guilty pleasure), from the news, even from dreams. An experienced agent will know within a paragraph or two if the book ‘has something’ so make sure you have a really compelling opening.ĥ) What is your idea generation? How do you think up your ideas? Write a strong, concise synopsis (no more than a page), and make sure you bring out what makes this book different and eye-catching. Make sure you know what types of books the agent is interested in, and have a look at who else they represent. And then it got chosen for Richard & Judy and things just went a bit crazy!Ĥ) When you sent your book out for representation to a literary agent, do you have any tips for any authors looking to pitch to agents?įirst of all do your research before you approach anyone. It ended up going to auction, and resulted in a three-book deal (since extended to six). The whole Close to Home experience was the stuff dreams are made of, if you’re an aspiring author. I suppose I was very lucky – we get on very well and she has excellent literary judgment as well as a strong commercial sense. I’ve had my current agent for about five years. The style, the irony, the characters – everything.ģ) How did you find your literary agent? What was your journey like to becoming published? Pride & Prejudice was a set book when I was about 13 – it was the first ‘classic’ I’d read, and it was just delicious.

Yes, yes, yes! I suppose we always tend to enjoy things we’re good at, but I can’t ever remember not loving reading (I learned at three years old!). So if I had a ‘wow’ moment, that was definitely it.Ģ) Did you enjoy English at school? Was there a set book you had to read that you loved? It informed my values at a formative age, as well as showing me what wonders can be wrought with words. The book that changed me most as a child was The Lord of the Rings. I didn’t have being an author as a clearly articulated ambition when I was a child, but I did always love reading and writing, and then read English at university, so books have definitely always been my overriding passion. I was delighted when she agreed to answer some of my questions for an interview on her journey to publication.ġ) Did you always want to be an author? As a child, did you have a turning point with a novel that made you go ‘Wow!’ Cara is the author of the DI Adam Fawley series, featuring the bestseller novel Close to Home.

Hi everyone, and today on the blog I’m delighted to welcome crime writer Cara Hunter.

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