S5 E5 Lisa Jewell: It starts with a bet

Some writing careers begin with a bet, a rom-com, and a very committed friend. 

This week, I’m joined by Lisa Jewell, bestselling thriller author of Then She Was Gone and her latest novel, It Could Have Been Her, to talk about the wonderfully serendipitous path that led her to becoming a writer. From the bet that started it all to the unexpected way she found her first agent and the zany route she took into publishing, Lisa’s origin story is almost as good as one of her books.

We talk about the strange difference between writing your first book, when you’re full of dreams, and your second, when suddenly there’s a contract involved. We also surprise ourselves by workshopping an entirely new book idea mid-conversation, before discovering that we are almost exact opposites in the way we approach writing and proceed to gleefully interrogate each other about it.

A conversation about luck, persistence, instincts, and the wonderfully unpredictable ways a writing life can unfold.

Content warning: This episode contains a very brief description of violence that may not be appropriate for all listeners.

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Credits:

Host: V.E. Schwab

Producer/Editor/Mixer: Jenna Maurice