When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?

From a young age I loved making up stories for my younger sister. We had bunk beds as children, and my words would help her drift off to sleep. Later I loved writing stories in English lessons at school, but it was many years later, following a serious car crash, that I decided to write seriously.

Who inspires you?

I think my biggest inspiration is Agatha Christie. My book The Island House was certainly inspired by one of my favourite books And Then There Were None.

What was your most recent published novel? Tell us about it?

My latest novel is Now You Are Mine

When Polly signs up to an art retreat in the Lake District, it’s an escape from the stress of recent months, when a stalker preyed on her and her friend.

It’s also an opportunity to find out more about her family history: Polly believes her biological mother once lived here, at Lakeside House.

But things quickly turn sinister. The previous owners supposedly took their own lives here, years before – and the glamorous new owners are now receiving disturbing threats. Someone is sabotaging Polly’s artwork. The five other guests on the retreat all seem to be hiding something.

Then one of them goes missing.

Is someone trying to scare Polly? Do the creepy goings-on have anything to do with the family she never knew? Or has the stalker followed her to Lakeside House, and is now hiding in plain sight?

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m presently working on the edits of Let Me Out – my eleventh psychological thriller – which is out in June 2025 with Boldwood Books, and I’ve just started my twelfth book.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It varies, I’ve written books that took three months and others that have taken over a year.  At the moment I’m on a deadline of nine months, which works well for me. Presently, there is an overlap as I’m working on edits for one book and writing another.

What does your writing day look like?

I’m an early riser, sometimes up making a cuppa at 5 a.m. I start the day by catching up with anything book related, sitting on the sofa with my little dog, who keeps demanding a fuss. I then head into my office and work on my writing until midday. I write on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and, if time, at some point over the weekend. I used to write every day, but we have our little grandchildren on Mondays and Thursdays now, which is lovely. I find non-writing time valuable. In fact, it’s essential for my writing process to think about the characters and the twists and turns of the plot. (Well, that’s my excuse for not actually writing.)

Do your books have a message/common theme. If so what?

Yes, I think they do. They are all psychological thrillers, with revenge playing a big part in most of my plots. I also like writing about evil people getting their comeuppance – so the message there is ‘it doesn’t pay to be wicked’. They all feature a murder or attempted murder, and a lively list of suspects.

Do your books cover any mental health issues?

My ‘baddies’ often have mental health issues, and the workings of a potential killer’s mind, or a cruel person’s mind, has always interested me. What makes them behave the way they do? Are there psychological reasons behind why they are the way they are? Is it nature or nurture, or a bit of both?

Have you ever done a research trip for your writing?

It’s more the other way round for me. The places I’ve loved visiting feature in my novels.  My debut, Her Last Lie, featured Kiruna in Sweden where I visited a few years before I wrote the book. Tell the Truth featured Cliffoney, Sligo in Ireland, where I’ve visited (my grandfather was born there). I have also featured several Hertfordshire settings that are local to me.

What’s the most interesting thing you have discovered when researching a book?

One of my biggest flaws is going down a rabbit hole while researching a book. I’ll be writing a chapter, and pop onto the internet for a small query, and suddenly notice a whole hour has gone by and I’m now looking at a website that has nothing to do with my book. I think my research on poisons for The Island House was probably the most interesting. Learning how the extremely toxic poison hemlock grows wild, and how ingesting foxglove can be fatal to people and pets was quite unnerving.

What are you currently reading?

I’ve just finished The Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr – written in 1935. I’m a lover of locked-room mysteries, and really enjoyed reading it – though I would never have guessed how the murder was done.  I’m now reading Jennie Godfrey’s The List of Suspicious Things.

Author Biography

In February 2024, Amanda Brittany signed with Boldwood Books. Her first release with them, NOW YOU ARE MINE is Out Now!

Amanda lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and cute dog. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, walking her dog, reading & sunny days.

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