Why writing?

I love everything about writing-from the opportunity to walk through different lives and experiences, getting into the emotions and mindset of the characters, through to the physical of either typing on a keyboard or writing with a gorgeous pen and paper. The whole experience is one I’ve always enjoyed.

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

I’ve told stories since I was a child and I have little books that I made when I was little. I entered and won various writing competitions when I was younger, and it was when I won a local library short story competition when I was about 14, I thought that it might be something I could do. I then swerved off into theatre, film and TV for a while but eventually, my first love called me back!

Who inspires you?

It’s a mix of other writers, and the books I wish I’d written and everyday people who go through such trying times and experiences and come out the other side still standing. My books tend to explore these times, and the ins and outs of why people do what they do is what drives my storytelling.

What was you most recent published novel?

My latest book, The Man She Married is out on the 20^th January. It’s about Beth, a woman who finds herself in an incredibly vulnerable position, experiencing amnesia after a car crash, and having to trust those around her to tell her about her life because she does not remember her husband, their home nor their life together. And she can’t shake the feeling that her husband is not to be trusted.

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m working on the early stages of my next book, which I think is going to explore the high standards and intensity that female friendships sometimes experience and what impact that can have.

How long does it take you to write a book?

A first draft takes about three to four months, and I write about 1000-2000 words a day. I like to try to keep to this as a first draft for me is messy as I don’t really know the characters, and sometimes the whole depth of plot until it’s done. If I can get the bones down fairly quickly then I can sit back and work out what needs to be done next.

What does your writing day look like?

I get everyone out of the house to school and then I have to tidy up as I am currently working from the dining table which looks into the kitchen and if there is washing up or laundry then I can’t focus on writing. Once the house is done, I make myself a large coffee and get started. I tend to warm up with ten minutes or so on social media, checking my accounts and catching up on what’s happening in the book world. Then I get on with my word count, or editing depending on the stage I’m at. If I’m less busy, I’ll stop for lunch but if I’m flat out, I’ll grab something standing up in the kitchen as I need to get the focussed work done before the 3pm school run. Then, once home from that and I’ve caught up with the kids, I might do another hour or work, or admin before wrapping up for the day about 5 though my mind may keep working as I prep dinner etc!

Do your books have a message/common theme?

My first three, The Cuckoo Sister, The Silent Friend and The New Girl, all have a theme of someone is not who they claim to be and explores a range of different reasons for that. The Man She Married and the next two, I don’t know yet if there is a theme, but I like to explore various human relationships and interactions and so a new theme might yet present itself. Often, I don’t really know the theme until I’ve written a draft as my characters come to light over that first version.

Do your books cover any mental health issues?

Yes. I am fascinated by what drives people to do what they do and I think in many cases of trauma, mental health plays a significant role. In The Cuckoo Sister I explore post-natal depression. In The Silent Friend I explore what happens when your self-worth isn’t built up by those who raise you. The New Girl looks at issues surrounding infertility and infidelity and the anxiety that can come with this.

Have you ever done a research trip for your writing?

Sadly not yet. I have two historical fiction novels that require research-one is set very locally to me in the fens of Cambridgeshire, one in New South Wales! I wanted to for The Silent Friend but it was written during lockdown and so I used Google maps to “walk” the streets in London where it was set. I keep trying to come up with an idea that needs me to go to Italy!

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

For The Man She Married I had to look into the neurology of temporary retrograde amnesia and what causes it following a traumatic experience and why the brain almost goes into protect mode. The psychological stress of the accident triggers the amnesia, rather than a physical injury to the brain which I didn’t know. I am grateful for the doctor at Addenbrookes Hospital who kindly gave his time to answer my questions about it. The human mind is fascinating, so it was a really interesting conversation!

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading Orla Owen’s Christ on a Bike from Blue Moose Books and really enjoying it and am about to read The Reunion by M.A Hunter from Boldwood Books that looks really good!

Author Biography

Alison Stockham’s debut novel, The Cuckoo Sister, was a top 10 bestseller and was also longlisted for the Lucy Cavendish
Fiction Prize. Her novels The Silent Friend and The New Girl have since been published.

The Man She Married

The Man She Married is a  compulsive and obsessive read that will have you saying ‘just one more chapter!’ Perfect for fans of Before I Go To Sleep and Alice Feeney.

How can you fight for a life you can’t remember?

One moment I was just living my life, finding my way in the world. The next I woke up in a hospital bed with years of my life missing. The man by my side – Rob, my husband – looks familiar, but I can’t remember marrying him. I can’t remember our life together. Most haunting of all: I can’t remember anything about the last five years.

Rob keeps telling me that everything will be fine, that my memories will return, but something feels… wrong. Why does our
flat feel so unfamiliar? Why does he flinch when I ask questions? Why are none of my friends and family in touch? The more I try to piece my life back together, the more I question everything – even myself. Who is Rob, really? And can I trust him?
More importantly, can I trust myself?