BEST OF CRIME with Teresa Driscoll

Welcome to my latest BEST OF CRIME feature, looking at crime writers' top picks, from their favourite author and fictional detective to their best writing tip. 

Today I'm delighted to welcome 

TERESA DRISCOLL

to share her BEST OF CRIME ...

... AUTHORS
I’m going to say Kate Atkinson for her brilliant Jackson Brodie books. I love all Kate’s writing and literally punched the air when she ‘turned to crime’ – setting the bar sooooo high. I read an interview years back in which she said she might one day write another Brodie book. Kate. Please. I’m not proud. I’m prepared to beg…

... FILMS/MOVIES
The Sixth Sense. A little off piste? Sure. It’s technically supernatural horror (I had to Google the genre to be sure!) but it starts with a crime and this film brilliantly demonstrates precisely what I like my ‘crime stories’ to do. Namely…the totally unexpected.  I love a story that widens the lens to explore surprising motive and consequence. The Sixth Sense is pure character-led genius – managing to deliver big shocks as well as deeply touching scenes. It’s also the scariest movie I have managed to watch without passing out. (Whisper this; I’m a bit of a wimp on the quiet.)

... TV DRAMAS
Happy Valley. I’m a big fan of Sarah Lancashire who was stunning in this with a brilliant script by Sally Wainwright. I’m also currently enjoying Kiri…

... FICTIONAL KILLERS
Probably Hannibal Lecter – though I watched most of Silence of the Lambs from behind my hands (see above re wimp/fainting tendencies).

... FICTIONAL DETECTIVES 
Jackson Brodie. *stops fainting and swoons*

... MURDER WEAPONS
Sorry. Useless on this. I feel a bit of a fraud here but I’m really not that excited by how people get killed. (I’d write my death scenes from behind my hands if it was possible to type that way!) It’s all about the why and the what the hell next for me.

... DEATH SCENES
There is stunning use of an icicle in a fabulous book…but I daren’t name it for *spoiler* reasons – though most of you will hopefully know what I mean.

  

... BLOGS/WEBSITES
No special favourites; I just roam the net and Google when I’m researching. A lot of readers of my bestseller I Am Watching You asked me if I ever worked as a florist. Nope. I just spent DAYS and DAYS watching YouTube videos by floral designers…(If the writing ever goes pear-shaped, I could probably now do weddings.)

... WRITING TIPS
Number one – write what you feel passionate about. (If you try to chase a trend, it’s bound to have passed by the time you finish anyway.)

Write in forward gear so you keep the excitement and the momentum – leave the editing for later. (I thank Stephen King for this crucial tip which changed my writing life.)

Don’t share ideas too early. Even a raised eyebrow can knock confidence in your WIP. Keep the faith. Keep the buzz. And keep it to yourself for as long as you can.

... WRITING SNACKS
I run on coffee and spend a large part of every hour of every day, trying NOT to think about snacks.

About TERESA DRISCOLL

Teresa Driscoll is a former BBC TV news journalist and now bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Her debut I am watching you hit kindle #1 in the UK, USA and Australia on launch and has sold more than 200,000 copies. Teresa also writes women’s fiction and her books have been sold for translation to ten countries. Teresa’s new psychological thriller The Friend is published by Thomas & Mercer in paperback and as an e-book on March 22 2018.

Find Teresa Driscoll on her website, on her Facebook page and on Twitter - @TeresaDriscoll

About THE FRIEND

Publisher's description

On a train with her husband, miles from home and their four-year-old son, Ben, Sophie receives a chilling phone call. Two boys are in hospital after a tragic accident. One of them is Ben.

She thought she could trust Emma, her new friend, to look after her little boy. After all, Emma’s a kindred spirit—someone Sophie was sure she could bare her soul to, despite the village rumours. But Sophie can’t shake the feeling that she’s made an unforgivable mistake and now her whole family is in danger.Because how well does she know Emma, really? Should she have trusted her at all?

Time is running out. Powerless to help her child, still hours from home, Sophie is about to discover the truth. And her life will never be the same.

The Friend is published by Thomas and Mercer on 22 March 2018.

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