Breaking Birds is a riveting crime thriller told completely in poetic verse. What inspired you to write a story in this style?

As a mum of three I sometimes find it hard to find the time to sit down and lose myself in a good book. I’ve read a few different ‘novels in verse’ and found them really easy to read as you can dip in and read a poem in a few minutes whenever you get chance. I’ve been wanting to write my own poetic novel for a while, I just didn’t know which genre until I started to write! I loved the idea of the juxtaposition between beautiful poetry and evil intent.

What were some sources that informed this stories development?

The whole process was completely organic. I had the idea to write the book from the viewpoint of a killer. The gender in my mind was originally a male lead but I realised about a third of the way through that it didn’t need to be. I then rewrite parts so that the character was deliberately ambiguous-I’ll let the reader make their own decision.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

I wanted to explore the contradictions between having this poetic soul and yet the overriding madness that leads to murder. To look at how what could start as well intended affection could lead to obsession and cruelty.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I will be writing a prequel to Breaking Birds although there is no release date yet. At the moment I’m working on a historic retelling of Greek mythology, something in a much more comical style and a light relief from Breaking Birds.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website