157: Chat with Ilona Bannister

This week, I’m joined by bestselling author Ilona Bannister, author of the psychological thriller Five, which became a sensation after its release in May. Ilona and I talk about the winding, often difficult journey to becoming a traditionally published author—including navigating the challenges of publishing during COVID and the unwavering support from her husband that helped her keep going.We also dive into Five and what makes its characters so compelling. At the heart of the story is the way we judge people without ever really knowing what’s happening beneath the surface, and Ilona shares how she built characters who are complicated, flawed, challenging, and not always easy to like. And honestly, those are often the characters that make for the best stories.It was such a joy getting to know Ilona and hear the story behind her success. She’s already working on her next book, and after this conversation, I absolutely cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!Website: www.ilonabannisterwrites.comIG: @ilona.bannisterBooks Recommended by Ilona:Honey by Imani ThompsonWhat Boys Learn by Andromeda Romano-Lax