Behind the debut with Sal Gallahar

Welcome back to Behind The Debut, a podcast to shine a light on first-time authors and their journey to publication.In this episode, I’m delighted to welcome Sal Gallahar, Sydney-based author of Secrets In The Lakes, a romance suspense novel that delves into the themes of friendships, small town secrets, a mysterious death and a young woman’s journey towards love and self-discovery.In our conversation, you’ll hear:* What, or rather who, inspired her to write her debut book* The different planning approaches she took with her debut and the second book she’s working on now* Why taking on a mentor was the best decision she made for her novel and her writing* The parts of Secrets In The Lakes that Sal found most challenging to write (clue:🌶️)* The importance of learning to take feedback on board as a new author* What Sal discovered about herself on her writing journey (something that I think will resonate with a lot of authors!)* How Sal approaches promoting Secrets In The Lakes* The advice that she would give her pre-published self about writing and publishing* A sneak peek behind the scenes of her next book which is set in her home country of DenmarkMore about ‘Secrets In The Lakes’Mandy Reid, a successful yet emotionally scarred writer from LA, returns to her hometown of Lake Haven after the untimely death of a close friend. Reconnecting with old friends, particularly the grieving widow Emma, Mandy gets entangled in the town’s web of dramas and buried secrets.As she rekindles an old flame with Sam and bonds with Emma’s enigmatic brother-in-law Marc, Mandy confronts her trust issues and uncovers shocking family revelations. With escalating conflicts and emerging truths about her friend’s death and Emma’s disappearance, Mandy must navigate a maze of secrets and lies.Can she unravel Lake Haven’s mysteries and heal her heart? Discover the gripping twists in “Secrets in the Lakes.” a story of love, loss, and the powerful journey of self-discovery.Connect with SalBuy Secrets In The LakesSal’s WebsiteSal’s newsletter on SubstackInstagram / Facebook / Medium / Freelance WritingListen on your favourite podcast players including Apple podcasts, Spotify and PocketcastsIf you’re interested in appearing on the show, drop me an email to [email protected] music by music_for_video from PixabayCONNECT WITH MICHELLEJoin me on Substack at michellreeveswrites.substack.com where you'll find the latest episodes of Behind the Debut, plus behind the scenes chat about author life, books, writing, publishing and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michellereeveswrites.substack.com