Summer Rewind: Laura Purcell on Sequels, Superstition and Surviving Publishing

This week on The Conversation, we're revisiting one of our favourite gothic conversations with bestselling author Laura Purcell.Laura is known for her atmospheric, unsettling fiction, and in this episode we talk about her novel House of Splinters, a prequel to her hit book The Silent Companions. Set in a haunted house in 1775, the story follows Belinda as she uncovers dark family secrets while trying to protect her children from the shadows of the past.We talk about what it takes to write a prequel that has to honour a beloved original while still standing on its own, and Laura is refreshingly honest about the pressure that comes with that. She also opens up about her writing journey more broadly, from self-publishing her first book to finding her way into traditional publishing, and how she went from historical fiction into the gothic genre that's now her signature.Some of the moments that stayed with us:Laura on constantly reinventing herself as a writer, and why that adaptability matters in a market that never stays stillThe particular sting of "good" rejections, the kind where an editor praises the writing but says no anyway, and how she's learned to sit with thatWhy she refuses to write to trends: "by the time you've finished the book, that trend will be over"The pressure of writing House of Splinters and staying true to her own mythology while giving readers something newHer advice for authors navigating a publishing industry that can feel relentless: patience, flexibility, and trusting your own voiceThis one's for anyone who loves gothic fiction, or anyone who's ever wondered what it really takes to build a career as a novelist. Sit back and enjoy this rewind while we get ready for Season 5, back on 8 September.Follow Laura PurcellBuy House of SplintersPre-Order 'House of Splinters' Paperback Buy the Book: The Shadow CarverBuy me a cup of coffee ☕️ | Buy books by my guestsFollow Me Bluesky | Substack | Instagram | Facebook | Threads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.