What makes a 'suspense' novel and leaving law for writing with Sonia Velton

Sonia Velton grew up living between the Bahamas and the UK. She has worked as a solicitor at an international law firm and lived in the Middle East for eight years. She has since moved back to England where she lives with her three children. Her first novel, Blackberry and Wile Rose, was a historical fiction inspired by real characters and events. Her latest novel, The Image of Her, is something entirely different and that's what we're chatting about today.Our interview starts at 15 minutes. Michelle recommendsYou're Dead to Me A history podcast for people who don’t like history (and those who do) hosted by the mind behind Horrible Histories.Caitlin recommendsKitty Flanagan's 488 Rules for Life (audiobook version)This is a joy to listen to and perfect to improve your lockdown mood. Listen to the audiobook to enjoy a little extra content. The audiobook is free on the ABC Listen app at the time of recordingIn this interview, we chat about: How Sonia was inspired to write The Image of Her and why she believes the idea finds her, regardless of genreWhat makes a suspense novel or genre fiction?Why Sonia felt the need to change her career after working as a lawyer internationally and how her London borough inspired her first novelThe desire to have someone externally ‘approve’ of the decision to write and how this affected Sonia’s writing processWhy Sonia decided to pursue publication and how she got her book dealBooks and other things mentionedThe Weekly with Charlie PickeringHomeschool History (podcast)Follow Sonia on Instagram @SoniaveltonFollow us on Instagram @betterwordspodThe Image of Her is available now. Thank you to the team at Quercus Books UK for sending us copies of The Image of Her in preparation for the interview.