‘When I sent the first pages of my first novel to Jill back in 2016, I remember feeling tremendously nervous. Sharing something as personal as that with someone else – an accomplished writer who’d written such gorgeous novels herself! – is daunting. Eight years later, however, I am absolutely sure that I could not have found a better mentor.
‘Jill’s warm and intelligent humanity encouraged me from the very beginning not to shy away from that feeling of vulnerability, and to share with her the best writing I could deliver. From her first emphasis on the craft itself – teaching me about structure, character, plotting, and how to actually write a novel – to slowly guiding me in my submission to agents, and finally to preparing me for this new phase: becoming a published author.
‘My debut novel, The Dinner Party, will be published in September 2025 by Little, Brown in the US and Tinder Press in the UK. I am in no doubt at all that I would not have come this far without the expert help, guidance and friendship of Jill.’
