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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, discover how former psychology expert turned self-published author Julie Conrad, crafts gripping psychological thrillers, letting complex characters drive unpredictable stories that hook readers from start to finish.
Written by Julie Conrad
I have been writing novels for publication since 2019 when I decided to re work a book I had written in 1990, I kept a draft of the manuscript in a box, entitled ‘High Places.’ I self published this book and went on to write and self-publish five other books.
I write psychological thrillers, predominantly women’s/contemporary fiction.
The inspiration to write comes directly from my imagination. I am able to sit down and think of a character and start writing, I build a picture of the character, their situation and background until the character takes on a life of its own. This is how I develop all my characters. As they begin to interact with each other a theme develops around circumstances, dreams, wants and needs.
I had a long career that focused on human psychology, interaction and sociology which I draw upon to create the people in my stories.
Writing Process
My writing process is simple, I sit down and start writing, the stories have a way of writing themselves, as I never plan a beginning, middle and end. I go with the flow. I follow the characters needs, wants and desires which usually leads to complex life situations. Included in the mix is the characters stepping out of the norm, whereby, out of the ordinary situations arise and impacts upon them, how they might deal with trauma, fear, joy.
My characters become real people, I know how they think, perceive and react to what life throws at them.
I hook in my readers by creating situations where they ask themselves, how would I deal with this? My readers invest in the journey of characters they both like and loathe.
I write books referred to as page turners, a steady pace and beat. I avoid padding out pages with flowery and unnecessary descriptions. The characters tell the story in the dialogue.
I never know how the book will end, often it could have a number of outcomes, this is where I consciously determine how the novel should end. If I don’t want to leave the character at the end of the book, I would write an epilogue so I am able to write a sequel. I did this with High Places, which was so well received I wrote a sequel entitled Justice. I wrote the ‘Sarah Jane Raymond trilogy’ as the character had a psychopathic personality, the reader was both sympathetic to her predicament and horrified at by her actions.
Characters
Sarah Jane Raymond book one was sub titled Georgette. Book two sub titled Charlotte and book three sub titled Joanna.
I think if the protagonist character, no matter how bad they might be, is able to show a little vulnerability, it hooks into the reader psyche so they might empathise with the characters and what life has thrown at them, it is the character perception, fear and reaction to the situations that carry the story. Often readers can be shocked yet impressed by the action taken by the character, who dares do what the reader would never contemplate carrying out, in reality. This is the beauty and magic of writing fiction; we are able to go places outside the social and psychological constructs of our conditioning.
I also paint wildlife with acrylics. Writing is like painting as it can only be truly creative when we are in the zone and lost in the moment. Time flies by as we are immersed in the creative process which is very different from consciously thinking about every word you put down.
My philosophy to writing is the same as to my paintings, if people buy my work and it makes them happy, my job is done. The focus is never about making lots of money or fame, it is about sharing creativity, be it by music, painting and of course writing. Communicating with a readership through my novels is most rewarding.
My advice to would be writers is just to write. Enjoy what you create and value what you produce.
If you want to self-publish or intend to send your manuscript to a publisher, make sure it copy-edited to a high standard.
Self-Publishing
Self-publishing offers authors the opportunity to get their books out there, however, make sure your work is of high quality. Research the pitfalls of self-publishing to ensure you are not left out of pocket when sales are returned.
Don’t be despondent if you are rejected over and over by a publisher, the publishing world is a business, sales and profits are what count. It is not a rejection of you or your work, it is just that they don’t consider your material marketable.
If you enjoy writing then do so for the love of it, there is always the chance your work will reach a readership who love your genre.
Find more from Julie Conrad now:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hTXZjP
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Your blog is a testament to your passion for your subject matter. Your enthusiasm is infectious, and it’s clear that you put your heart and soul into every post. Keep up the fantastic work!