Interview: Sarah Moorhead
The Five By Five Interview with Sarah Moorhead
First, the sensible questions…
Q1 Tell us a bit about your journey to publication and how you got to where you are now. Why crime fiction rather than another genre?
I’ve been writing ever since I could put pen to paper, and I’ve always had a wild imagination! My mum encouraged me to read and gave me a love of books and I’ve always wanted to be published. However it took me a long time. I started writing seriously at 27 – I started with short stories and joined a writers’ group. I started reading around the craft and learning as much as I could, going to writer talks and book launches, anything to help me become a better writer. It took me 20 years to finally get published. I’ve had a few bumps in the road, but I’m determined to make a career of it, so I pick myself up and keep going. I chose crime fiction because it’s probably the genre I enjoy the most to read and it explores our deepest fears from a comfortable distance whilst helping us to reflect on society and human nature, which I am fascinated by.
Q2 What was it like sitting down and writing your first novel, and what is it like now – easier, harder, just different?
My first novel was something that I was thinking about for a while and when I was on maternity leave with my youngest son I somehow managed to write it around his naps. I didn’t really know back then how to structure a novel, or about the various beats. I didn’t have my “voice” and so it took a lot of editing, which was an amazing learning curve. It’s easier in some ways now as I have a much better idea of what I am doing. However, it’s always difficult to write a book as there are so many elements to it – ideas, structure, character, to name a few, and then there is the sheer graft of producing a piece of writing that might be 100,000 words that needs to be coherent and entertaining. Writing is not for the faint-hearted!
Q3 Your books blend science fiction/dystopia and crime, and have been tagged “speculative crime fiction” – what led you to this blending of genres? And has it been tough to persuade publishers and readers to pick up your books?
I was brought up in a household that considered science and religion to be equally important and so I’m fascinated by both and in particular the crossover points – for instance the morality of technology: just because we could, does it mean we should? I’ve always been interested in the concepts of good and evil and I’m obsessed with the brain – I think we know so little about it really and so I want to explore the possibilities. I like the term speculative fiction as it can be summed up in the phrase “what if?” Just asking that question gets my mind racing… I like to take an idea and then take it as far as I can: what would our world be like if…? This genre seems to be becoming popular right now, so hopefully I’ve hit the zeitgeist and people will want to read my stories.
Q4 What’s your favourite part about being a writer?
I like it all really, just at different times – it depends what mood I’m in. It’s great sitting down and letting your creativity flow, but it’s also good to get your logical mind into gear when editing. I do like being in control of the story and what happens to my characters and I’ll be honest, I also like messing with the reader’s head! Meeting people who have read and liked my book is just the biggest thrill, I’ll always be really grateful to people who take time to read my work.
Q5 What’s next for you, in terms of writing?
I have a new book coming out in March 2025 called Enhanced which I describe as a mash-up of The Wizard Of Oz and Frankenstein – it’s about four people who have brain implants to make them smarter, braver, more emotional and to feel at home in the world. I’ve really enjoyed exploring these ideas and what might go wrong.
Now for the quick-fire round…
Q1 Who are your favourite characters in crime fiction?
I wish I’d written Dexter or Hannibal – their characters are so complex and vivid, so well-thought out and fresh. I’ve read the books and watched the TV programmes. Brilliant!
Q2 What book have you reread the most?
I don’t tend to reread books. Life is short and it’s getting shorter – so many books, so little time.
Q3 What’s your favourite method of killing off characters?
Hmm… not a favourite method, but I do like a death that gives some hint of an afterlife or something spooky, another layer of life to ponder.
Q4 What is your most over-used phrase, in life or in writing?
I annoy myself by saying “just” all the time. I’m just doing this… just doing that… it’s a useless word and it sneaks into my writing too. I search for “just” on a Word doc and get lots of hits which I have to edit out. If only I could do that in conversation too!
Q5 Do you use a bookmark or do you fold down the page corner?
I prefer a magnetic bookmark as I often read in the bath and it’s easy to drop a bookmark into the water. I tend to write all over my books and fold pages and highlight bits, even glue stuff in. Some people are horrified by this. But I think a book is a conversation and a journey and almost a living thing so I like to make the most of it!
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So, I’m not going to be lending Sarah Moorhead a book of mine that I want back, but I absolutely understand her problem with overusing the word “just” because I do that too… It’s hard to believe it took her so long to get published, but hopefully that will be a comfort to those who are in the querying trenches and feeling disheartened. And remember the power of “what if…?” Thanks to Sarah for taking the time to answer my questions and giving us a glimpse behind the scenes – go and see her panel at Harrogate if you can, I’m sure it will be a great hour of chat.
sarahmoorhead.com 