Grilling Thriller Authors: Q&A with MA Hunter

In this series, I carry out hard-hitting interviews with psychological thriller authors, where I ask them… just a bunch of silly questions, actually. This month, it’s MA Hunter‘s turn in the hot seat.

1. Which emoji do you use most often?

Actually, there are two emojis I seem to use the most. As someone who is autistic, I find I have to ask lots of questions to clarify information, and will often end with the ‘Thinking Face’ which shows a face deep in contemplation with chin in hand. And because I also have a habit of getting things wrong and being clumsy, the other emoji I frequently use is the monkey holding its face in its hands (which I’ve now learned is called the “see-no-evil monkey” and I may have been misusing it all this time – the irony isn’t lost on me).

2. If your writing muse were an animal, what would it be?

I’m going to have to say dog, and more specifically one of my dogs, Lola. She is a rescued West Highland Terrier crossed with a Bichon Frise (a Wee-Chon), and is essentially a bundle of fluff with a major inferiority complex. I only think of her as my muse because she’s usually asleep on her bed beside my desk when I’m writing.

3. What’s your go-to karaoke song? (Bonus points if it’s terrifying.)

Back in my student days (20-odd years ago), I would be willing to try ANY song at karaoke nights. I’ve always loved the thrill of performing on stage, but my voice isn’t what it once was (as my children regularly remind every time I’ve been singing in the shower), so my go to song now would be Creep by Radiohead. If I add that it puts me in the mindset of my fictional antagonists, do I earn the bonus?

4. How do you celebrate small wins in your writerly life, like finishing a draft?

This is probably going to sound made up, but I very rarely celebrate those writerly wins. After 30+ books, finishing a first draft doesn’t feel as monumental as the first time I finished one. And because I’m contracted to write 2-3 books per year with Boldwood, by publication day I’m usually more invested in my next (or even the one after) book. I have a meeting with my publicist a few weeks before publication day and always have to look back over my notes to recall the plot and character names involved in the book we’re supposed to discuss. I also have a full time job around my writing, so I’m usually working on publication day and it tends to just pass me by like any other day.

5. Is there a true crime case or real-life mystery you’re deeply fascinated by?

There are two: I used to be obsessed by the JFK assassination, having watched the Oliver Stone film. I read so many conspiracy theories, but I read recently they’ve now deduced that the fatal shot inadvertently came from one of the bodyguards running alongside the car because he was heavily hungover.

The other true crime case I’m desperate for answers on is the Madeleine McCann case. I want to know if she is actually dead, and if so who killed her. Are her parents lying about what happened? I’ve watched the Netflix documentary twice and it only throws up more questions. I fear we may never find out the truth.

6. What are your non-book-related hobbies?

Who has time for non-book-related hobbies? Plotting my thrillers, playing the scenes out in my head is one of my favourite pastimes. I enjoy walking my dogs (while plotting), I enjoy soaking in a hot bath (plotting my books), and I enjoy listening to music (plotting my books). The only thing that thrills me as much as plotting is watching Arsenal winning football matches. I am also an avid movie fan and will watch a film before bed most nights.

7. You discover a random door. Where are you hoping it leads?

A hidden room in my house that nobody else knows about — isn’t that what everyone wants? Actually, a hidden room filled with money and fine wine would be the dream.

8. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received (writing advice or life advice)?

‘If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.’ In fairness, this advice was imparted by Doc Brown to Marty McFly in Back To The Future, rather than to me directly, but it still resonates  today. I’ve been a writer for 15 years, and spent the majority of those feeling like an impostor (a common feeling for writers), even after I was published. And it’s only in the last year (and after therapy) that I feel able to embrace my calling fully. So, as a cursory reminder, I had a tattoo inked on my right arm which reads, ‘More Than Enough’.

9. Tell us about your latest novel in one sentence.

The Confession is a psychological thriller about a human lie detector who must consider how far she’s willing to go when someone threatens to expose her own darkest secret.