The Writing Life of: Keri Beevis

Keri Beevis

This week I am thrilled to be interviewing author Keri Beevis. Keri will be sharing with us details of her writing life, telling us all about her new book ‘Every Little Breath‘, which was released on 13th April 2021, and answering a few fun questions too. This post contains affiliate links.

Keri Beevis

Keri Beevis is the internationally bestselling author of Dying To Tell, Deep Dark Secrets and Trust No One. Dying To Tell reached no. 1 in the Amazon chart in Australia and was a top 25 hit in the UK, while Deep Dark Secrets was the bestselling Bloodhound Books title of 2020. Her most recent thriller, Every Little Breath, was released in April 2021.

Keri lives in Norfolk, England, with her two naughty kitties, Ellie and Lola, and a plentiful supply of red wine (her writing fuel). She loves Hitchcock movies, exploring creepy places, and gets extremely competitive in local pub quizzes. She is also a self-confessed klutz.

 

1) Did you enjoy writing when you were a child?

I did. Writing was a huge part of my childhood and I used to fill A4 notebooks with stories. Back then they were just for me, and I had no idea that one day my stories would be published.

2) Which author shaped your childhood?

Without a doubt, Enid Blyton. I loved the Magic Faraway Tree series, The Famous Five, The Secret Seven and I was obsessed with her Adventure series with Kiki the Parrot.

3) What motivated you to begin your first novel?

Stephen King has to take the credit (or maybe it should be blamed) for that. In my late teens, I wrote a number of short stories that I submitted (without success) to women’s magazines and I really hadn’t considered trying to write anything longer. Then while I was on holiday I remember lying on my sun lounger reading Misery and thinking about how hard it must be to write a full novel. Within a couple of weeks I had decided I wanted to give it a try.

4) Do you plot your book, or are you a pantser?

I call myself a pantser and for the most part I do wing it, but truthfully, I do generally know where my stories are going. I tend to start a book knowing a rough plot outline and how it is likely to end, but what I don’t know is how I am going to get from A to B. And B can often change along the way. So I guess I am probably 80% pantser and 20% plotter.

5) What is your average writing day?

I would love to be one of those people who wakes up at the crack of dawn and has a productive writing morning, but honestly I am more of a night owl. I do try to start writing late in the morning and continue into the afternoon, but more often than not, I will still be banging at the keyboard late at night when most people are heading off to bed.

Where Keri Beevis Writes

Where Keri Beevis Writes

6) What is the best thing about being an author?

There are so many things. I love getting that spark of an idea and building a story and characters around it. I love typing ‘the end’. I love watching as my publisher shapes my story into an actual book, seeing the cover for the first time and getting to hold a physical copy. And I love (in a kind of petrified way) getting that first reader feedback.

Every Little Breath by Keri Beevis

Every Little Breath

Author – Keri Beevis
Publisher – Bloodhound Books
Pages – 410
Release Date – 13th April 2021
ISBN 13 – 978-1913942298
Format – ebook, paperback, audio

Synopsis

‘Only you can save her. If she dies, it is your fault.’

When radio presenter, Casey Fallon, answers the call she assumes it is a prank. But then a woman’s body is discovered, and she finds herself up against a cruel and calculating killer who wants her to find his victims before they take their last breath.

Fifteen years ago, Casey was a key witness in the trial of serial killer, Steve Noakes, and her evidence helped put him behind bars for the murders of five women.

Someone remembers what happened that summer. Someone who is desperate for revenge. Someone who won’t stop until Casey has been punished.

‘You saved a life once. Can you do it again?’ The game is just beginning…

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7) How did you go about researching the content for your book?

There were two areas that required research and assistance when writing my most recent book. My main character, Casey, works as a deejay for a local radio station, while her love interest, Finn, is a police detective. I contacted a radio deejay before starting the story and he was incredibly helpful, answering all of my questions.

The police bit was easier. My novel is psychological fiction, not police procedural, but I still wanted it to be accurate. My sister is a detective, so she kindly read the story as I wrote it, picking up on anything that needed changing.

8) How long did it take to go from the ideas stage to writing the last word?

I started the story with a publication date already scheduled in with my publisher, so I knew I had to work to a certain timeline. I began plotting in July and started writing quite quickly after that. I had to deliver by the end of November and came in two weeks ahead of schedule, so just under four months.

9) What made you choose the genre you write in?

I write the genre of books that I enjoy reading myself. My first couple of novels were crime fiction, but psychological thrillers now interest me more.

10) How did you come up with the name(s) for your lead character(s)?

The names are always so important, and I have been known to deliberate for weeks until I have the right ones. With Every Little Breath I didn’t have that issue. Casey Fallon and Finn Murphy were clear in my head from the start, and I actually built the story up around them.

11) Can you give us an insight into your characters?

I tried to make both Casey and Finn relatable. I wanted them to be real people in a challenging situation. Casey witnessed something terrible in her past, but she is a strong character, albeit guarded. She keeps her circle close. Finn is more laid back and doesn’t take himself too seriously, and he has proven to be a favourite with readers.

12) How did you feel when you had completed your book?

Happy, relieved, glad it was finished, but also homesick for my characters and the world I was leaving.

Fun Questions

Interview penguin 2021

1) Do you have a favourite quote you live by?

Everything happens for a reason and if things don’t work out, it’s usually because there is something better waiting. I have found this to be the case on more than one occasion and by applying that logic, I find it helps me deal with any setbacks in a more positive way.

2) Do you have any pets?

I do. Ellie and Lola are my two mischievous feline writing companions. I adopted them fourteen years ago from a local shelter and they are the loves of my life.

Keri Beevis Cats

3) What’s on your current reading list?

I have just finished reading A Sky Full of Stars by Dani Atkins. A different type of read for me, but I really enjoyed it. Now I need to go through my Kindle library and decide what to read next.

4) Your book has been made into a feature film, you’ve been offered a cameo role, what would you be doing?

Something that doesn’t require any acting, as I would like the film to be good. Ha. So perhaps an Alfred Hitchcock style cameo. Casey lives in a big old house that has been converted into apartments. Maybe I can be a neighbour passing by in the background.

5) If you could travel to the fictional world of any book for the day, which would you choose?

I am torn here as part of me wants to say The Magic Faraway Tree, as I would love to have an adventure in one of the lands at the top of the tree, but equally, adult me, would really like to go to one of Jay Gatsby’s parties in The Great Gatsby.

6) There’s a penguin sitting in your writing chair, what is the first thing he says to you?

‘Why is there a cat sitting on top of me?’ (Lola nicks my chair the second I vacate it, so I think the penguin might get squished).


I would like to say a big thank you to Keri Beevis for sharing with us details of her writing life and for a wonderful interview.

Author links

Interview 2021 twitter

Interview facebook 2021

Interview instagram 2021

Interview goodreads 2021

interview Website 2021


Share your thoughts on our interview with Keri Beevis in the comment section below!


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10 Responses

  1. Finitha Jose says:

    I am not into psychological thrillers but loved reading this interview. You are absolutely right. One of the best things about being an author is the happiness we get after typing ‘The End’

  2. I love your interviews, you always ask the best questions. Also, my cat look just like the one on the right.

  3. KARENSIDDALL says:

    Definitely putting this author on “Follow” and “Every Little Breath” on my wishlist!

  4. I love her answers to the interview. Maybe I should to set a release date and hopefully that’ll push me to finish a book!

  5. Nadene says:

    I am adding Every Little Breath to my wish list. Lovely interview as always.

  6. Thank you Finitha, Good to hear you liked the interview and can resonate with what Keri said.

  7. Thank you Bianca, I’m so happy to hear you enjoy our interviews.

  8. Thank you Karen, glad you like the sound of Keri’s books.

  9. Thank you. Go for it, you never know it just might work.

  10. Thank you Nadene, Good to hear you are adding Keri’s book to your list.