Anatomy of a Killing by Emma McDonagh
Emma McDonagh
Emma’s love of stories grew from idle hours spent in the back garden of her childhood home, creating characters in her make-believe cafe. Later, it was Stephen King novels, Prime Suspect on terrestrial TV, and a trip to Salisbury Playhouse to see John Godber’s Salt of the Earth that got her hooked on the thrill of a thumping drama. She started writing when she moved to Scotland, with an urge to escape into her imagination while on maternity leave with her third child. She now lives in an emptying nest in the south of England where the creative itch persists.
She has had a play longlisted for Channel 4’s The Play’s The Thing, a novel longlisted for the mslexia Adult Fiction competition and is an alumna of the Curtis Brown Creative Writing Your Novel six-month course.
What made you enter the Cheshire Novel Prize?
I’ve followed the prize since its inaugural year, and it’s such a friendly and transparent competition. Feedback is lifeblood to writers so that groundbreaking element was really appealing, and all at a reasonable entry fee!
What did it feel like when you were LL and then SL?
I’d barely looked at the novel all summer and, honestly, when the LL email came through, I felt unprepared - it was a bit like that recurring childhood dream, lining up for registration in the school playground and realising I was in my underwear. But the deadline for sending the additional words helped get me back to the desk, and when I got the call about the SL I was overjoyed.
What was the reaction from those around you/family and friends?
I’m amazed by my family’s ability to keep faith and muster enthusiasm! I didn’t tell my writer friends until the shortlisting - that playground in my underwear thing - and they were so lovely and encouraging. Writing is such a solitary endeavour, and the rejection can be brutal, so having cheerleaders makes a huge difference.
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
My previous novel, a detective story, had died on submission and I wanted to write something different. I was struggling for ideas, but I’m obsessed with the mother/daughter dynamic so that was always going to feature. When the basic idea came to me, I knew it was something I wanted to work on and it quickly developed from there.
What’s it about?
It’s a psychological suspense about a doctor dealing with the legacy of a violent death. It’s essentially a whodunnit, exploring grief and female shame, and the limitations of a woman’s compassion and conscience.
What’s your writing routine?
I try to write every weekday, and often get up at a stupid hour to start. With this novel I set myself a daily goal of 1,000 words, and though I didn’t always reach it, I got the first draft down in 8 months which is my quickest yet. I’m lucky to have a community of great writers and we often work together on zoom for an hour or so. They’re the best silent companions a writer could wish for!
What’s next for you?
The next draft! As soon as I sent off the full manuscript I thought of a change I need to make, but I’m taking a few weeks off before the announcement, and once I get feedback, I’ll do edits. Some of my writer friends are on the cusp of exciting things and I’m looking forward to celebrating their successes.
What are your favourite books and why?
That’s a good question, and almost as difficult to answer as the one about your final death-row meal! I love stories that poke at the guts, delve into the messy human experience, and I like to read across genres. Our Fathers by Rebecca Wait is fantastically restrained, haunting and utterly heartbreaking. My favourite novels are often ones I’ve recently read and loved: Yael van der Wouden’s The Safekeep, Abigail Dean’s The Death of Us. I’m always first-in-line for the next Louise Doughty novel, and will never give away my copy of Pascal Garnier’s brilliant novella, How’s The Pain?
Any tips for writers intending on entering the competition?
I’m not sure how helpful my tips are, but trying to distill the novel to a one-line pitch is always time well spent. I struggle with this, along with the dreaded synopsis. Other than that, I’d encourage anyone to go for it!