Unlocking the Secrets of Suspense
B.A. Paris discusses her creative process, inspiration for ‘The Guest’, and the thrill of seeing her novels adapted for the screen, all from her Hampshire countryside cottage.
B.A. Paris, the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author, has captivated readers with her psychological thrillers that delve into the dark undercurrents of seemingly perfect domestic lives. Her breakout novel, Behind Closed Doors, became a word-of-mouth sensation, establishing her as a master of suspense. With 7 million copies of her seven novels sold and translations in 41 languages, Paris’s work has resonated with audiences worldwide. Her journey from a career in finance to becoming a bestselling author is as intriguing as the plots she crafts, demonstrating that it’s never too late to pursue one’s dreams.
In this exclusive interview for Reader’s House Magazine, Paris opens up about her creative process, the inspiration behind her highly anticipated novel The Guest, and her experience of seeing her work adapted for the screen. Writing from her cottage in the Hampshire countryside, she draws inspiration from her surroundings and her vivid imagination, crafting stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats. As we explore the mind of B.A. Paris, we uncover the secrets behind her success and gain insight into the thrilling worlds she creates. Join us as we delve into the captivating literary universe of B.A. Paris, where suspense and intrigue await behind every door.
You have had a fascinating journey from working in finance to becoming a bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Can you share what inspired you to make such a dramatic career change and how your previous experiences have influenced your writing?
I wanted to write from an early age but I always imagined it would be something I’d do later, when I had time. I had a busy career in finance, then trained as a teacher to be able to fit my work around my children. Years later, one of my daughters persuaded me to enter a writing competition and realising that it was the chance to do what I’d always wanted to do, I cut my teaching hours and started writing.
Living in the Hampshire countryside must provide a serene and inspiring backdrop for your writing. How does your environment influence the settings and atmospheres in your novels?
This is an interesting question because I lived in France for over thirty years before moving back to the UK four years ago, yet none of my novels have been set in France, although French characters, and Paris, are both present in my latest novel, The Guest. When I first began writing I would draw on memories of places from my childhood as settings, so most of my novels have been set in the English countryside. There seems to be something about the English countryside, with its unlit lanes that wind through dark woods, and villages where houses stand apart from each other, that lends itself to murder!
Your novels often explore the dark sides of seemingly perfect domestic lives. What draws you to these themes, and how do you develop such gripping and suspenseful storylines?
I love writing about ordinary people who are going about their everyday lives until something extraordinary upsets their status quo and they find themselves immersed in scenarios that they could never have imagined. I think we all have an innate fear that something terrible might happen either to us or our loved ones and I enjoy putting my characters in distressing but believable situations that readers can relate to. I have a very vivid imagination, which helps in creating gripping storylines and I try to create suspense by finishing each chapter on a cliff-hanger, so that the reader will hopefully want to carry on reading rather than put the book down.
With The Breakdown being adapted into the film Blackwater Lane, starring Minka Kelly, Maggie Grace, and Dermot Mulroney, what has it been like to see your work translated to the screen? Were you involved in the adaptation process?
Although I was allowed to read one of the earlier drafts of the script, I wasn’t involved in the adaptation process so it’s been interesting to see the decisions that were taken to adapt my novel to a new medium to create dramatic effect. In the film, there is a supernatural element that isn’t in my book; likewise, there are elements in my book which aren’t in the film and the ending is completely different. That said, I feel honoured that one of my books has made it to the big screen in the US, and will be available on streaming channels here in the UK later this year.
You began your writing career after the age of 50 and have achieved remarkable success. What advice would you give to aspiring writers who might feel it’s too late to pursue their dreams?
Never think you’re too old to write. I was at a book festival recently where agents spoke about authors they had recently published; one was in her seventies, another in her eighties. Writing takes up a lot of time, especially if there is research to be done and it’s often when we’re older that we have that time. We also have experience, which is vital when it comes to writing.
Your upcoming thriller, The Guest, is highly anticipated. Can you give us a sneak peek into what readers can expect from this new novel and what inspired its storyline?
There is a disused quarry near where we live, which inspired me to write The Guest. Iris and Gabriel arrive back from a two-week break to find that their friend Laure has moved into their house. She has left her husband Pierie and although Iris and Gabriel are happy to help their friend, she begins to overstay her welcome, leading Iris to make friends with newcomers to the village, Hugh and Esme, to escape from Laure. But they have brought with them their own cuckoo in the nest in the form of their gardener, Joseph. And because it’s a thriller, murder and mayhem follow.
