WRITERS IN RESIDENCE

YOU MIGHT THINK THE BESTSELLER LISTS ARE FULL OF U.S. AND EUROPEAN WRITERS. IN FACT, THE UAE BOASTS MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE OF TALENTED AUTHORS…

HAYLEY DOYLE

We chat to author of Never Saw You Coming, a novel set between Dubai and her native Liverpool. It’s on sale now, published by Avon HarperCollins

Tell us about your book...

Zara is an expat who has spent time all over the globe but lived most of her life in Dubai. She craves roots, a place to call home and a person who loves her. Jim is a toll-booth worker in Liverpool, who has never been anywhere beyond North Wales. When Zara and Jim’s lives collide – quite literally –they embark upon a journey of self-discovery, risk-taking and adventure.

Did you always want to become an author?

Yes, I was always writing stories as a little girl. I actually studied acting and performed professionally for many years first, and I love creating characters, whether on the stage or on the page. Acting and storytelling go hand-in-hand and, after a long run in Mamma Mia in London’s West End, I studied creative writing at Brunel University, gaining an MA.

How much of the book has been inspired by your real life?