CUMNOCK-BORN writer Emma Christie is known for producing gripping crime thrillers that simply don't let up. The author, who is currently tackling her third novel, has decided to change her writing routine considerably - by taking it out on the road!
"I've wanted to be a novelist for a long time. I worked as a journalist for The Press & Journal for five years before quitting my job in 2009. The idea was to take a year off, travel around Latin America and try to write a novel - but I've basically never gone back to work in an office," Emma says. "I wrote my first novel and got a literary agent for it, but it didn't get published. Then I wrote another book, but it still didn't get published!"
By 2016, Emma was living and working in Spain as a tour guide, but never gave up on her writing ambitions.
"I would do around eight to 10 tour guide trips a year which would pay for about seven to eight months of writing. When my third book went out to publishers, I basically distracted myself by working constantly, then after six months, I got an email from my agent saying you're never going to believe it - you've got an offer!"
The Silent Daughter was published by Welbeck in 2020 and went on to be shortlisted for a string of awards including The Mcllvanney Prize for the best Scottish Crime Book of the Year. The novel was followed up by the missing person thriller Find Her First last year.
Despite settling in Spain, Emma's passion for adventure has never quite been sated.
"I did my first campervan trip around the North Coast 500 with my girlfriend Mari and we both just loved it. When we got back to Barcelona, we bought a really terrible old van, then we bought another and another! I suppose with every new purchase, we've got a better vehicle, which has allowed us to stay away for longer.
Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av The Scots Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av The Scots Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The Bliss Of A Bothy
After a strenuous walk, a mountain shelter can offer all you need
The Long Way Round
When you can only just see the stepping stones under a river in spate, it's time to re-think the route, as two Highland adventurers found out
The New Oyster Cult
A community is helping to restore the once rich biodiversity of Loch Craignish, one species at a time
A Poet's Sanctuary
Hidden on a hilltop, writer Dominic Cooper is inspired by the wild, stormy winters of the Ardnamurchan peninsula
A Rural Housing Crisis
Across Scotland, locals are being priced out and crowded out - but communities are now working hard to address the issue
A Historic Centre
Glasgow's Mercat Cross may not be as old as it appears but it's still seen many changes, along with an ebb and flow in prosperity
A Bird With A Brain
Jim's encounters with the raven in several northern countries have only increased his respect for its intellect and ingenuity
The Warrior King
On the 750th anniversary of his birth, Robert The Bruce's legacy as cultural keystone and historical enigma continues to fascinate
All Going Swimmingly
From Tutti Frutti to Shetland, Monarch Of The Glen to Granite Harbour, Dawn Steele's heart will always be in Scotland - and the sea
Following The Coos
The latest charity art trail aims to a-moos-e and delight visitors to Perth and Kinross this summer
