Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including The Good Sister and The Soulmate. Drawing on the good, the bad and the downright odd of human behaviour, Sally writes incisively about family, relationships and identity. Her domestic thriller novels are laced with quirky humour, sass and a darkly charming tone. They are available worldwide in English and have been translated into twenty languages. Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her family and one adorable dog.
Meet Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick: eighty-one years old, gloriously grumpy, fiercely independent, and never without a hot cup of tea—or a cutting remark. She minds her own business in her quiet Melbourne suburb, until a neighbor turns up dead and the whispers start flying.
Because Elsie hasn’t always been Elsie. Once upon a headline, she was Mad Mabel Waller—Australia’s youngest convicted murderer. But was she really mad, or just misunderstood? Either way, she’s kept her secret buried for decades.
Enter seven-year-old Persephone, a relentless little chatterbox who has just moved in across the road (armed with stickers, questions, and no sense of personal boundaries); Joan, who appears to have it in for Elsie; and a healthy dose of public interest—the cops are sniffing around, and the media is circling like seagulls at a picnic.
So Mabel does what she’s always done best—she takes matters into her own hands.
Is she a cantankerous old lady with a shady past? A cold-blooded killer with arthritis? Or just someone who’s finally ready to tell her side of the story?
Sharp, surprising, and wickedly funny, this is the unforgettable story of a woman who’s spent a lifetime being underestimated—and is about to prove everyone wrong. Again. (Courtesy of Amazon.)
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
Like most tortured writers, I tend to remember my one-star reviews more than any compliments! There’s one that lives rent-free in my brain and is so hilarious I have to share. It said, ‘So cheesy. And not the good kind like Camembert. The processed, cheap stuff.’ That kept me laughing for days .
But not to be too self-flagellating, I always love when people say they connect with my characters and find comfort in my books (even though they’re usually about murder).
What is one thing you would tell the debut novelist version of yourself?
Dear Sally, don’t be disheartened by the two audience members at this library event (one who only came for the scones). It’s hard to imagine right now, but one day you’ll fill a room with hundreds of people in multiple cities who love your writing. Tickets will sell so fast that you’ll feel like Taylor Swift. Keep going.
If Mad Mabel were made into a movie, what songs would be on the soundtrack?
"Mad World" by Gary Jules, "Still Mad" by Florence and the Machine, and I’ve always had this vision of Dolly Parton’s "9 to 5" playing in a murder scene! I think it would be hilarious.
What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
I’m much more of a TV series gal and I am currently loving How to Get to Heaven From Belfast on Netflix. It’s like Derry Girls meets Bad Sisters and the perfect mix of funny and dark.
If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
I just adore Tina Fey and think she’d be fabulous at narrating my life.
Thanks to Sally for chatting with us and to St. Martin's Press for sharing her book with our readers.
How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.
Giveaway ends April 26th at midnight EST.
Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.
Listen to this book on Speechify!
Fortunately, there hasn't been much that has made me mad lately. Although I did get extremely aggravated when my plane was more than 3 hours late taking off when I went to visit a friend a few months ago!
ReplyDeleteI try not to get mad anymore because it's a useless emotion in my opinion, but recently I got angry at my neighbors because they are lazy and usually leave their garbage on the ground instead of putting it in the dumpster. It's common courtesy to pick up after yourself!
ReplyDeleteMy neighbor leaves trash outside his townhouse which is attracting unwelcome pests.
ReplyDelete