'I was plagued by nightmare of murder on honeymoon - but it's made me a fortune'
A gruesome nightmare turned into an author's wildest dream - after securing a six-figure deal for a crime thriller touted as the summer's must-read.
Kate Gray, 38, had contemplated abandoning her author aspirations altogether after suffering severe writer's block for months. Little did she know that a vivid, blood-curdling nightmare would turn the tide and set her on the way to penning her spine-chilling novel, The Honeymoon.
Her page-turner has been snapped up by major retailers and indie bookshops after publishers battled to secure rights in a fierce bidding war.
Released on Thursday, The Honeymoon - which weaves through the secrets of two newlywed couples at an exotic Bali retreat - has been touted as this summer's killer beach read.
But rewind to July 2021, and mum-of-two Kate's literary future seemed bleak. Crippled by the pandemic-induced creative slump, she was considering embracing the ordinary 9-to-5 grind in order to help ends meet.
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In her nightmarish vision, Kate found herself on a foreign beach, haunted by the brutal sight of a bloodied stranger, savagely attacked and lifeless in the sand. Panic-stricken, she realised that her own hands were stained with the man's blood, though she knew she was innocent.
A terrifying scenario unfolded as the police closed in on her, threatening to lock her away in a foreign land where she didn't even speak the language.
"It was surreal and horrifying," confessed Kate, from Helmsley, North Yorkshire. "The realism was overwhelming, and I was gripped by terror. My husband had to console me, reminding me that we were safe at home in lockdown, far from the scene of the nightmare."
Little did Kate know that her nightmare would be the catalyst for her literary breakthrough. Determined to capture the gripping fear she experienced, she rushed to jot down every chilling detail.
Kate Gray with the book, The Honeymoon"I couldn't let go of the dread and panic," she recalled, "It felt so real, I could almost smell the suncream and hear the waves hit the sand. I couldn’t get back to sleep and I knew then that I had to write as much of this nightmare down and try to capture that intense fear.
“The idea stuck with me. I wondered what would happen if this sort of thing happened on your honeymoon and how you might go about starting married life having to share the darkest of secrets.”
Translating her harrowing dream into captivating prose, Kate penned The Honeymoon, which soon caught the attention of publishers far and wide. A four-way auction ensued, culminating in a six-figure deal and a lucrative two-book contract.
Kate had published six popular women’s fiction books under the name Katy Colins, but struggled to find inspiration to write a thriller.
She said: “There were plenty of days where I questioned whether I had it in me to be an author. It’s such a difficult industry to get a foothold in. There were times when I thought it’d just be much easier to get a regular job.
"But the nightmare was just the kick I needed - it fired me up so much. I wrote every single day, waking up before the kids, staying up late once they were in bed, and locking myself away just to get some more words down. The first draft was completed in just two months.
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“I submitted the manuscript to my agent in September, two months after the nightmare. She loved it. After a quick round of edits, we sent it out to editors at the start of October.
“By November I had four different publishing houses interested in acquiring the novel. In one of the craziest weeks of my life it went to auction where I spoke with different editors to hear their vision before they submitted their best and final bids.
“I was especially blown away by the enthusiasm from an amazing editor at Welbeck and managed to secure a six-figure two book deal to be their lead debut title. I keep having to pinch myself."
The Honeymoon is set in Bali, where Kate herself got engaged to journalist husband John Siddle, 37. The twisty thriller sees two couples meet on their honeymoons, not realising that their trips of a lifetime will end in murder.
Kate said: "Many marriages can survive anything – but when it starts on a lie is it really 'til death do us part?"
The Honeymoon is currently a WH Smiths book of the month in its airport stores. Hardback and e-book versions will be released in the UK and Commonwealth on Thursday, with the paperback to follow next year.
Big name crime and thriller authors such as Chris Whitaker, TM Logan and Louise Candlish have left rave reviews for the book. Heat magazine gave The Honeymoon five stars, while Crime Monthly described it as a “wonderfully twisty thrill ride”.
Kate is currently writing her second thriller - but is keeping its plot a secret.
She added: “I can’t give too much away just yet, apart from it takes place over the course of a night in a remote setting, where not everyone is who they say they are.
“My advice to anyone writing - don’t give up, try and stay positive and always keep a notepad and pen at your bedside! You never know when inspiration might strike.”
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