The Girl On The Train to Harrogate: Paula Hawkins talks writing, Northumbria and her new book Into The Water

Paula Hawkins' new novel IntoThe Water has received a plethora of mixed reviews, with Val McDermid suggesting that the readers would be less than enamoured with it (click here) and The Sydney Evening Herald (click here) giving it the thumbs up. So, I headed over to Harrogate last night to hear about the book from Paula herself.





Interviewed by the editor of Psychologies magazine, Suzy

Greaves, herself from Northumbria, Paula talked about her writing practice, her love of the 'unforgiving beauty' of Northumbria and of course her new book Into The Water.  Greaves, clearly a Hawkins fan, blithely pronounces that she enjoyed Into The Water much more than The Girl On The Train, giving its 'reality check' and the fact it 'resonates with women' as her reasons.

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Hawkins herself, initially quiet, shy almost, soon comes into her own describing her approach to writing as very organised and business like.  No coffee shop or pub meanders for Paula.  Instead, she prefers to lock herself away in isolation in her office. 

One of the audience suggested that the theme of 'water' was so strong it seemed like an additional character.  Hawkins accepted this with a smile saying she wanted the reader to feel 'drenched' throughout the book.

With the film rights for Into The Water already taken up by Dreamworks, it looks set to be a rip roaring success and I for one have placed my copy near the top of my to read pile and will be watching with interest to see if Hawkins' second offering is as well received by the readers as her first.