Bestseller Author McGarvey Black talks publishing, novels and crime fiction

Having received 177 rejections for her novel, it seemed, at least, for author McGarvey Black, that she would not be able to pursue her career as an author. However, now, with two Amazon Bestsellers, she has defied all odds and has written three incredible psychological thrillers that have captivated readers across the world. In this interview, she tells us more about her work and her latest novel Without Her Consent…

1. When did you become interested in writing novels?

I started writing screenplays about fifteen years ago, but getting a movie made when one is not in the movie business and doesn’t have a film agent is next to impossible. I had tons of stories in my head and figured writing a novel was a  medium I would have more control over. I started my first novel about seven years ago.

2. How do you go about getting your books published?

Oh boy, well it wasn’t easy. The first novel I completed was The First Husband. I sent query letters to tons of agents only to receive 177 rejections of my letter. No one actually read my manuscript. So, I put the manuscript in a drawer and wrote another novel called I Never Left. I tried more literary agents, got more rejections. Then I found a list of small independent publishers who were open to unagented manuscripts. I sent a letter to my publisher Bloodhound Books and a month later they signed me to a 2 book contract. The First Husband, was also published by Bloodhound and went on to be an international bestseller hitting #10 on Amazon UK Kindle and….I still don’t have an agent.

3. Tell us a bit about your new novel ‘Without Her Consent’

Without Her Consent came out last week and hit #6 on Amazon UK Kindle. The novel was inspired by a news story I saw  two years ago about a woman in a coma who went into labor in the US. It was wildly covered by the international media and everyone I knew was talking about it. I thought well, maybe I can take that idea and do a different spin on it and came up with Without Her Consent.

4. Who are your favourite authors?

I read everything. Some of my favorite classic writers are Edith Wharton, John Steinbeck, and Theodore Dreiser. More contemporary authors include –Ann Patchett and Wally Lamb or non-fiction writers like Bill Bryson and Bob Woodward. I love a good twist in fiction and love learning something about a world I know nothing about. 

5. Do you plan your books or not?

Yes, I totally plan my books. The first one I didn’t plan and when I finished, it was a beast to untangle. For the second,  I did an 80 page outline and then it was a breeze to write the actual book. With mysteries, I need to plant clues, etc. so I really have to know how it ends.

6. If you were not an author now, what job would you be doing?

This is my second career after spending years in advertising. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than write. I wish I’d figured that out sooner. Wouldn’t mind writing for television or films.

7. What are your future plans?

I have a romantic comedy novel coming out in February and a literary fiction novel sometime in the middle of next year all published by Bloodhound Books. I’m working on a serial killer suspense and just finished an outline for a mystery that takes place during the pandemic. I’ve also dusted off some of my old screenplays and plan to turn them into novels. So as you can see…I’m busy.

This interview was not paid.

You can find all the links to her novels below. These are not affiliate links.

The First Husband= You can find it on Amazon here

I Never Left= You can find it on Amazon here

Without Her Consent= You can find it on Amazon here