#Author #Q&A-‘Little Darlings’ by Melanie Golding

‘Little Darlings’ by Melanie Golding is published by Harper Collins imprint HQ Stories, in hardback from all good booksellers from 2nd May 2019 and trust me, you will need this book!

About the book…

`Chilling story…stunning’ Clare Mackintosh

`Taps into every woman’s fear that she will not be believed’ Mel McGrath, author of ‘The Guilty Party’

`Deep. Dark. Utterly addictive…you can’t unread this story. It will haunt you‘ Teresa Driscoll, author of ‘The Friend’

* * * *

THE TWINS ARE CRYING.
THE TWINS ARE HUNGRY.

LAUREN IS CRYING.
LAUREN IS EXHAUSTED.

Behind the hospital curtain, someone is waiting . . .

Lauren is alone on the maternity ward with her new-born twins when a terrifying encounter in the middle of the night leaves her convinced someone is trying to steal her children. Lauren, desperate with fear, locks herself and her sons in the bathroom until the police arrive to investigate.

When DS Joanna Harper picks up the list of overnight incidents that have been reported, she expects the usual calls from drunks and wrong numbers. But then a report of an attempted abduction catches her eye. The only thing is that it was flagged as a false alarm just fifteen minutes later.

Harper’s superior officer tells her there’s no case here, but Harper can’t let it go so she visits the hospital anyway. There’s nothing on the CCTV. No one believes this woman was ever there. And yet, Lauren claims that she keeps seeing the woman and that her babies are in danger, and soon Harper is sucked into Lauren’s spiral of fear. But how far will they go to save children who may not even be in danger?

* * * *

Early readers can’t stop raving about Little Darlings:

`Every mother will see themselves in Lauren…taut with suspense‘

`You just need to read it and let the creepiness and uneasiness set in’

`A disturbing and spine-chilling tale…This tale will keep readers on the edge of their seat’

`A unique, haunting story that stays with you long after finishing it

Hugest of thanks to Melanie for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions-

Q & A

Question1-Were you in anyway influenced by a particular news story when writing ‘Little Darlings’?

 Little Darlings relates to many stories that enter the news – stories about women who abandon their babies, or tragic stories of women affected by psychosis. However, the novel is inspired by a folktale I found in a book rather than a news story. I thought it would make a chilling contemporary tale, with echoes of familiarity.

Question 2-When was the moment that you felt ‘This is it, I’m a writer!’?

 I was at a party, with a lot of people I didn’t really know. Someone asked me what I did, and I said, ‘I’m a novelist.’ It was really surreal – the book wasn’t going to be out for ages – but at that moment I knew I could say that to people and it would be true. An amazing feeling.

Question 3-Who was your biggest champion when you started writing?

My husband! He’s had to put up with a lot.

Question 4– Music or Silence? What creates the perfect atmosphere?

Silence, always. I can’t concentrate with music on as I can’t zone it out.

Question 5– You touch on disassociation in labour, how much research went into creating such a believable, immersive scene? I 100% believed it all as an ex-midwife!

I had a two traumatic births that went on for far too long, so I felt that disassociation quite strongly. Also I spent nine years as a childminder and spoke to lots and lots of women before and after birth. I got a pretty good overview!

Question 6– Post natal depression and the public perception of motherhood are addressed in your book. Is it still a taboo subject in your experience?

Yes I think it is taboo. Depression isn’t something people want to hear about unfortunately. Also birth itself is taboo in my experience, at least talking very honestly about it to those who haven’t been through it already. The book will help with that; it gets right to the heart of the experience in a way that you don’t often see in modern novels.

Question 7– Issue of the day-Jaffa Cakes or Jammy Dodgers?

Do I really have to choose? Ok, if I have a cup of tea on the go, then Jammy Dodgers, but otherwise Jaffa Cakes.

About the author…

Melanie Golding is a graduate of the MA in creative writing program at Bath Spa University, with distinction. She has been employed in many occupations including farm hand, factory worker, childminder and music teacher. Throughout all this, because and in spite of it, there was always the writing. In recent years she has won and been shortlisted in several local and national short story competitions. ‘Little Darlings’ is her first novel, and has been optioned for screen by Free Range Films, the team behind the adaptation of ‘My Cousin Rachel’.

Links-https://www.melaniegolding.com/

Twitter @mk_golding

@HQstories

@HarperCollinsUK