Graeme Hampton was born and brought up in central Scotland. After leaving school, he trained as a stage manager and worked in London for a number of years. He returned to Scotland in his late twenties to study for a BA in English Literature at Stirling University. After many years of dull jobs and bleak times, he became a full-time writer. His first novel, Know No Evil, was published by Hera Books in July 2019, and was followed up by Blood Family in early 2020. His sixth novel, Truth Lies Dying, was published in November 2023. He has just completed his first standalone psychological thriller. He lives in Hastings, East Sussex, with his partner, two Siamese cats, and the world’s laziest dachshund.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
I first had the idea for this book almost 30 years ago. I’d just come out of a bad relationship and I kept thinking ‘what if the next one turns out to be just as awful?’ The book is also partly inspired by the BBC TV adaptation of Fay Weldon’s excellent novel The Life and Loves of a She Devil. I wondered about the backstory of Mary Fisher, the ultimately doomed character who falls foul of the eponymous She Devil, and how she became a successful novelist living in such a fabulous home. I thought the TV adaptation (more so than the novel) had strong elements of a psychological thriller. In many ways, When Bad Things Happen is my version of Mary Fisher’s backstory.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
The book is currently called When Bad Things Happen. The title came to me fairly quickly, and I think it fits the story. I wanted something that suited a psychological crime novel, and was perhaps suggestive of a Lisa Jewell novel (Lisa is one of the best psychological crime writers around). It’s possible the publishers might change the title, though, which is fine…
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
It would be musical juxtaposition of hard rock (something dramatic like “The Final Countdown”), sitting alongside a gentler classical piece like Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.”
What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?
I’ve just finished reading Anna O by Matthew Blake, an engaging novel with a clever twist. It’s one of those books that is so well written it encourages me to up my own game.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I originally trained as a stage manager and worked in London theatres for a number of years. However, I always wanted to write novels, so I left London in my late twenties and headed off to university to study for an English degree. Unfortunately, it took me a long time (and many rejections!) until I found a publisher willing to take a punt on me. During those long years, I had a variety of jobs, most of which are pretty unmemorable. I will always be grateful to the brilliant Keshini Naidoo at Hera Books, who gave me the chance to become a published author.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
When I was at school, I found out my English teacher (Freny Olbrich) was a published author. Up until that point, I hadn’t believed writers were ‘normal people’—I assumed they were god-like beings who lived in ivory towers. As soon as I discovered they were ordinary mortals like myself, I was determined I wanted to be a writer.
Where is your favorite place to write?
At my desk in my office in my house in Hastings (south of England). Not very exciting, but the room is south-facing, so it gets the sun for most of the day. Sadly, there’s no sea view to inspire me.
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
Keep going. You’ll get there in the end.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
I hope they’ll be so totally engrossed in the story and the characters that they’ll forget all about the real world for a while.