BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Hiding - Jenny Morton Potts

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Jenny Morton Potts to talk about Hiding (19 January 2018, Cahoots Publishing, 325 pages), a Psychological Thriller.

"Jenny Morton Potts takes to the psychological thriller stage on an international canvass, and with a unique, bold voice."

"Wow! Just finished this magnificent book! Only released a few days ago and I have hardly put it down. No spoilers here. An intriguing story set on both sides of the Atlantic involving great characters. A real edge of your seat thriller! I can see this being made into a movie. We reviewed this book in our kindle book club and we all loved it. I am looking forward to reading more books by this talented author. Highly recommended!!" ~ Amazon Verified Purchase

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome to Jenny Morton Potts; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

Here at BooksChatter we love music; do you have a music playlist that you used in Hiding , or which inspired you whilst you were writing it?

"Unusually for me, I don’t have a playlist to go alongside this story, but I would like to include two pieces of music which feature in ‘Hiding’:

Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams
This piece of music is one which ‘Rebecca Brown’ hears playing sometimes in her grandfather’s study and she knows that he will be crying, but not why. Many years later she finds out.

If I had to grab one record from a burning building, it would be this.

Ravel’s La Valse waltz which Rebecca and her grandfather play at full volume when nobody is home. It is their joy and big secret. Starts quietly but builds, like ‘Hiding’."

What was the inspiration for Hiding ?

"I had this stonking idea (which sadly I can’t reveal here) and I thought, aye aye, this will make a great tale. That was the central ambition. And then of course because it was half set in Scotland, I was able to draw on my life and family for many scenes, though nothing involving murder.

The inspiration for the American side, is the needless killing which takes place when youngsters lose their minds."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Well, I’m funny (no, I really am), so I was able to write comedy for Rebecca as she became a stand up.

Many of the childhood scenes are based on my own life: the King of Diamonds, the burglary, the fox eyes and more, so that was very interesting to write them, to re-live them and very entertaining for my family."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Hiding - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I work with Sean Strong who is a treasure.

We wanted a ‘split’ for the two narratives and we chose the wall.
We go through a synopsis and I tell Sean about the images that are strongest in my head. We look at key scenes and think about what will really appeal.

This cover was easy to put together and we had a blast doing it. There’s so much story telling in it without it feeling fussy.

Can you see the little cat in the forest next to Keller? That’s Steve Truffaut."

I only just spotted the cat - above, on the left.
Why should we read Hiding and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"My writing is original, as are my ideas and proclivities. I will guarantee you a fresh story and perspectives. There will always be tragedy, comedy, loss, love, sex, fear, hope; lashings of all that. You will inhabit these worlds and words utterly. Well, that’s the ambition."

Can you tell us something quirky about Hiding , its story and characters?

"‘Rebecca’ is named after the book by du Maurier. I love that novel. And coincidentally, I reviewed a book by another author at the time mine came out. His main character was also called ‘Rebecca Brown’. What are the chances of that? And his was also named after du Maurier’s character. We are now firm friends and are writing a book together!"

Who would you recommend Hiding to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I would recommend this book to anyone who likes upmarket fiction and is over the age of sixteen. There are scenes which are tough to read but there is nothing sensationalistic in the writing. This is a book about the choices and circumstances of our lives. Our coalition and interdependence. It has very serious themes (as well as lots of humour, and indeed, love)."

If you could / wished to turn Hiding into a movie, who would be your dream team?

Here they are; you will know the first two as Dame and as Sir but I can’t stand that kind of thing so I don’t include titles.


Eileen Atkins as Primrose Anctillious Brown	Derek Jacobi as Ralph Brown	James Norton as Austen Brown	Saorise Ronan as Colette Brown	Olivia Cooke as Rebecca Brown

Grey Damon as Keller Baye	Christian Bale as Othaniel Baye	Frances McDormand as Joya Baye	Idris Elba as Billy Ray Masters	Tom Hardy as Murdo Hendry

Doon McKichan as Mrs Scattergood	Alison Janney as Jane Rourke	Luke Pasqualino as Angelo Peralta	Kodi Smit McPhee as Lemi Kowalski	Laurence Fishburne as Thomas Quindt

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"My preference would be to write non genre and that is what I read. But it is just too difficult to earn a living in non genre. I do enjoy all the books I write; I couldn’t do it otherwise. And thriller is great for me, as long as it is always more about the ‘why’ than the ‘what’. I’d consider historical too."

What is your writing process?

"More or less 9 to 5 and no days off during the writing of a book (I have a very understanding partner and son).

I write in a cute cabin which my son shares – he’s an artist. Though he’s at school when I’m working. But equally, I can write in my room with a laptop. Or anywhere. I’ve written in a car or on a train. No ivory tower for me, just a keyboard and I’m awaaaaaaay!"

What is in store next?

"‘Hiding’ could have a sequel but I haven’t planned that yet and did not as I wrote.

I’m just completing another thriller called ‘Just’. It’s set in the Mediterranean. Two volunteer doctors fall in love and get caught up in a very unfortunate series of events. As usual with my books, all is far from it seems."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"I have lots of pets. This picture is my dog Merlot. The painting is for the cover of a children’s book. My son, Flint, painted it. (Merlot doesn’t really have antlers.) "