Interviewing Louise Phillips about her new novel, Nina, and the stories that shape us

Stories leave fingerprints on every writer, and Louise Phillips carries an especially vivid map of influences, obsessions, and lived experience into her newest novel, Nina. In our conversation, Phillips reflects on the early books that cracked open her curiosity about human nature, the quiet discipline of early-morning writing sessions, and the pull toward ordinary people navigating extraordinary pressures. She also shares the surprising rituals behind her writing space, the challenges that have sharpened her craft, and what she most hopes readers hold close after turning the final page of Nina.

Q: What/who were your early literary influences, and how do you think their writing has shaped you as a storyteller today?
A: Growing up, finances were always challenging at home, which meant my reading material comprised of secondhand books or borrowing books from the library. It also meant from an early age I was introduced to an eclectic mix of material, which looking back was a great way to be exposed to literature. I was certainly a fan of the Enid Blyton books, especially the Famous Five or the Secret Seven, however, a little later, other books stood out. Lord of the Flies by William Golding, for one. My young mind learnt a lot about human nature in between those pages.

Animal Farm by George Orwell, was another great one for me, as were a range of novels by Virginia Andrews, particularly Flowers in the Attic, although I was probably too young to read them at the time! Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, both classics, again explored the darker side of humanity, and all in their own way likely deepened my curiosity about the human spirit, both within its light and its darkness.

Q: When do you feel most “in the zone” with your writing—early mornings, late nights, or somewhere in between?
A: Generally, I’m an early morning writer. I like to get into my creative space long before the rest of the world has a chance to creep in and complicate things! I can edit at any time, morning, late at night, whenever, but new writing is done as close to the start of the day as possible.

Q: Do you have your own circle of writer friends? If so, what other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
A: At the start of my writing journey, I was a member of a writing group. We used to meet every two weeks in the library. I found being part of a writing group helped me enormously. It was such a safe place to share your work, and a place where feedback and critique from others made such an important difference, especially in those early days of writing. Afterall, there is only so much material you can ask family and friends to read, and it’s such a positive thing to share a space with other people who are passionate about literature.

Now, although I no longer write within a group environment, I do have a circle of writing friends, mainly Irish female crime writers, and their support is hugely important to me. Writing can be a bit of a lonely journey, so it’s always good to have others in the wings encouraging you along the way.

Q: What themes do you find yourself returning to again and again in your work?
A: Looking back over my work, certain key aspects do feature within my storytelling. I tend to write about ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations, like the character Elizabeth in my recent novel Nina. Elizabeth has endured a lot in life. She is both human and imperfect, like us all, but one of the reasons why I like to write about ordinary people in extraordinary situations, is because when humanity is tested, you need to really dig deep into your characters, and find out who they really are, especially when the chips are down, whether that be good or bad, or a mix of both.

I’m also madly curious about human psychology – what makes us who we are, including why certain people are driven/motivated to do quite evil things, and yet, opposed to this, the sheer strength and goodness of the human spirit never cease to amaze me. So, I guess it’s no wonder a lot of my work falls neatly into the psychological thriller genre.

Q: What’s a quirky or unexpected detail about your writing space?
A: I have a set writing space at home, filled with all the usual suspects, books, paper, pens, a comfy chair, a large desk for the laptop and various notebooks etc., but I don’t always stick to the one place. Sometimes, especially if I am changing point of view in a story, I will move to another part of the house. It’s a little trick I use to switch from one character voice to another, as if I’m entering a different world or a different part of the fictional world.

Mostly, when I’m asked about establishing a good writing space, I say to others, find yourself somewhere you won’t be disturbed. It doesn’t have to be a large area, it can be a small corner, or even the front seat of your car, wherever, because the only thing that really matters, is that you are somewhere you can escape into your fictional world, and hopefully stay there for a short time at least.

Q: What’s a challenge you’ve faced in your writing career, and how did you overcome it?
A: Writing is full of challenges. Sometimes, things go really well, sometimes, not so good at all, but the real challenge is to keep writing. I learned a very important lesson in the early days of my writing journey, especially when I was sending out work to various competitions without success. I learned, even when things are tough, inevitably, I would find myself coming back to it. I learned and understood that it helps me in so many ways, including giving me the opportunity, through literature, to explore the world around me.

Q: What’s one question readers ask you the most about your books, and what’s your answer?
A: I get asked a lot of questions about my books, but an area that comes up quite often is research. I tend to do a lot of research for my novels, partly because, when I’m writing about something I’m passionate about, I’m also madly curious to find out more about it. I also believe, if you do the correct level of research, it can add great authenticity to your fictional world, making it more realistic for the reader, and overall ensuring the reading experience a lot more enjoyable.

Q: Do you have an all-time favorite writer, or does your favorite change over time? Who is your favorite writer today?
A: No, I don’t have an all-time favorite writer, but there have been many great writers I have enjoyed over the years. As mentioned earlier, my reading journey, which happened long before my writing journey, started out as an eclectic mix of material. One day, I could be reading an autobiography, the next, a crime novel, or perhaps a book which made me laugh out loud. The key for me, apart from obvious enjoyment, is to be absorbed in the material, and if you’re very lucky, learn a little bit about yourself and the world you live in along the way.

Q: If your life were a novel, what would the title be?
A: Always Curious!

Q: What’s one thing you hope readers take away from your latest book?
A: Obviously, I’d love readers to enjoy the story, and to dig deep into the characters, but if there is one message overall, it would be a belief in the human spirit. Elizabeth, the protagonist is very different to me, but as she grew on the page, this woman who’d gone through such extreme trauma, and was determined not to live out the 3rd act of her life without finding out the truth about her missing daughter, l really came to love her honestly, unguardedness and self-questioning, her warmth and self-effacing bravery, all against a backdrop of huge emotional struggles.

She isn’t a detective. She doesn’t carry a gun, but she’s no longer willing to accept the status quo, even if it puts her life in danger. I’m also especially proud of the relationship between Elizabeth and the character, April, a young autistic girl. April helps to form an awakening within Elizabeth, and both of them will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope the reader will love them too!

Author Bio

She is the recipient of arts bursaries for literature, as well as winning various awards, including the Jonathan Swift Award, the Jack Harte Award, and the Irish Writers’ Centre Lonely Voice platform. Her work has been published in literary journals, anthologies, and media outlets, including the Irish Times. A regular public speaker, panellist and facilitator, Louise has also been a judge on the Irish panel for the EU Literary Award. Her latest work, Nina was published by Union Square & Co in November 2025. She is currently working on her 8^th novel.

Connect with the author

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• The social media platform formerly known as Twitter: @LouiseMPhillips

Now available in print and on Kindle!