Susie Dent Talks About Her Debut Crime Novel
After the release of her first fiction book, Guilty by Definition, we chat with lexicographer and Countdown stalwart Susie Dent about making the leap from non-fiction to novels.
Q & A with Susie Dent
Can you tell us a little about Guilty by Definition?
This is my first move into fiction, and a lot of writer friends advised me to write about what I know. And so I decided to set the story in a world I have inhabited myself. It involves a team of lexicographers whose task is to unravel a series of linguistic clues to get to a truth they didn’t know they needed. And the story is set in Oxford, a place I love and which, beyond its dreaming spires, has its own secrets.
I imagine Guilty by Definition will attract a lot of fans of words and language – where did the inspiration for the book come from?
I’m often asked about how dictionaries work: who decides what goes in them, and how do they choose? I wanted to open up that world a little, but also to explore the secrets and motivations of the dictionary-makers themselves.
I’ve long been aware of the hidden lives of the words we use, but what about those of the people who document them?
You’ve written plenty of non-fiction before, but this is your first novel – what attracted you to write a fiction book this time?
If I’m honest I’m not sure I would have had the courage to attempt fiction had it not been for the persistence of my wonderful editor. Although I loved writing short stories at school, I discovered dictionaries soon after and found enough magic and adventures in there to last a lifetime. Or so I thought! In the end I decided that, after so much non-fiction, it would be good to take on something new. It’s been one of the biggest challenges of my career, but also an exhilarating one.
Cosy crime is such a beloved genre – is it something you always knew you wanted to write, or did that come as you started writing?
I wouldn’t say that Guilty By Definition is cosy: in fact some of its mystery is quite unsettling I think! But I did love following lots of different threads which I hope are all tied up at the end! And of course this is as much a linguistic puzzle as anything else, so I kept that hat on as I wrote. I devoured Agatha Christie’s books as a teen and would love to have achieved even a fraction of the storytelling magic she did.
Do you have a particular character in the book who was your favourite to write?
Martha is the main character in the novel and she and I definitely have a lot in common. She lives in her head, loves Berlin, and is of course fascinated by words. But she is not entirely autobiographical: I deliberately made her less of a worrier so that I can aspire to be more Martha!
Do you have a writing process that you tend to stick to, or has that evolved throughout your career?
In the past I have somehow managed to fit non-fiction around my Countdown filming schedule and podcasting commitments (and family!). Fiction requires more sequential time, of course, so I had to be very strict in earmarking days for writing. But there were often times when I had a sudden thought about the story when I was in the middle of other things, and so I would jot down thoughts in my journal and pull everything together as soon as I could.
When you’re not writing, how do you manage to switch off and relax?
As my friends and family will tell you, I’m not that good at relaxing! But going for a long walk is when I am at my happiest. Either that, or reading a good book in bed.
Do do you have any advice for budding writers who struggle to find their voice?
My one piece of advice is to go for it! With age comes liberation and the courage to do things your younger self wouldn’t have dared to even contemplate.
Are there any stories you haven’t written yet that you would like to tell?
Lots! I just hope I have enough time to write them all down, if only for myself.
What are you working on just now, and what can fans expect next?
A new novel will be coming, as well as another children’s book for Puffin on the words that unite us. I’m also putting together another collection of words from the past that we could all do with. In fact, I’d better get cracking!
Guilty by Definition is out now, Bonnier Books, HB, £16.99.
Allison Hay
I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.
