Northumberland-based author Marrisse Whittaker has now published five books featuring crimefighter Billie Wilde
The Tyneside Book Club started 2025 in very different style as it welcomed Northumberland crime writer Marrisse Whittaker to a joint meeting of it and its sister groups.
In preparation, members had read Buried Dreams - the fourth instalment in a series of locally-based crime novels written by Marrisse. They all feature Billie Wilde, who starts the series in the police force but in the most recent books has become a private investigator.
Marrisse talked the group through that book and the series as a whole, discussing her background, and why Covid lockdowns had driven her to try her hand at crime fiction. The author already had experience as a TV script writer for Hollyoaks and Doctors, as well as making filmed documentaries.
She described how she had bought the visual skills of a scriptwriter to her novel, and why that explained her concentration on dialogue and short, impactful scenes. She also discussed her desire for the books to tackle real-life issues such as sex trafficking and county lines drug dealing, as well as the capture of serial killers.
Marrisse also gave insights into the world of publishing and the hard work needed to both write but also promote books. She encouraged members who were writing to use her example as an author who has had success later in life.
In preparation, members had read Buried Dreams - the fourth instalment in a series of locally-based crime novels written by Marrisse. They all feature Billie Wilde, who starts the series in the police force but in the most recent books has become a private investigator.
Marrisse talked the group through that book and the series as a whole, discussing her background, and why Covid lockdowns had driven her to try her hand at crime fiction. The author already had experience as a TV script writer for Hollyoaks and Doctors, as well as making filmed documentaries.
She described how she had bought the visual skills of a scriptwriter to her novel, and why that explained her concentration on dialogue and short, impactful scenes. She also discussed her desire for the books to tackle real-life issues such as sex trafficking and county lines drug dealing, as well as the capture of serial killers.
Marrisse also gave insights into the world of publishing and the hard work needed to both write but also promote books. She encouraged members who were writing to use her example as an author who has had success later in life.
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