Nikki Smith Weaves Masterful Psychological Thrillers With Unforgettable Twists
PHOTO: Nikki Smith, bestselling author and master of twists, photographed near her home in Guildford, where she writes her gripping thrillers. Photo by Nicolas Conroy
Bestselling Author Explores Secrets, Betrayal, And the Shadows Beneath Paradise
Award-winning author Nikki Smith discusses the inspiration behind her novels, her meticulous plotting process, and how she blends exotic settings with gripping psychological suspense to create unputdownable stories.
Nikki Smith is a beacon of brilliance in the realm of psychological thrillers, a genre she has undeniably mastered with her gripping narratives and spine-tingling twists. With a journey that began in English Literature at Birmingham University and led her through the high-stakes world of finance, she embodies resilience and creativity, proving that it is never too late to embrace one’s passion. Her debut novel, All In Her Head, not only captivated readers but also secured its place as an Amazon bestseller and on the shortlist for the Guardian ‘Not The Booker Prize.’ From there, her star has only risen, with successive novels cementing her as one of the premier voices in contemporary thriller literature.
At Mosaic Digest, we pride ourselves on spotlighting transformative artists, and Nikki Smith’s work exemplifies the kind of talent and vision that reshapes storytelling. Her novels, including the electrifying The Beach Party and the soon-to-be-released They Had It Coming, transport readers to dazzling destinations—Mallorca, The Maldives, Bali—that hum with underlying tension and menace. What sets Nikki apart is her ability to intertwine escapism with hard-hitting social commentary, unearthing the frictions between tourists and local communities, and exposing the shadows lurking just beneath paradise. Her unstoppable trajectory continues with her knack for creating intricately layered characters and narratives laced with psychological manipulation, betrayal, and friendship—themes rich in complexity and authenticity.
Nikki Smith masterfully combines captivating characters, intricate plots, and jaw-dropping twists to cement her place as a thriller luminary.
In this exclusive interview with Mosaic Digest, Nikki delves into the inspiration behind her latest work, the philosophies driving her twist-filled plots, and the meticulous intricacies of her creative process. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just discovering her unputdownable books, this conversation promises insight into one of the thriller genre’s brightest luminaries.
Your journey from receiving your first diary in second grade to becoming a published author is inspiring. How did those early experiences shape your passion for storytelling, and what pivotal moments propelled you toward a career in writing?
Growing up, I didn’t have a voice. I observed the world around me, keeping my thoughts to myself, unsure if the world would welcome them. At eight years old, my diary became my safe space, allowing me to express myself freely—heart and soul—without judgment. As I grew, encouraging teachers helped build my confidence and inspired my creativity, validating that I indeed have a gift of writing. In high school, I found the courage to share my words publicly through the school newspaper, eventually leading me to study journalism in college.
“I try to write the kind of books that I like to read—ones readers find difficult to put down.” – Nikki Smith
Although I always loved fiction, I struggled with crafting a novel until post-college inspiration struck while I sat in church listening to a scripture I heard hundreds of times. That’s when I began my first book yet to be published. Joining a critique group opened my eyes to how much I had to learn—and set me on a path of learning. Attending writing conferences and getting to know wonderful writers, editors, and agents was invaluable. Because of their support, I didn’t quit when times got tough. Today, I’m a published novelist, writing coach, and tutor because of all my experiences, and I’ve taken the techniques and principles I learned as an author and created resources to help writers, young and old. My teaching began with a writing course called Release the Novel in You which is now a workbook available on Amazon and grew in 2020 when students were stuck at home during the pandemic. That’s when I developed more creative writing courses that I now teach to all ages online and through video format.
You’ve founded platforms like Writer…Interrupted to mentor busy writers. What motivated you to create these communities, and how have they impacted both your personal growth and the journeys of the writers you’ve mentored?
Years ago, as a young mother homeschooling four kids while managing a home and pursuing writing, I desperately sought advice from other “successful” writing parents. I was overwhelmed, to say the least. That search led me to create the Writer…Interrupted community, hoping to learn how to balance it all. I started blogging, connecting with other writers, and interviewing busy, successful authors who were “interrupted” to uncover their strategies. Over time, after interviewing hundreds of busy writers, Writer…Interrupted became more than just a blog—it became a community where interrupted writers, like me, could share struggles and insights on how to balance writing with other life responsibilities like homeschooling, caretaking, and health. We blogged insights and tips to encourage ourselves and other writers who were struggling to do it all. Little did I know back when I had a friend write the “caretaking and writing” column that I would be in the thick of it, ten years later.
“I wanted my thrillers to address serious themes, revealing the tensions between tourists and local communities in beautiful settings.” – Nikki Smith
Through this journey, I’ve grown as both a writer and mentor, realizing every season of life brings its challenges, but it’s the people who are there with you, helping you through that makes the difference. I haven’t had one mentor that carried me through the years, like some writers. Instead, I’ve had different people show up with what I needed at the right time to get me to the next level. That’s what I strive to be for new writers.
Balancing multiple roles—author, teacher, writing coach, mother, and caregiver—requires exceptional time management and dedication. What strategies have you developed to maintain this balance, and how do these roles influence and enrich your writing?
The biggest strategy I can offer is to change your perspective about life balance and trying to do it all. As I’ve matured, I’ve realized balance isn’t about doing it all at the same time—it’s about focusing on what matters most in each season of life. After my divorce and then becoming a caregiver to my mom with dementia, I struggled emotionally and financially. Traditional planning methods didn’t work for me, especially as I’ve come to understand my neurodivergent tendencies. But I knew things were out of balance in my life. I could feel it in my body.
I created the Life Balance Workbook to track the areas of my life that mattered most to me—career, family, finances, personal growth, spirituality, friends—to evaluate if the time I was giving certain activities aligned with my priorities, and if it helped or hurt my mental and spiritual health. Seeing where I was spending my time helped me reflect on what was missing and most important during a certain season of life. Sometimes I needed to spend more time on family care, so I had to find creative ways to meet my other needs. Sometimes that looked like recording a social media video while taking a walk which combined two needs in one. Dancing and spending time with friends also hit the health and social categories.
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that life balance isn’t like a perfectly even scale—it’s more like a teeter-totter. Sometimes, one side carries more weight—whether it’s family, work, or personal growth—and you have to lean in, shifting your focus to keep from crashing. Other times, you need to double up on the other side, adding moments of rest, creativity, or self-care to keep things from tipping too far. It’s a constant back-and-forth, adjusting to the season you’re in, not striving for perfect balance but for a rhythm that keeps you moving forward without burning out.
In your novels “Digging Up Death” and “Anxious for Love,” which you plan to release summer 2025, you delve into complex character dynamics and suspenseful plots. Can you share insights into your creative process for developing such intricate narratives and the challenges you face in bringing them to life?
My process is different for every book, but my premise usually comes from a “what if?” idea. In Digging Up Death, I was homeschooling. While studying ancient Egypt, we uncovered the fascinating story of Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh who ruled as a man during Egypt’s golden age. But history tried to erase her—her mummy was missing, her name and legacy literally chiseled away. Why? Did Thutmose III, too young to rule at the time, seek revenge? That question sparked my novel Digging Up Death, revealing that family drama is as old as time. Then in 2005, renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass launched a search for Hatshepsut’s lost mummy. After testing two unidentified mummies in the Cairo Museum, experts declared they had found her. But what if they were wrong? That’s where my premise I started, then my characters took over the plot like they always do.
My characters often originate from my own life at the time. While the plot is entirely fictional, I draw from my real emotions and internal struggles. I also pour aspects of myself into multiple characters. Those who know me might even recognize glimpses of themselves. However, no character is entirely based on me or anyone I know—they’re compilations, drawing from various experiences and traits to suit the plot and character needs.
“I think readers enjoy watching lives implode, knowing they’re in a safe environment, and finding authentic, relatable characters within the chaos.”– Nikki Smith
In my upcoming novel, Anxious for Love—written ten years after my divorce—I pour all my frustration about online dating and why people keep attracting the same toxic relationships. It’s a romantic comedy that delivers laugh-out-loud humor (so I’ve been told) and a poignant plunge into the chaotic modern dating world. Like me and so many others, my main character is down on love, but she’s thrown together with an Australian dating coach. (True story for another time.) Together, they embark on a six-week mission to find her love. Cue one catastrophic and hilarious date after another, a splashy Hollywood scandal, and their own crippling anxieties about love, and it’s a recipe for disaster… or maybe the perfect match.
Beneath the humor, Anxious for Love explores something deeper: how our childhood wounds and attachment styles shape our relationships. Most of us aren’t aware that our attachment insecurities keep attracting the wrong partners, trapping us in a vicious cycle of repeating the same dysfunctional relationships—just with different people. That’s the journey I’ve been on these last ten years, so the story was easy to write. Anxious for Love is about breaking that cycle. As undeniable chemistry sparks between Charlee and Maxwell, they must confront their deepest fears, heal from the past, and learn to trust—not just each other, but themselves. Like we all need to do. Real love isn’t just about finding the right person—it’s about being ready to receive love when the right person shows up.
As someone deeply involved in teaching and coaching, what common challenges do aspiring writers face today, and how do you guide them in overcoming these obstacles to unlock their full potential?
Aspiring writers today face many of the same challenges they always have—finding time to write, battling self-doubt, and navigating the ever-changing publishing landscape. Beyond just finishing a book, there’s the question of how to get noticed, whether to pursue traditional or indie publishing, and where to invest in marketing.
“No matter how much I plan, stories often evolve as I write, and key moments reshape themselves in the process.” – Nikki Smith
The biggest obstacle I see as a writing coach is time—or rather, the excuse of not having enough of it. I’ve used that excuse myself, but I’ve also watched single parents with full-time jobs finish novels before dawn or late at night. The difference? They push past the excuses and get to work. I’ve used that excuse the last twenty years and watched writers I started with publish twenty plus books while I have five. Granted, I’ve been through some difficult life circumstances where I had to put writing in the back seat as I navigated uncertain roads, but 2024 was the year I ditched the excuses and wrote two novels. One in two months, the other in six weeks, so I know it can be done. It just takes commitment, a plan, and accountability. As a writing coach, I help writers uncover their limiting beliefs, set realistic goals, and stay accountable through one-on-one coaching and editing sessions. So in essence, I help people move past their excuses and walk them through finishing their novel.
