Author Leah Pitt & literary agent Rosie Pierce on The Beach Hut
BY Emily Powter-Robinson
30th Jul 2024
Leah Pitt studied on our online three-month Writing Your Novel course in 2021 – she is now represented by Curtis Brown literary agent, Rosie Pierce. Her debut novel The Beach Hut is described as the perfect summer crime thriller.
We caught up with Leah and Rosie to talk about lifelong writing friends, the inspiration behind the novel and how they worked together to get the manuscript ready to submit to publishers.
Leah, you studied on our three-month online Writing Your Novel course in 2021, how did your time on the course impact your approach to writing?
Leah: It didn’t change my actual writing routine, but as I hadn’t finished The Beach Hut at that stage, it enabled me to write the rest of the book with the feedback from the course in mind which ultimately led to a far better first draft than if I hadn’t had those sense-checks. It also helped me take myself and my writing more seriously. If you write, you are a writer.
Many of our students find their writing community on our courses – are you still in touch with any of your course mates?
Leah: Absolutely! We were remote due to Covid but we formed a close bond. We have a WhatsApp group and we beta-read for each other when we can. Another of the group (Eliza Moss) is also being published this year and being on the submission and editorial journey at the same time has kept me sane during an emotional two years to get to this point!
Rosie, what initially struck you about Leah’s writing and made you want to read on? What made Leah’s submission stand out to you?
Rosie: I was instantly struck by how engaging, sharp and pacy Leah’s writing is. She moves seamlessly between timelines and character viewpoints, teasing out the secrets of a fateful summer so cleverly I raced through the book in one sitting. And she combines a propulsive story with astute, compelling characterisation – this is what kept me hooked. She is particularly brilliant at capturing the emotional intensity of adolescence, and the complexity of teenage friendship.
The relationship between author and agent is a special one. Was there any point before signing the client agreement where things ‘clicked’, and you knew you had to work together?
Rosie: We had a call and just got on really well! Leah is a total dream to work with, and I knew she would be from the very start. I think it properly clicked when we got talking about potential edits for the book and bounced some ideas around – it became clear we are in tune editorially and our communication styles are a match!
Can you tell us a little bit about the work you did together on The Beach Hut before sending the book out to editors?
Rosie: To be honest, the book was polished when it landed on my desk – Leah is a master plotter, and there were no gaping plot holes or elements that had me scratching my head in confusion. But we did some light editorial work together to make sure the book was in the best shape: tightening up a few plot pieces, teasing out more character detail, and reframing some scenes for maximum dramatic impact!
Leah, can you talk us through how it felt when Rosie delivered the news that The Beach Hut would be published by Hodder?
Leah: It was such a nerve-wracking time going out to publishers, so I was feeling quite anxious in general, but I was lucky enough to already have an offer from another publisher which took the edge off. I knew it had gone to acquisitions at Hodder but was doing my best not to get my hopes up. When the news was confirmed – with an incredible email from my now-editor - I was on holiday and I remember just shaking. It was such a dream-come-true moment.
The Beach Hut is described as a tense and compelling tale of love and loss, secrets, and lies – the perfect summer crime thriller! Leah, can you tell us a bit more about the inspiration for the novel?
Leah: I remember trying to think of an escapist setting to begin writing a novel with and I was lucky enough to grow up in one of these beach huts every summer. People always say write what you know but I also wanted to write about what I love, and the beach huts combine both! The nineties timeline came naturally because, I think, I was craving a setting where there were no mobiles, no internet, no social media. I also had quite an awkward, painful adolescence and I think that angst definitely found its way into the book…
Rosie, without giving too much away, what is it about The Beach Hut that you’re most excited for readers to experience?
Rosie: I am envious that I can’t read it for the first time again! Very simply: I’m excited for readers to experience a cleverly plotted, genuinely page-turning story that will keep them guessing until the very end! I’m biased but I think it’s the perfect summer read – pure sizzling escapism on the page.
The Beach Hut is out now!
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