Janice Hallett: Don’t Be Put Off by Rejection
Janice Hallett is a former magazine editor, award-winning journalist, and government communications writer. She wrote articles and speeches for, among others, the Cabinet Office, Home Office, and Department for International Development. Her enthusiasm for travel has taken her around the world several times, from Madagascar to the Galapagos, Guatemala to Zimbabwe, Japan, Russia, and South Korea. A playwright and screenwriter, she penned the feminist Shakespearean stage comedy NetherBard and cowrote the feature film Retreat. She lives in London and is the author of The Examiner, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, The Appeal, The Christmas Appeal, and The Twyford Code. Follow her on X (Twitter) and Instagram.
Janice Hallett
Photo by Gaia Banks
In this interview, Janice discusses the intersection of education and art in her new mystery novel, The Examiner, her hope for readers, and more.
Name: Janice Hallett
Literary agent: Markus Hoffman at Regal Hoffman
Book title: The Examiner
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Atria
Release date: September 10, 2024
Genre/category: Mystery, Crime & Thriller
Previous titles: The Appeal, The Christmas Appeal, The Twyford Code, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
Elevator pitch: The Examiner for an MA degree in multi-media art believes one student died on the year-long course, one of their dysfunctional classmates is guilty and, everyone (including the tutor) is covering it up.
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What prompted you to write this book?
I took an MA degree myself (in screenwriting) at the age of 37 and found the experience life-changing. Taking yourself out of the rat race and back into education gives you time and space to think about and re-evaluate your life. For me, that process went in a positive direction—I became a writer—but I’ve always wanted to explore the other side of the small-group educational course. The pressure-cooker claustrophobia where, within a tiny circle of students and their tutor, paranoia, jealousy, and competition are all magnified until they gnaw away at the individual. The potential for mayhem is infinite!
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
I had a little longer to work on The Examiner compared to some of my other books—as my publication date changed from January to September. It meant I could really explore this world over the course of about 18 months. I never know the exact direction a story will take when I start writing, nor the themes that will emerge, so I had no expectations when I set off. However, at one point I thought the mysterious radio the students find in a museum might play a greater role than it did … it was the characters and their relationships that came through in the end and the story morphed into a satirical black comedy about the dark side of teamwork …
Were there any learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
While researching The Examiner I learned a lot about art and art education. My two oldest friends are both art teachers and they were very helpful when it came to how these courses are run, the terminology and materials used in the sort of artworks my MA students were making. I wanted to see what six creative individuals might do if they have to employ business-focused logic to their problem solving—and it turns out they murder someone …
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
The way I write means that every day is a surprise. I don’t make plans so anything can happen at any time. There’s one very surprising moment in The Examiner where a character reveals something that changes the reader’s perspective on everything that’s gone before. That took me by surprise too!
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
Primarily entertainment, then a welcome distraction from the awfulness of the world. Anything else after that is a bonus. The book has themes of art education, which is a thorny subject for some. I can see why studying a subject with no clear pathway into employment might be seen as problematic. However, the benefits of studying anything stretch way beyond finding a job, and the idea that we would no longer be able to pursue creative arts education is unthinkable. It would be wonderful if this prompted readers to reconsider how they feel about that dilemma.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
Love what you do. The more you enjoy writing, the more your readers will enjoy reading your work. Use feedback to improve and don’t be put off by rejection. It’s just a part of the process. On paper you are without limitation so revel in the exploration of your ideas—set your characters free and let them lead you to places you never thought you could go. Most of all: Enjoy it! You’re infinitely luckier than the majority of people in human history, because you can tell your story.
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