Navigating the Challenges of Collaborative Novel Writing with 14 Contributors Requires Meticulous Planning

In the world of audiobooks, a groundbreaking anthology has made waves, celebrating its debut on April 10, 2023 - a significant date, marking the 100th anniversary of the publication of "The Great Gatsby". This new masterpiece, titled The Twisted Women's Book Club, was the brainchild of Joe Finder and Gregg Hurwitz, vice president and co-president of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) respectively.

The anthology features short stories from 14 renowned authors, including Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, B.A. Paris, Caroline Kepnes, Oyinkan Braithwaite, Sarah Pekkanen, Naomi Hirahawara, Robert Dugoni, Alison Gaylin, Heather Gudenkauf, Shari Lapena, Clare Mackintosh, and Stacy Willingham. Each story revolves around members of a women's book club, each engaging in a crime, with the book club's leader, Dr. Margaret Richter, a "psycho psychiatrist" living in a mansion on a hill in the small town of Wellfleet on Cape Cod, at the centre of it all.

The creators of "The Twisted Women's Book Club" wanted more than just a thematic connection between the stories. To achieve this, Gregg Hurwitz came up with the idea of a central location for the stories - a book club for women with a secret. To further strengthen the ties between the chapters, short chapters were added by Howe at the beginning, middle, and end of each story.

The anthology took eighteen months to complete, with each author working around their individual publishing deadlines to create an audio story. The book club's main character, Dr. Margaret Richter, had inconsistencies in her background that needed to be addressed, a challenge that was successfully met by the production team.

The success of The Twisted Women's Book Club has pleased its creators, and they are already thinking of ITW's next audio book. Joe Finder, who plans to publish the next book in 2027, subject to Steve's approval, aims to use what he learned from this experience to give a more detailed writer's prompt for the next book.

Interestingly, "The Twisted Women's Book Club" sold better than "The Great Gatsby" initially did and remained in the top ten Audible Original or exclusive title books for months. This resounding success is a testament to the captivating storytelling and the unique concept that the anthology offers.

As the audio production team schedules studio time across the country to put the audio together, readers and listeners eagerly await the next project from ITW and Audible. The world of audiobooks is surely in for an exciting ride!

Navigating the Challenges of Collaborative Novel Writing with 14 Contributors Requires Meticulous Planning