Author Biography | Interview | Books by this Author | Readalikes
Stef Penney was born and grew up in Edinburgh.
After a degree in Philosophy and Theology she turned to film-making, studying Film and TV at Bournemouth College of Art.
On graduation she was selected for the Carlton Television New Writers Scheme and has since written extensively for film and radio.
Her first novel, The Tenderness of Wolves was named Costa Book of the Year 2006, and Theakston's Crime Novel of the Year 2008. It has been translated into 30 languages, and is a world-wide bestseller.
Stef lives in London.
Stef Penney's website
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In two separate interviews Stef Penney discusses The Tenderness of Wolves and The Invisible Ones
Questions for Stef Penney from Tana French
I've never been a believer in the whole "write what you know" thing. I think it negates imagination and empathy, which are probably the two most crucial qualities for a writer, and I think it's especially pointless for mystery writers - what, you shouldn't write a murder mystery unless you've actually killed someone? But you go deeper into unknown territory than most, especially most in the crime genre. Is that a deliberate choice? Do you feel a pull toward exploring stuff that's very far from your own experience? Or is that just the way the ideas come up?
SP: I definitely do feel a pull toward people and places that are far from my own life. Whenever I pick up a book I think, "Tell me something I don't know." Because I work quite slowly, I have to keep myself interested over a long research and writing period. So I can't see myself writing about modern middle-class Londoners anytime soon. But, then, you never know . . .
You're one of the writers who stretch the conventions of the genre and that's one of the things I love about your ...
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