Daney Parker is the author of The Push Over, a fast-paced whodunnit thriller that delves into the potentially deadly consequences of being pushed too far by those closest to us. What We Reading sat down with Daney to discuss everything from The Push Over, her love for The Cather in the Rye to her dark humour!
Thanks for speaking with us, Daney! First off, tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to the world of writing.
My first writing job was as a copywriter, composing letters that would drop unwanted through letterboxes, in envelopes that would try and entice people to open them by having pennies glued to the outside. Not sure why.
I moved into journalism which is much more satisfying, especially as I am an online journalist, so no trees are being wasted on my words. Also, my novel is print-on-demand, so again, many trees can breathe a sigh of relief.
Talk to us about The Push Over. What is it about, and how was the process of bringing it to life?
Well, let’s be honest, lots of people are terribly annoying, especially the ones you know best. Husbands, wives, parents, children, best friends… you love them, of course you do, but do they need to text on the phone when you are trying to talk to them? Do they have to chomp that apple quite so noisily? Make such a mess? Yawn so loudly? Go on about their gorgeous children? These are just minor niggles (and things I am guilty of myself), but sometimes someone close to you might do something completely unforgivable.
I don’t often imagine killing anyone after they have hurt me terribly, but when I do, I don’t like to be the nasty sort of person that enjoys thinking up lots of horrible ways to torture people, so I fantasise about killing people close to me in as nice a way as possible. This is what led to the premise of a woman murdering one of her guests on her wedding day. You don’t find out who she kills until the end, but during the book you find out how four of her wedding guests have treated her so abominably that she was pushed to her limits, before she pushes one of them off the boat where the wedding reception is held. I realise that it is completely unacceptable to murder anyone, no matter what they have done to you, which is why I haven’t followed through in real life! The great thing about a novel is that you CAN follow through!
What is the number one goal you want your work to have with readers?
I want them to be entertained, to laugh, to want to know what happens next. Nearly all my reviews say the book is unputdownable, and I am delighted with that.
What do you think makes you stand out as an author?
My black humour. Also, as an impatient reader myself, I like to make sure something is happening on every page, so you don’t have to wade through too much unnecessary description.
What would you say has been your biggest success so far?
Work is great, it gives me so much satisfaction to see my words in print, but my main success is having brought up the two lovely human beings who are my children. They are far nicer than I am. I am also delighted to have kept my husband for so long, over 30 years so far. He has not run out of the door screaming yet, but give it another few years…
If you could go back in time to one book you read for the first time, what would it be and why?
The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger. I just loved it as a teenager, it really spoke to me. You can only get the utter joy of reading something completely different on its first reading.
What’s one tip you would give your younger self if you had the opportunity?
Do some work! You are going to fail that maths A level if you don’t do any work. And whilst I am nagging you, do some bloody exercise too! Honestly, teenagers! Will you ever learn? (I could go on, I really needed a good talking to when I was younger, one tip would not be enough).
And finally, what do you hope the future holds for you and your writing?
That I can give up the day job. But what writer can ever do that?!
Follow Daney and all of her work at her website, Amazon or on Twitter/X
Check out our interview with Valerie Sinason
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
