SPOTLIGHT

“It was incredibly difficult to write a thriller” — Gail Schimmel

After reading fellow South African novelist Amy Heydenrych’s Shame on You, Schimmel says she became obsessed with the idea of writing a thriller of her own.

Two Months (Pan Macmillan) is a gripping read that follows the events which transpire prior to schoolteacher Erica waking up and realising she can’t recall the past two months of her life and the effects her supposed fugue state has on her psyche and relationships.

Schimmel introduces readers to Erica’s husband, Kenneth, and high school frenemies Caitlin and Robyn. Jealousy, rivalry, coercion and a fractured sense of reality permeate the pages.

We asked Schimmel ...

How did your aspirations compare to the actual act of writing a thriller?

I thought it would be easy because you have to follow the genre but it was incredibly difficult. The plot had to make sense and I kept getting confused. My notes are full of scrawls and arrows and confusion. But it was also fun, knowing I wasn’t heading for a happy ending.

Bullying, from schoolgirl taunts with destructive consequences to cyberspace threats, features heavily in your novel. Why is bullying so pivotal to the plot?

Is it a cop-out to just say I have children? I think raising children in these days of social media is frightening and unknown and my biggest fear is bullying that nobody can see. I needed something that would explain the plot. It falls apart without bullying.

Of the four main characters, Erica, Kenneth, Robyn and Caitlin, who would you a) most like to be quarantined with?

Kenneth! My editor said she was a little bit in love with him by the end of the book and I think he is a lovely character.

b) hate to be quarantined with?

Caitlin. If you’ve read the book, you’ll know why. #Facts.