Maggie Mitchell, who teaches English and creative writing at the University of West Georgia, has taken the US by storm with her debut novel, Pretty Is, which was internationally released in July this year.

Described as the book to read if you're missing Gillian Flynn's bestselling book Gone Girl, Pretty Is, is a truly original psychological thriller with not one but two 'twisted heroines' who survive a kidnapping when they are twelve years old. The novel explores the psychological repercussions of victims and the stories that we create for ourselves to survive. With The New York Times calling Mitchell's first book a 'Stunning, multi-layered debut', and having previously published short fiction in a number of literary magazines, including the New Ohio Review, American Literary Review, and Green Mountains Review, the future looks bright for this rising star.