From Rejection to Representation: Roxie Key’s Crime Debut Breakthrough

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Hi, I'm Wayne Kelly, a writer, podcast host and coach. I love to help writers develop their skills and get their books and stories out into the world.

In this episode of The Write Place Podcast, I’m joined by crime writer Roxie Key to discuss her brilliant debut novel The Deadly Spark, a character-driven blend of psychological suspense and police procedural.

We get into the real story behind Roxie’s writing journey—from 50+ rejections to a dream agent sliding into her DMs, and how she went from almost giving up to having a book deal and a growing readership. Roxie shares how a childhood phobia became the central theme of her novel, why she chose to write a diverse cast of characters, and how she balances writing with family life and a full-time job.

We also talk about:

• The importance of rejection and building thick skin
• Why writing fear can be a form of therapy
• Navigating police procedural accuracy without getting bogged down in red tape
• The reality of modern publishing and why debut authors have to hustle
• Productivity hacks for busy writers
• The value of reading—and writing—widely

Roxie is warm, honest and funny, and this chat is packed with insight for any writer trying to stay motivated and get their words out into the world.

🎙️ Links and resources:

📚 Check out The Deadly Spark – available now in the UK, US and Canada:

Roxie's Author Website - https://roxiekey.com

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📚 Get 25% off any of my courses by using the code WRITEPLACE25 at checkout - more info here.

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