In this latest episode, Simon Hodgkins catches up with the incredibly talented Nikki Smith. Nikki began her academic journey studying English Literature at the University of Birmingham. However, life took her on a detour into the world of finance, where she worked for renowned companies like BDO and Morgan Stanley. But the call of literature was too strong to ignore. Following a pivotal 'now or never' moment, Nikki took a leap of faith and enrolled in a Curtis Brown creative writing course. This decision marked the beginning of her illustrious writing career. Her debut novel, ALL IN HER HEAD, was not just any first book. It was pre-empted by Orion in a two-book deal and quickly climbed the ranks to become an Amazon bestseller. The accolades didn't stop there. It was nominated for the Guardian 'Not The Booker Prize' and has even been optioned for TV. Talk about making an entrance! Nikki's second novel, LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO, published in April 2021, continued the trend of success and was also optioned for TV. Following this, she made a significant move by following her editor to Viking. The recent publication is her third novel, THE BEACH PARTY, and fans, mark your calendars! The fourth novel, THE GUESTS, is set to release in 2024. "The Beach Party": The Summer Thriller You Can't Miss Nikki Smith's third novel, The Beach Party, is already being hailed as the hit thriller of the summer. With a backdrop of 1989 Mallorca, this tale promises a rollercoaster of emotions, secrets, and revelations. Synopsis 'Bound to be the hit thriller of the summer!' - T. M. Logan, The Holiday Six friends. The holiday of their dreams. One night that changed it all . . . In 1989, the tunes are loud, and the clothes are even louder. A group of friends descends upon Mallorca for a post-graduation holiday filled with decadence and debauchery at a luxury villa. Their fun reaches its peak with a beach party, where sand flies from dancing feet and revellers leap from yachts. But the fun takes a dark turn. Amidst the wild partying, a tragic accident occurs, turning their dream holiday into a living nightmare. Fast forward to the present, the truth about that fateful summer night has been buried deep. But someone remembers. Someone knows what happened. And they want justice. 'Thrilling, twisting and gloriously '80s' - Chris Whitaker, We Begin at the End 'Sun-soaked and fast-paced, the perfect holiday page turner' - Ellery Lloyd, The Club 'Deliciously gripping and twisty' - Shalini Boland, The Secret Mother 'Sizzling with suspense, the perfect summer read' - B. A. Paris, Behind Closed Doors Away from the limelight, Nikki leads a peaceful life near Guildford. She shares her home with her husband, two teenage daughters, and a quirky cat who believes she's a dog. Nikki is represented by the esteemed Sophie Lambert at the C&W agency. Thank you for joining us on this literary journey. Stay tuned for more exciting guests and stories on our show. Until next time, keep watching and listening to The Global Discussion. About The Global Discussion: The podcast features carefully curated guests from an exciting cross-section of creatives, leaders, and thinkers. New episodes are available on Apple, Google, and Spotify podcasts and several leading podcast platforms. You can listen to and watch the episodes on our dedicated YouTube channel and the website. Watch or listen to The Global Discussion https://www.theglobaldiscussion.com Audio Podcast: Spotify | Google | Apple Video Podcast: https://www.theglobaldiscussion.com YouTube: https://bit.ly/TGD-YouTube Follow us on Social Media