By profession I’m a psychologist and psychotherapist, therefore I guess it makes sense that I write psychological suspense novels. I particularly enjoy developing my characters: exploring what makes them tick, their personal challenges, their values and motivations. I also love coming up with the plot; devising how A leads to B and exploring the question ‘what if?’ as I work out how we then get to Z.
In 2017 I attended Faber Academy and won the Blue Pencil First Novel Award in 2018. My debut Her Little Secret was published in September 2021 by Orion Books and my second psychological suspense novel The Accident in October 2022. The Accident was selected as The Crime Readers Association Recommended Read of the month in December 2022. 2025 sees the publication of The Expert Witness.
I’m thrilled to be the Writer-in-Residence at Sudbury Arts Centre, Suffolk, where I’m developing events for writers and readers. Aside from this I’m a member of the Society of Authors and The Crime Writers’ Association where I co-lead the East Anglia Chapter, and I’m a founder member of Dead East.
I grew up with a book in my hand and have eclectic tastes in reading. Aside from suspense, I particularly like novels which introduce me to new ideas and other ways of life. Authors I’ve recently enjoyed include: Colum McCann, Trent Dalton, Khaled Hosseini, John Boyne, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Tim Winton, Tan Twan Eng, Jing-Jing Lee and Anna Bailey.
Past talks/panels/interviews and events include:
Digital First Publishing for the Society of Authors/Writers of Essex;
Writing for Mental Wellbeing for WinterFest and Faber Academy students;
The Psychological Secrets of Writing, panel discussion with psychologist and novelist Philippa East;
The Psychology of Character for Essex Authors Day and the I am Writing Festival in Bristol;
The Path to Traditional Publication for Essex Book Festival;
Behind the Covers of Crime with Rosie Sandler, Michael Heath and David Evans for National Crime Reading Month, library tour and radio interview with Rob Jelly on BBC Essex.
Author interview with Global Girls Online Book Club.
Example articles for publications and online sites:
The Psychologist
https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/safely-living-darker-side-life
booksbywomen.org
https://booksbywomen.org/the-psychology-of-personality-bringing-your-characters-to-life/
https://booksbywomen.org/describing-what-you-cant-imagine/
Jericho Writers
https://jerichowriters.com/julia-stone-managing-publishing-expectations-and-psychology-in-writing/
https://jerichowriters.com/sensory-language-examples-in-fiction/
Aphantasia Network
https://aphantasia.com/creative-workarounds-for-aphantasics/
Shepherd.com book reviews
https://shepherd.com/bboy/2023/f/julia-stone
Alongside writing, my other creative pursuit is art. I studied for a fine art degree as a mature student, making sculptures and 3D work. Now I focus on ceramics, making experimental decorative/abstract works. Examples of my work can be seen on the websites of Anglian Potters and the Society for Designer Craftsmen. In 2024, I was commissioned to create art works responding to the stories of women who suffered life changing diseases at a young age, as part of Mortal and Strong https://www.mortalandstrong.com/campaign. The works were displayed in a major exhibition in 2025 and I have been asked to take on the role of lead artist for the next campaign, with a planned exhibition in 2026.
I occasionally post images and information about exhibitions and my writing on Instagram @Julia.Stone.Writer
You can find other writing related links at linktr.ee/JuliaStone