Paula Hawkins is a well-known author, born and raised in Zimbabwe but has been living in London since 1989. Hawkins worked as a journalist for fifteen years before she began her writing career. She is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller "The Girl on the Train," which was later adapted into a major motion picture. Hawkins has established herself as a successful writer, with her debut novel being published in numerous countries around the world.
Hawkins' passion for writing thriller stories began in her teenage years after reading several mystery and thriller novels. However, she took up journalism as a profession to earn a living, as she had no formal training or experience in writing. Despite this, her passion for writing thriller stories never faded away. After working as a journalist for fifteen years, she returned to her path of novel writing. Her first journey from Putney Bridge to Earls Court in an overground train was a significant experience for her, as it sparked her curiosity and interest in the houses and people she encountered during her daily commute.
Hawkins' debut novel, "The Girl on the Train," has been a global phenomenon, selling 23 million copies worldwide and translated into over forty languages. It was a No.1 bestseller in various countries and was made into a successful film starring Emily Blunt. Her second stand-alone thriller, "Into the Water," was also a global No.1 bestseller, spending twenty weeks in the Sunday Times hardback fiction Top 10 bestseller list, and six weeks at No.1. Hawkins' latest thriller, "A Slow Fire Burning," will be released on 31st August 2021.