Charlotte Rixon, the pen name of Charlotte Duckworth, is a USA Today bestselling author known for her suspense novels published by Quercus. Her latest book, After the Fire, came out in 2024.
Charlotte Rixon studied Classics at Leeds University, where she laid the groundwork for her literary career. After completing her undergraduate studies, she pursued a PGDip in Screenwriting.
Rixon then was a magazine journalist, honing her writing skills and storytelling techniques. Her commitment to her craft led her to graduate from the prestigious Faber Academy's 'Writing A Novel' course, further solidifying her expertise in fiction writing.
Her career as a novelist started with the publication of The One That Got Away in 2023. This debut novel was well-received in both the UK and the US. Head of Zeus acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, with Rachel Faulkner-Willcocks praising Rixon's ability to capture the emotional intensity of first love.
"In Clara and Benjamin, Charlotte has perfectly captured the heightened emotions of first love — from true joy to feverish agony, and everything in between," said Faulkner-Willcocks.
The novel's success extended internationally, with translation rights sold in Brazil, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Israel, Serbia, and Russia. Additionally, the film rights were optioned by a major US producer.
In The One That Got Away, Rixon explores the lasting effects of first love through the characters of Benjamin and Clara. The story begins with a crucial mistake on their last day at university that sets their lives on divergent paths. Twenty years later, a dramatic event draws Clara back to the city where they first met, reigniting the emotions of their past.
"I've wanted to write about first love and the repercussions it has on the rest of our lives for a long time, as it's a subject I find fascinating," says Rixon.
Her latest novel, After the Fire (2024), delves into the lives of Beth and Nick, who have supported each other through various life challenges since their university days. The story is rooted in their shared trauma from surviving a devastating fire fourteen years prior. This event left them grappling with pain, memories, and guilt, even as they navigated their intertwined lives.
Charlotte Rixon currently lives in London.
Photo credit: www.charlotterixon.com
