Betsy Reavley

Betsy Reavley is a bestselling author known for her dark, psychological thrillers. Her notable works include The Quiet Ones, The Optician's Wife, Carrion, Beneath the Watery Moon, and the poetry collection The Worm in the Bottle.

Betsy Reavley was born in Hammersmith, London. She spent her childhood moving frequently with her family, living in various places, including Provence, Tuscany, Gloucestershire, and Cambridgeshire. From an early age, Betsy showed an interest in literature and writing, particularly poetry.

Betsy moved to Oxford, where she met her husband in her early twenties. At Oxford, her literary interests shifted from poetry to fiction. In the process, she developed the distinctive style of psychological thrillers that would later define her career. Betsy says, "People are most fascinating when faced with the dark side of life. This is what I like to write about."

Betsy began her writing career at the age of twenty-two. After the birth of her first daughter and marriage, she completed her manuscript and secured a publishing contract with an indie publisher. The rise of eBooks and platforms like Amazon significantly changed the publishing landscape, allowing Betsy and her husband to establish their own publishing business.

In 2014, they co-founded Bloodhound Books, which quickly became a successful publishing house. They later expanded their ventures to include Bombshell Books.

As the Publishing Director of Bloodhound Books, Betsy has played a crucial role in shaping its focus on eBook sales, although they also produce paperbacks. She notes that many authors still think of publishing in traditional terms and struggle with the idea that the focus is on eBook sales.

In an interview, Betsy shared her thoughts on balancing writing and publishing: "They are both fulfilling but require very different skill sets. I couldn’t say. The pressure from publishing can be stressful but keeps life interesting. Writing is a lonely pursuit but one that I love."

Betsy lives in London with her husband, two children, and pets.

Photo credit: X @BetsyReavley