Steph McGovern's Debut Thriller Explores Stalking and Corruption

TV presenter and former journalist Steph McGovern has ventured into the literary world with her debut thriller, Deadline, a novel that delves into the dark themes of stalking, political corruption, and terrorism. Drawing from her extensive career as a broadcaster, McGovern has crafted a gripping narrative that reflects the complexities and dangers she has encountered in her professional life.

McGovern, known for her work on Steph’s Packed Lunch and as a top business reporter, has used her two decades of experience interviewing global figures, including former US President Donald Trump, to inspire the characters in her book. “A lot of it comes from my experiences of being a broadcaster – the power, corruption, and lies that can happen,” she explains.

From Personal Experience to Fictional Drama

The novel’s protagonist, Rose Steedman, is a fictional TV business reporter who finds herself in a terrifying situation when her live broadcast is hijacked. As millions watch, a voice in her earpiece reveals that her family has been kidnapped, forcing her to comply with the hijacker’s demands. McGovern shares, “This book is all about the hijack but also about why the hijack has happened, who is doing it and what for – how is this going to end?”

One theme that resonates deeply with McGovern is stalking, a subject she knows all too well. “I had a stalker, so the stalker in the book is very much the stalker I had, just with a different name and different ending,” she reveals. Her real-life experience with a stalker who believed they were in a relationship and even contacted her father adds authenticity to the narrative.

Breaking the Fourth Wall

McGovern’s decision to incorporate her personal experiences into Deadline stems from a desire to shed light on the realities of being in the public eye. “When I said I had a stalker at work, everyone was like, ‘Oh, have you got one as well?’ It was like, everyone gets one at some point,” she notes, highlighting the often unreported prevalence of such incidents among public figures.

Her book aims to “break the fourth wall” and offer readers an insider’s perspective on the world of television journalism. “People are fascinated by the access you have as a journalist,” she says, referencing her high-profile interviews and experiences at places like Downing Street.

From Idea to Reality

The concept for Deadline was born 15 years ago, but McGovern only began writing it during the pandemic, overcoming years of “imposter syndrome.” Her first book event took place in Tynemouth, and she is set to appear at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate. There, she will be interviewed by bestselling author Val McDermid, an event she eagerly anticipates.

Looking ahead, McGovern is already working on the next installment in her series, featuring a new suspenseful scenario involving a group of friends on a plane. “In the first book, the hijack was the set-up for the story. In this one, the person not getting on the plane is the set-up for the whole story that will unfold,” she teases.

Future Prospects

There are discussions about adapting Deadline into a TV drama, a project McGovern hopes to be involved in. “Hopefully, Netflix are reading this!” she jokes, expressing her enthusiasm for the potential adaptation.

Published by Macmillan, Deadline is now available in hardback. As McGovern continues to navigate her multifaceted career, her foray into fiction writing marks an exciting new chapter, offering readers a thrilling glimpse into the world she knows so well.