Mila Gray's Blog

LEIGHTON MEESTER STARRING IN THE WEEKEND AWAY

“Gossip Girl” actor Leighton Meester is set to star in Netflix’s twisty thriller “The Weekend Away,” an adaptation of the novel by Sarah Alderson.

The psychological thriller takes place amid weekend getaway to Croatia that goes awry when a woman is accused of killing her best friend. As she attempts to clear her name and uncover the truth, her efforts unearth a painful secret.

Along with Meester, the cast includes “Batwoman” actor Christina Wolfe, Ziad Bakri and Luke Norris.

Alderson is adapting the screenplay, with Kim Farrant (“Strangerland,” “Angel of Mine”) set to direct.

“I am so excited to see ‘The Weekend Away’ make it to the screen,” Alderson said in a statement. “To have adapted my own novel makes it even more special, and I am thrilled that Leighton will be bringing this character to life.”

“The Weekend Away” marks Meester’s first film role in some time. Her recent feature credits include the 2019 crime drama “Semper Fi” and the 2014 indie drama “By the Gun.” On the small screen, she appeared in the sitcom “Single Parents” with Taran Killam and had guest roles on the sci-fi comedic drama “The Orville” and “The Last Man on Earth.”

Ben Pugh, Charlie Morrison and Erica Steinberg will produce “The Weekend Away” for 42 as part of their overall deal with Netflix. Kari Hatfield of 24 is executive producing the film.

The post LEIGHTON MEESTER STARRING IN THE WEEKEND AWAY appeared first on Sarah Alderson.

THE STALKER COVER REVEAL

Harper Collins revealed the cover and blurb for Sarah’s upcoming psychological thriller THE STALKER.

It was meant to be the perfect escape…

Newly-weds Liam and Laura are spending their honeymoon in paradise: just the two of them on a remote island off the coast of Scotland.

But they soon discover that all is not as it seems, and the island has a tragic past. And they can’t shake the feeling of being watched…

When one morning, they wake to find a message scratched into the window, their worst fears are confirmed. They aren’t alone on the island. And this stranger wants them dead.

…but it became the perfect nightmare.

Publishing 8th July, 2021.

The post THE STALKER COVER REVEAL appeared first on Sarah Alderson.

FALL INTO ME

The fifth book in the Mila Gray ‘Forbidden Summer’ series is out today in Hardback and Kindle. A standalone book, Fall Into Me returns readers to the world of Oceanside, and is about an unexpected and searing romance that unfolds between a young recording artist and her ex-Marine bodyguard trying to outrun his difficult past.  

Published by Simon & Schuster.

The post FALL INTO ME appeared first on Sarah Alderson.

THE WEEKEND AWAY

OUT NOW! Sarah’s latest thriller was a Fern Britton Book of The Month and is on sale in all good bookshops as well as Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda in the UK. The book, published by Avon (an imprint of Harper Collins) is Sarah’s third adult thriller and is also available in e-book and audio.

Two friends go on holiday. Only one comes back.

Orla and Kate have been best friends forever. Together they’ve faced it all – be it Orla’s struggles as a new mother or Kate’s messy divorce. And whatever else happens in their lives, they can always look forward to their annual weekend away.

This year, they’re off to Lisbon: the perfect flat, the perfect view, the perfect itinerary. And what better way to kick things off in style than with the perfect night out?

But when Orla wakes up the next morning, Kate is gone. Brushed off by the police and with only a fuzzy memory of the night’s events, Orla is her friend’s only hope. As she frantically retraces their steps, Orla makes a series of shattering discoveries that threaten everything she holds dear. Because while Lisbon holds the secret of what happened that night, the truth may lie closer to home…

Fast-moving and beautifully told, it is hard to put down. (Daily Mail)

A brilliant psychological read. (Woman)

This is an exhilarating ride where nothing is what it seems… Good luck getting anything else done until you’ve turned the final page. (Heat)

The post THE WEEKEND AWAY appeared first on Sarah Alderson.

Cover Reveal: The Weekend Away

Avon have released the cover of Sarah’s upcoming psychological thriller THE WEEKEND AWAY, out July 23rd, 2020.

Two friends go on holiday. Only one comes back.

If you loved The Holiday, get ready for your new obsession…

Orla and Kate have been best friends forever. Together they’ve faced it all – be it Orla’s struggles as a new mother or Kate’s messy divorce. And whatever else happens in their lives, they can always look forward to their annual weekend away.

This year, they’re off to Lisbon: the perfect apartment, the perfect view, the perfect itinerary. And what better way to kick things off in style than with the perfect night out?

But when Orla wakes up the next morning, Kate is gone. Brushed off by the police and with only a fuzzy memory of the night’s events, Orla is her friend’s only hope. As she frantically retraces their steps, Orla makes a series of shattering discoveries that threaten everything she holds dear. Because while Lisbon holds the secret of what happened that night, the truth may lie closer to home…

A twisty holiday read for fans of The Holiday and Date Night.

“Animus” Airs on CBS

S.W.A.T. Episode 14 of season 3, airs March 3rd on CBS. The episode was written by Michael Jones Morales and Sarah Alderson.

The S.W.A.T. team searches for a link between the seemingly unconnected victims of a lone gunman targeting women. Also, Luca assists with a homicide investigation in his neighborhood; Lieutenant Lynch pushes Chris to do a news interview; and Hondo reaches a juncture in his relationship with Nichelle.

Cover Reveal: Fall Into Me

Writing under the name Mila Gray, Sarah has penned a fifth novel for Simon & Schuster in her popular stand-alongside series.  The new novel, Fall Into Me, will be published in November 2020.

Alderson Inks New Book Deal with Harper Collins

Author and screenwriter Sarah Alderson is moving from Hodder imprint Mulholland to HarperCollins imprint Avon in a two-book deal, starting with a “perfect summer thriller”.

Editorial director Phoebe Morgan bought world English rights to both books from Amanda Preston at the LBA Literary Agency. The Weekend Away, the first of the two, has already been pre-empted in Brazil, with translation rights handled by ILA on behalf of LBA. 

Morgan said: “The Weekend Away is the perfect summer thriller – two women go on holiday to Portugal, but only one of them returns. What really happened to Kate? You’ll be begging to know the answer come July. Sarah is so talented, and I’m delighted to be bringing her to HarperCollins.”

Alderson, currently writing on the CBS show SWAT, is a London-born, LA-based writer whose previous books include Friends Like These (Mulholland) and most recent release In Her Eyes (Mulholland). She also writes women’s fiction under the pen name Mila Gray.

She said: “I’ve been blown away by Phoebe’s passion and vision for The Weekend Away and I’m so very excited to be working with the innovative and enthusiastic team at Avon. I wrote this novel, about two best friends on a weekend away in Lisbon, after spending a weekend there with my own best friend. Foreign cities always inspire me story-wise and, as a frequent user of Airbnb and Uber, I saw the wonderful potential for a twisted thriller about who we choose to place our trust in.”

Preston added: “When I first read The Weekend Away, I knew we had something special here. As an author of nearly 20 novels, Sarah has such skill and talent for plotting and pacing as well as her incredible writing and with Phoebe and her amazing team behind her, I am super excited.”

Watch Over Me is Published

Writing under the name Mila Gray, Sarah has penned Watch Over Me, the fourth novel in a stand-alongside series.

From the author of Come Back to Me comes a striking new novel about a young woman—desperately trying to protect her family from their violent father—who finds safety, and a passionate romance, with an ex-Marine.

Ever since Zoey was a kid she’s been caring for her mom and her little sister, defending them from her violent father. She’s been the strong one, the responsible one as she sacrificed her wants and dreams to keep her family together.

Now the life they’ve built for themselves in California is about to be upended. Her father, just released from prison, has discovered where they’re hiding and has come looking for them.

Enter Tristan. A former Marine and now member of the Coast Guard, Tristian promises his best friend, and Zoey’s Marine brother, that he will take care of Zoey and her family. Protect them, watch over them, and be the rock they need in their lives.

And as Tristan starts to help Zoey deal with the emotional fall out of her childhood, their relationship turns from protector to something more. The two grow closer as a romance blooms into a heart-pounding and powerful relationship that Zoey hopes will be strong enough to fight off the damage her father has done to her and her family.

But not everyone can be kept safe forever, and when Zoey’s father does show up, a confrontation ensues that will change Zoey’s world forever.

Published by Simon & Schuster on December 3rd, 2019, you can order your copy here.

In Her Eyes – Out Today!

From the bestselling author of Friends Like These comes a brand new unputdownable psychological thriller…

Ava’s life is the kind other people envy: loving husband; great kids; beautiful house. Until the night a violent home invasion turns the dream into a nightmare, and leaves her beautiful daughter fighting to survive.

And then things get worse. Ava realises that the attack wasn’t random. Someone is targeting her family. Why? Who could hate them enough to kill?

Ava must find out what really happened that night, to save those she loves from even greater danger. But when everyone around you has been lying, how do you decide who to trust?

And Ava has secrets of her own…

For fans of The Silent Patient, The Wife Between Us and Perfect Child, In Her Eyes is a dark and twisty thriller; you’re about to find out that home is where the hate is.

Published by Mulholland Books.

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