Elisabeth Dini Master Class Recording

Elisabeth Dini Master Class Recording

From International Writers' Collective by International Writers' Collective

February 8, 2026 · 57 min

About this episode

Elisabeth Dini discusses her experiences as a debut novelist, focusing on genre blending and the publication journey.

In this master class, IWC teacher Elisabeth Dini talks craft, process, and the realities of publishing—centred on her debut novel Bearer of Bad News, published by Simon & Schuster. The novel follows Lucy Rey, a down-on-her-luck hairdresser who accepts an unusual job delivering a confidential message in exchange for a much-needed payout. The assignment takes her to the Italian Dolomites, where she becomes entangled in decades-old secrets involving a missing woman, a vanished emerald necklace, and a family history she never expected to confront. Publishers Weekly called Bearer of Bad News “wickedly entertaining” and Booklist praised its deft blend of humor, intergenerational tensions, and cinematic plotting. Witty and propulsive, with a surprising emotional heart, it has drawn comparisons to Where’d You Go, Bernadette and The Maid. In conversation with fellow IWC teacher Jennifer van der Kwast, Elisabeth reflects on the challenges of writing a novel that straddles genres, her attempt to become a “plotter” when at heart she’s a “pantser”, her approach to research and historical accuracy, and how she kept writing even after her first novel failed to find a publisher. She…

People in this episode

Guest: Elisabeth Dini

Topics covered

  • blending genres
  • historical research
  • publishing process
  • debut novel
  • writing persistence

Keywords

  • Elisabeth Dini
  • debut novelist
  • genre blending
  • historical research
  • writing process
  • publication
  • persistence

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