Asia Mackay

Asia Mackay
Born
Asia Brooke Mackay

1980 (age 45–46)
Alma materDurham University
Spouse
Andrew Trotter
(m. 2007)
Children4
FatherSimon Mackay, Baron Tanlaw

Asia Brooke Mackay (born 1980) is a British author. Her novels include Killing It (2018), a Comedy Women in Print Prize runner-up, and A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage (2025).

Early life and education

Mackay was born in East London to Scottish peer Simon Mackay, Baron Tanlaw and Rina Siew Yong.[1][2] Mackay graduated with a degree in Anthropology from Durham University.[3] Through the Comedy Women in Print Prize, she won a place in the University of Hertfordshire's MA Creative Writing programme.[4]

Career

Ahead of its release, Mackay's debut novel came second in the Richard & Judy Search for a Bestseller competition. In 2017, Bonnier Zaffre acquired the rights to publish Mackay's debut novel Killing It in 2018.[5][6] Killing It was named a thriller of the month by John Dugdale of The Sunday Times[7] and a runner-up for the Comedy Women in Print Prize in the Published Novel category.[8] This was followed by a sequel The Nursery, published in 2019.[9]

In 2023, Wildfire (a Hachette UK imprint) acquired the rights to publish Mackay's third novel A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage in 2025.[10][11][12] Georgia Tennant and Kyle Soller narrated the audiobook.[13] A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage was longlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Prize and was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick.

Personal life

Mackay married Andrew Trotter at Langholm Parish Church in 2007. They have four children.[14]

Bibliography

Alexis Taylor

  • Killing It (2018)
  • The Nursery (2019)

Standalones

  • A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage (2024)
  • Self-Help for Serial Killers (2026)

References

  1. ^ Sally (19 August 2019). "Writer Asia Mackay reveals real-life inspiration for her stone-cold killer, cunning spy and first-time mum". The Sunday Post. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Asia Mackay: 'My favourite character is Scarlett O'Hara – stubborn, fun and unapologetically out for herself'". Irish Independent. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  3. ^ Mackay, Asia (11 May 2018). "From mum to Killing It – Asia Mackay's journey to publication". Professional Writing Academy. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Winners of inaugural Comedy Women in Print Prize announced". Books + Publishing. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  5. ^ Cowdrey, Katherine (12 May 2017). "Bonnier Zaffre acquires 'assassa-mum' debut". The Bookseller. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Book review: Killing It by Asia Mackay". Lancashire Post. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  7. ^ Dugdale, John (15 July 2018). "Review: the month's best thrillers: The Good Sister by Morgan Jones; A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay; Take Me In by Sabine Durrant; Killing It by Asia Mackay". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Jilly Cooper and Asia Mackay honoured at Comedy Women in Print Awards". Curtis Brown. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  9. ^ Hanne, Ilona (7 January 2020). "The book I've borrowed: The Nursery by Asia Mackay". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  10. ^ Brown, Lauren (6 September 2023). "Wildfire signs Mackay's A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage". The Bookseller. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  11. ^ Webb, Janet (24 January 2025). "Book Review: A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay". Criminal Element.
  12. ^ Xenos, Natalie (14 January 2025). "Book Review: A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay". Culturefly. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  13. ^ Fraser, Katie (30 October 2024). "Actors Georgia Tennant and Kyle Soller to narrate Asia Mackay's latest novel". The Bookseller. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  14. ^ Dumpleton, Elise (18 January 2025). "Q&A: Asia Mackay, Author of 'A Serial Killer's Guide To Marriage'". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 1 September 2025.