Interviewer: Freida, thank you so much for joining us! Your fans are dying to know: how does a doctor find the time—and the dark imagination—to write such intense psychological thrillers?

Freida: (Laughs) Thanks for having me! People are always surprised by the doctor part. I actually grew up in New York City, and I’ve always loved stories that keep you on the edge of your seat. As for the “dark imagination,” I think working in medicine actually helps. You see a lot of human nature—the good, the bad, and the weird—under high pressure.

Interviewer: Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

Freida: I’ve been writing since I was a kid! I actually wrote my first “novel” when I was about 11. It wasn’t a thriller back then, but I was always obsessed with storytelling. I went through medical school, which is obviously very intense, but I never stopped writing in the margins of my notebooks. For a long time, I was self-publishing while my kids were asleep, just hoping a few people would read my work.

Interviewer: The Housemaid has become a global phenomenon. When you were writing about Millie and Nina, did you know you had a hit on your hands?

Freida: Honestly? No! I just thought it was a fun, twisty story about a domestic worker with a secret. When it blew up on BookTok and social media, I was shocked. I think readers enjoy characters who are a bit “gray”—not perfectly good or perfectly evil.

Interviewer: Your twists are legendary. Do you plan them from the start, or do they surprise you too?

Freida: I’m a bit of a “plotter.” I usually have a general idea of the “Big Twist” before I start, but the fun part is finding ways to distract the reader. I want you to think the killer is Person A, while I’m slowly laying the breadcrumbs for Person B right under your nose.

Interviewer: What is your advice for aspiring writers who are also balancing a busy “9-to-5” job or school?

Freida: Just keep moving the cursor forward. Even if you only write 200 words a day while sitting in your car or during a lunch break, those words add up. Don’t wait for “the perfect time” to write, because it doesn’t exist. Just start!

Before we dive into our chat, here is a quick look at the woman behind the twists. Freida McFadden is a #1 Amazon and New York Times bestselling author known for her psychological thrillers like The Housemaid and The Locked Door.

Interestingly, Freida isn’t “just” a writer. She is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury rehabilitation. She began her writing career by self-publishing while balancing a demanding medical career and motherhood. Today, she is often called the queen of the “unputdownable” thriller, famous for her sharp pacing and jaw-dropping ending twists.