Melbourne author Sally Hepworth's The Mother-in-Law set to become a Netflix series

Author Sally Hepworth has a way of instantly drawing you into her books with her painterly impressions of Melbourne.

From Sandringham cul-de-sacs to pages that melt with descriptions of a peak summer heatwave, Hepworth weaves our city’s places and experiences into her stories.

But it was the six-time New York Times best-selling author’s depiction of Brighton in her 2019 novel The Mother-in-Law that caught the attention of Hollywood.

“That was my breakout novel and I think part of its success was telling a story through places I know,” Hepworth says. “Most of my books are set in bayside Melbourne – it’s where I grew up and where my mother and grandmother have grown up. It made sense to me.”

American actor and producer Amy Poehler contacted Hepworth (at first on the phone, and then face to face in LA) to discuss turning it into an NBC TV thriller series.

“Having Amy Poehler interested in my book came as a total surprise but I’ll take it,” Hepworth says.

The series is still in development with Poehler’s production company Paper Kite, which is also responsible for the Netflix series Russian Doll.

Hepworth worked in HR and event management before embarking on a full-time writing career while pregnant with her first child.

“When I started writing my first book [in 2014], my publisher told me I had to set them in America if I wanted to find an American publisher,” she says.

“It felt awkward doing that, but they loved what I wrote and on it went. Over time it felt like I was fudging it and craved my Australian connection.”

It wasn’t until Hepworth released her fourth novel, The Family Next Door, in 2018 that her book publisher caved in to her requests to use Melbourne as her backdrop.

“By that point in my career … Liane Moriarty had set her books in Sydney and author Jane Harper had emerged with The Dry,” she says.

“The success of those writers really got my publisher thinking, sure, let’s see how we go if we do it too.”

Hepworth’s latest book, The Younger Wife, follows the relationship of two sisters, Tully and Rachel, whose father Stephen decides to remarry to a younger woman, Heather.

The domestic thriller is packed with twists and turns you won’t see coming – and captures the scenic bayside views with a back-stabbing undertone.

The idea for The Younger Wife occurred while Hepworth was driving from Sandringham to visit her aunt Gwen at Box Hill Hospital.

“She wanted me to get her hot water bottle from home,” Hepworth explains. “I was on the speakerphone with my brothers in the car asking why on earth would she want it. I was on EastLink when the idea clicked for the book.”

Hepworth writes in a co-working space close to home and describes her lifestyle as anything but glamorous. Much of her sixth book, The Good Sister, was written at Brighton Library, from where she drew at least some inspiration – the book’s main character is a librarian.

During the pandemic she found out The Good Sister was chosen by Amazon to feature on a billboard in Times Square, New York. Her only regret? Not being there to get a photo under it.

Hepworth openly acknowledges she has ADHD and says having the neuro-diverse condition works well for her creative career path.

“One of the joys of that is it can make you creative; the flip side is it can make you easily bored,” Hepworth says. “If I wasn’t a writer or working on a new book every year, I would have had 10 careers by now.”

Her husband Christian (known affectionately online as Mr Sally Hepworth) helps her run her business and is a stay-at-home dad to their three children.

Prior to Sally’s career taking off, he worked as a full-time accountant, but she says they flipped roles and now she’s the breadwinner.

“Christian is my rock and is totally understanding of my need to write,” Hepworth says. “He allows me to do this while he runs the other very important aspect of our lives.”

While writing about family dysfunction is her go-to, Hepworth says her own life is nothing like the troubled ones she writes about.

So, how does she plot her storylines set among heartbreak, maligned intentions and maddening love games and whip up a best-seller every year since 2015?

“I have always had a good imagination,” Hepworth says. “Having twin brothers who always played together meant I was left to my own devices and role-played a lot on my own, I think that’s where it stems from.”

While she’s committed to her career as a full-time writer, Hepworth says she loves keeping a low profile in Australia, despite the success that’s come her way.

“I’m a real introvert … my family is my oasis.”

And as for her next book, she’s heading to Portsea, where she and her family spent a lot of time at a holiday home when she was a child.

“I stick to places I know the smell and feel of, so that’s where I am going next with my new book.”

Sally Hepworth’s The Younger Wife is out now. panmacmillan.com.au