UK publishing house Transworld has announced details of her first thriller, Esther is Now Following You.
“I’m not sure my feet have touched the ground since,” said Ms Sweeney.
“I’ve wanted to write a novel for an extremely long time – we’re talking decades here, not years – so to have gotten one over the line is a huge relief.
“To see it in print will be a moment beyond anything I ever could have imagined.”
The upcoming book has drawn comparisons with the Netflix series Baby Reindeer, but from the stalker’s perspective. It has been described as a “funny, suspenseful novel about celebrity fandom and obsession”.
“I always wanted to write about superfan culture, celebrities and that fine line between fandom and obsession,” added Ms Sweeney. “Working in the job that I do, I’ve seen the superfans of the rich and famous up close and personal.
“They are a thing to behold sometimes. It was definitely fun to write about.”
Finn Cotton, crime and thriller editorial director at Bantam Books – which is part of Transworld – acquired the book rights from Ms Sweeney’s agent, Marianne Gunn O’Connor.
Her debut novel is due to be released in early 2026. It will chronicle the “all-too-believable spiral of Esther’s mental state”.
The only thing keeping Esther, the protagonist, tethered to reality, is Ted Levy – a Canadian actor and comedian – and the fan site where Esther and fellow “Tedettes” stalk his every move.
Circumstances ramp up when Esther, who believes she and Ted are meant to be together, buys a plane ticket to Canada.
“Tanya is one of Ireland’s most celebrated journalists, whose unique style of storytelling entertains and delights readers every week,” said Mr Cotton.
“I’m thrilled that she has decided to turn her significant talents to novel writing. Esther is Now Following You is a hilarious and chilling portrayal of a woman’s spiral into obsession, which subverts expectations at every turn.”
Ms Sweeney has been passionate about writing since childhood and began her career at the age of 11 with contributions in her local newspaper in west Dublin.
Since joining the Irish Independent, she has tackled topics such as lifestyle, showbiz, trends and culture.
