" I don’t have a partner, so I take care of the mortgage by myself, and I was thinking, ‘Oh God, I’m going to have to sell the house or find a new career.’ I was not in a good place, but it was a real spur to get ‘The Girl on the Train’ right. I had to nail it and do it really well. It really concentrates the mind, that kind of thing. "
- Paula Hawkins

In the given statement, Paula Hawkins describes a difficult period in her life where she faced significant financial pressure as she was solely responsible for paying off her mortgage and feared losing her home or changing careers to alleviate her stress. This situation caused her considerable anxiety but also motivated her to write "The Girl on the Train" with great determination.

Beyond its literal interpretation, this quote reflects how adversity can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and creativity. Hawkins highlights that financial insecurity and emotional distress forced her to focus intently on her work and pushed her to excel in her writing endeavors. The quote also suggests that external pressures can lead individuals to tap into their inner resilience and produce exceptional results under challenging circumstances.

Paula Hawkins is an acclaimed British author known for her psychological thriller "The Girl on the Train," which became a bestseller and was later adapted into a film starring Emily Blunt. This book brought her significant recognition in the literary world, and she has since become celebrated for her gripping narratives that often explore complex human emotions and moral dilemmas.