A Good Thriller discussion

Mary Kubica and her team have now confirmed the date for her Q & A's for the group as November 24th.

Please do read one, or both of her books

The Good Girl and Pretty Baby.

Just started The Good Gi4l That 4 is supposed to look like a backwards R. In the title and chapters, why is the R reversed? Hm

I read this a couple of months ago. I will definitely drop in fro the Q & A, Sean. Thanks for organising it. She's a pretty big author now. So that's quite coup. Well done.

Also curious about the woman Shhhing on the cover and the title

Working with her publishers ,agents and publicist.

Mary, and hints on the story of a third book?

Can you name your favourites authors to read?

Your favourite Music ?

Good morning! Thanks so much for including me today, and for taking the time to read THE GOOD GIRL and/or PRETTY BABY. Can't tell you how much I appreciate it! I'm thrilled to be here! Be sure to send your questions/comments to me throughout the day, and I'll happily reply. Looking forward to this!

Perri wrote: "Just started The Good Gi4l That 4 is supposed to look like a backwards R. In the title and chapters, why is the R reversed? Hm"
Hi there! I think that could certainly be open to reader interpretation, but I like to think that it's an indicator that not everything in the novel is what it seems to be, and like the backwards R, many of the characters do an about-face by the end of the book. They're not quite who readers expect them to be when they begin reading (Mia and Colin in particular). Great question!

Susan wrote: "I read this a couple of months ago. I will definitely drop in fro the Q & A, Sean. Thanks for organising it. She's a pretty big author now. So that's quite coup. Well done."
Thanks so much, Susan. Looking forward to chatting with you!

Perri wrote: "Also curious about the woman Shhhing on the cover and the title"
The original title for the book was WE WERE HERE, which are the words Colin carved into the countertop in the cabin. However, it didn't quite work with cover design as we wanted an image that focused on the character of Mia - and thus, the title THE GOOD GIRL was born. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the cover design. In the US, it is a woman making a shushing gesture who appears quite knowing, as if she has a secret to tell; in the UK, it's a black and white image of a woman who looks quite terrified. I love them both. Would love to hear which you all prefer!

Sean wrote: "Mary, and hints on the story of a third book?

Can you name your favourites authors to read?

Your favourite Music ?"

My third novel is called DON'T YOU CRY and will be released in the US May 17. 2016, and in the UK May 19th. EW.com ran a cover reveal and first chapter exclusive just last week, which sums up the novel far better than I could: http://www.ew.com/article/2015/11/19/...

DON'T YOU CRY investigates the simultaneous disappearance of a young Chicago woman and the appearance of a mysterious young woman in a small town about 70 miles outside of Chicago. Can't wait to hear what you all think! Hope you enjoy it.

As for my favorite authors, I love SJ Watson, Carla Buckley, Paula Daly, Gilly MacMillan, Ann Hood, Heather Gudenkauf, Peter Swanson... and many more! Mystery and suspense is certainly my favorite genre to read. Favorite musicians include Damien Rice and Skylar Gray, though I prefer writing in silence so the music and the writing do not go hand in hand. Great questions!

Hi Mary!

Thanks for taking time out and being here. :)

Of the two covers I prefer the US version. As a reader that one draws in more. Intimating secrets is always a draw, is it not?! :)

My question is how do you go about plotting? Do the seeds form slowly or does the outline of a story come to you fairly quickly? And does plot, characters change as you write or do you have a fairly clear idea? Quite often we hear writers saying storylines go off on tangents and reeling it back in is difficult.

Janet wrote: "Hi Mary!

Thanks for taking time out and being here. :)

Of the two covers I prefer the US version. As a reader that one draws in more. Intimating secrets is always a draw, is it not?! :)

My qu..."

Hi Janet,

In the whole plotter/pantser debate, I am certainly a pantser, preferring to write by the seat of my pants. I begin my novels with a somewhat-defined starting point, often having no idea where the storyline is heading. With THE GOOD GIRL, it was this vague notion of a kidnapping and the before/after timeframe. With PRETTY BABY, it was simply the opening scene where Heidi encounters Willow by the train station for the first time. I purposefully try not to overthink the plot and instead develop my characters first; once I know them well, it seems as if they are able to tell their stories to me. Like the plot line, characters are often ambiguous to me when I begin a novel, more like a series of statistics - both physical appearance and demeanor - rather than a human being. It takes time for them to become real to me, but when they do it's a wonderful feeling. I can write their stories as if I know innately what they would do or say in a given situation. As I work my way through character development, I start to formulate ideas in my mind about where this story should go. I don't outline but take my work one page or one chapter at a time, and let the story evolve on its own, though of course there are those moments my storylines go off on tangents - it's inevitable, I think! I usually clean this up during revisions.

Thanks so much for being with us today!

So how do you actually write. I'm astonished that some writers write on paper in longhand!! But I guess that is the old fashioned way!

When did you know you could write? Was it a skill that was picked up as a child? If you weren't a writer what do you think you might have done?

Janet wrote: "So how do you actually write. I'm astonished that some writers write on paper in longhand!! But I guess that is the old fashioned way!

When did you know you could write? Was it a skill that was p..."

I definitely prefer to write on the computer. My handwriting is fairly horrific, for one, plus I can type more quickly than I write. But I know many authors who love to draft longhand (not me!).

I was just a girl when I discovered I had a passion for writing, probably 8 or 9 years old. But growing up it was always a hobby for me, just something I enjoyed doing in my spare time though I don't recall a moment in my young life when I thought, "I'm going to be an author when I grow up." I was always very shy and insecure about my writing, and often didn't share it with anyone. I took only one course in creative writing, but otherwise like to think that I'm self-taught. For a career, I wanted to be a teacher and so did just that, teaching high school history in Chicago and for awhile in the Omaha Public School system. But when my daughter was born in 2005 I made the decision to stay home and care for her and was able to focus once again on my writing. It was then, in the early mornings or quiet afternoons while my daughter slept, that I began writing THE GOOD GIRL. I wrote the entire novel in secrecy; no one other than my husband knew I was working on it, and it wasn't until I'd sold the novel to MIRA Books that I let others in on the secret. My life has changed quite a bit in the last ten years, but I have the pleasure of doing many things I love: raising a family, writing novels, and still having the opportunity to get into schools from time to time and talk to the students about the writing and publishing processes.

That's brilliant. I love the way you did it in secrecy. That alone takes guts. Do you miss teaching at all, and do you now see writing as a full time career? Amongst family life. Juggling is hard at the best of times.

Hello Mary. Thank you for giving us your valuable time. How does it feel not only to have your books published but also published in other languages? Was it difficult to publish since you're actually sharing a part of yourself?

Janet wrote: "That's brilliant. I love the way you did it in secrecy. That alone takes guts. Do you miss teaching at all, and do you now see writing as a full time career? Amongst family life. Juggling is hard a..."

I do see writing as a full time career and love every second of it, though I certainly miss being in the classroom as well. I try to make up for it by getting into high schools to give presentations and volunteering in my own children's classrooms as much as I can.

Diane Lynch wrote: "Hello Mary. Thank you for giving us your valuable time. How does it feel not only to have your books published but also published in other languages? Was it difficult to publish since you're actual..."

Thanks so much for joining us, Diane! It is truly amazing to see my books published in other languages. Just recently I had the opportunity to visit Amsterdam and Milan and was able to go into bookstores and see my novels on the store shelves - truly an experience! It felt quite surreal. The international support has just been wonderful, and I feel grateful for this everyday.

I've always lacked a bit of confidence in my writing (I think many authors fall victim to a lack of self-confidence) and needed those in the industry to assure me that my writing was up to par before I'd believe it. Oddly enough, it was easier to publish the books and share them with strangers than it was to share with my closest family and friends. My novels are dark - which is quite contrary to me personally. It took some courage to share my work, but I'm so happy I did.

We are glad you did also. Thank you.

Diane Lynch wrote: "We are glad you did also. Thank you."

Thanks so much, Diane!

Hi Mary! Thank you for subjecting yourself to our questions today. (-: I have read with interest the questions and your answers so far. I read The Good Girl last month and loved it! You actually made me cry a few times, which has only happened a handful of times in my reading endeavors. I don't want to create a spoiler here, but after reading a couple of your answers today, I am dying to know if the final basic personalities of Colin and Mia were predetermined or did they actually develop as you wrote? And had you planned all along to give a POV voice to the kidnapper, but not the kidnappee? I have never seen that done before and thought it was brilliant!

Mary, I loved that you set part of The Good Girl in northern Minnesota. I live in Rochester, MN, and love the North Shore--have you had the opportunity to visit up there?

And in terms of the covers, I love the US cover best. The coloring is stunning! I actually stared at it for at least a mimute when I first looked at it. One of the best covers out there. Those eyes...

Christine wrote: "Hi Mary! Thank you for subjecting yourself to our questions today. (-: I have read with interest the questions and your answers so far. I read The Good Girl last month and loved it! You actually ma..."

Thank you for the kind comments, Christine, and for reading THE GOOD GIRL. I appreciate it!

It might surprise you to learn that I didn't have that final twist for THE GOOD GIRL figured out when I began the novel. In fact, I had a different ending in mind but as the characters started to reveal themselves to me and the storyline began to develop, my initial ending felt like it might be too predictable and therefore a letdown for readers. I decided to go a different route. Colin's personality I had predetermined, or at least certain aspects of it that I hoped to achieve. But Mia was always a bit of a puzzle to me, and is somewhat of an elusive character. She is presented from other characters' points of view (as you know), and each portray her in a slightly different light. I toyed around with hearing from Mia throughout the novel (as a 4th narrator), but decided against it in the end, feeling it would take away from the final scenes (I hope that makes sense - I'm trying to be a bit vague in case anyone here hasn't read THE GOOD GIRL). But the particulars of each character's personality developed as I wrote, so that by the end of the process I felt I knew them all quite well and was sad at the end of the novel to see them go.

Thanks for the wonderful questions!

Yes, Mary, thank you! I totally understand your answer and I love it! Fascinating stuff. I have heard a couple of other authors saying that they set up their characters, then let the characters tell the story. It is all magic to me how you authors come up with such outstanding stories.

I'm curious as to whether The Good Girl was your first pitch to the publishers? Did it take a long time to get one to bite?

Do you ever worry about running out of ideas or do you see yourself writing novels for years to come?

Do you read your books' reviews?

Good questions, Christine! That fear of 'writer's block' must be debilitating at times.

Every question i would have asked has already been asked, but i have really enjoyed reading your great answers, Mary.

Mary

How many characters/villains do you have in your head and in place when you start your book.

Or do you write and change things as you go.

Christine wrote: "Yes, Mary, thank you! I totally understand your answer and I love it! Fascinating stuff. I have heard a couple of other authors saying that they set up their characters, then let the characters tel..."

Yes, THE GOOD GIRL was the first book I pitched to agents/publishers. I sent the book out without anyone else ever laying eyes on it, and - as expected - received quite a bit of rejection. In fact, though there was some interest early on, every agent I queried decided to pass. I was quite certain the novel would never be published. Two years went by when out of the blue I received an email from one of the agents I'd previously queried. As it turned out, she had been promoted in those two years and, though she loved the novel from the get go, didn't have the authority to take it on and others on her team had decided to pass. But now, two years later, she was a seasoned agent actively seeking her own clients, and she remembered THE GOOD GIRL and reached back out to me. In retrospect it was wonderful - I knew she was as passionate about the book as I was. So for me, finding an agent was a process that went on for years.

I often avoid reading my own reviews, though I can't say it's something I never do. It often depends on my mood and the stage I'm on in my current manuscript. And yes, I absolutely do worry about running out of ideas and always wonder what's next for me, but just about the time I start to really fear the thought that I might be out of ideas, I usually come up with my next storyline (hope this trend continues!).

Terrific questions! Keep them coming. :)

David wrote: "Every question i would have asked has already been asked, but i have really enjoyed reading your great answers, Mary."

Thanks so much, David!

Sean wrote: "Mary

How many characters/villains do you have in your head and in place when you start your book.

Or do you write and change things as you go."

Hi Sean!

I don't always know exactly how many characters I'll end up with in the end, though I like to keep the number small, keeping the storyline more intimate. I have read novels where there are so many characters it takes great effort to keep track of them all, and this is something I try to avoid in my own writing. But the number varies with each manuscript, and sometimes characters get added or lost along the way!

I find villains to be quite interesting. Rather than full-fledged villains, I like to include those characters in my novels that walk a fine line between good and evil - the "bad" guys who turn into heroes, or the "good" guys who make bad or immoral decisions. This feels reminiscent of real life to me, and hopefully makes the characters feel a bit more multidimensional to the reader.

And things are always changing for me throughout the writing experience. When I begin a novel, I can never imagine what twists and turns it's going to end up taking, nor the actions my characters will make along the way. Sometimes the twists are as big of a surprise to me as the reader - which is one of the reasons I love this genre.

I have a question for the group! I write my novels using multiple narrators and I'm curious if you enjoy this as a reader? Also THE GOOD GIRL, in particular, uses a non-linear timeframe. Did this add to or take away from your reading experience (or not impact it in either way)? (I promise you won't hurt my feelings, so feel free to speak candidly!)

Some great and thorough answers to our questions, Mary. Really interesting stuff.

There are some terrific female authors around right now. Do you feel that competition is fierce and how do you feel about self publishing? Would that have been a road you might have gone down?

What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there and do you have any ambitions yourself to write in another genre, script writing or screenplays?

Mary wrote: "I have a question for the group! I write my novels using multiple narrators and I'm curious if you enjoy this as a reader? Also THE GOOD GIRL, in particular, uses a non-linear timeframe. Did this a..."

Mary, I actually prefer the multiple POV format. I am an avid fan of character development. To me, that is even more important than plot. I think multiple POVs give the best chance of getting to know the most characters. When I started The Good Girl and saw what you were intending to do with the timeline, I admit I wondered if that, especially in conjunction with 3 points of view, would be an issue. It turned out to be quite easy to follow!

Another question if we still have time: Do you think you will ever place any of your characters in more than one book?

Mary wrote: "I have a question for the group! I write my novels using multiple narrators and I'm curious if you enjoy this as a reader? Also THE GOOD GIRL, in particular, uses a non-linear timeframe. Did this a..."

I loved the timeframe in The Good Girl! Reading past and present made me feel like I was headed to a train wreck!

I also like multiple narrators. It gives a different perspective on the story.

Mary, I loved both books and I can't wait to read your new one.

How has your family reacted to your success? Were they surprised? Are you more confident now that your books have been loved by others?

How do you plan the "twists and turns" found in your books? Do you do a lot of research into the psychological aspects of your books?

Janet wrote: "Some great and thorough answers to our questions, Mary. Really interesting stuff.

There are some terrific female authors around right now. Do you feel that competition is fierce and how do you fe..."

There are some terrific female authors out there right now; I absolutely agree! Competition is fierce, and yet I feel the majority of these authors are so supportive of one another, really going above and beyond to help each other succeed. I don't know much about self-publishing, so I can't speak to it with any great depth of knowledge, and yet I believe there are wonderful opportunities out there for those who choose to go that route. Where I think it would get more difficult would be in marketing and publicity, and of course more expense incurred by the author him/herself. But had I not eventually found an agent or sold my novel, I may have opted to self publish.

For aspiring authors, certainly never give up! It sounds cliche, and yet it's so true. Keep writing and submitting those manuscripts, be open to revision, get feedback from others, and try not to burn too many bridges along the way. It's hard when others are critical of our work, and yet it's a necessary part of the process, making us and our work stronger.

Janet wrote: "Some great and thorough answers to our questions, Mary. Really interesting stuff.

There are some terrific female authors around right now. Do you feel that competition is fierce and how do you fe..."

Oops, I skipped the last part of your question, Janet! Sorry about that. Having a background in history, I do fancy writing a historical fiction/suspense novel someday. The research is, in all honesty, what intimidates me the most, but it is certainly on my bucket list!

Christine wrote: "Mary wrote: "I have a question for the group! I write my novels using multiple narrators and I'm curious if you enjoy this as a reader? Also THE GOOD GIRL, in particular, uses a non-linear timefram..."

Great question! Gabe (from THE GOOD GIRL) seems be be a fan favorite from the readers I've spoken with. I have toyed around with the idea of including him in another novel one day, where he investigates a new mystery. Is there a particular character you'd like to see reappear?

Brenda wrote: "Mary wrote: "I have a question for the group! I write my novels using multiple narrators and I'm curious if you enjoy this as a reader? Also THE GOOD GIRL, in particular, uses a non-linear timefram..."

Thank you, Brenda! I appreciate it!

Brenda wrote: "Mary, I loved both books and I can't wait to read your new one.

How has your family reacted to your success? Were they surprised? Are you more confident now that your books have been loved by othe..."

YES, they were completely surprised! When I told my family that I'd written a book, most assumed it was a children's book. They were completely taken aback (in a good way!) by this dark, twisty suspense novel I'd created. But my family and friends have been so supportive, and have been a wonderful cheering squad for me now that the secret is out. My father dons his favorite 'Father of the Author' shirt at every event he attends, and my mother is a great proofreader. I don't let family or friends read my novels until my editor and I are all settled on content, but then they're my first readers well before the books hit store shelves. And yes, I do feel more confident in my writing these days, and yet in the middle of every WIP there comes a time when I have to tell myself over and over again, "You can do this."

As for research, there are many things I need to look up throughout the writing process, whether research into Stockholm syndrome, or various physical or psychological ailments, the plight of the homeless, the foster care system and much more. The Internet is a wealth of information, but I'm also lucky to have a few friends in the legal profession who I can bug with questions!

Brenda wrote: "Mary, I loved both books and I can't wait to read your new one.

How has your family reacted to your success? Were they surprised? Are you more confident now that your books have been loved by othe..."

Those twists and turns aren't always planned. Most often they're a sudden whim that jumps unexplained into my mind. This is one of my favorite parts of writing, when those ideas come to me spontaneously and unsolicited. Because I'm not a plotter, there are times I have to go back and rework earlier parts of my novel to make it work, but I don't think I'd change my method for anything. I quite like the unexpectedness of it all.

I love that 'father of the author' shirt. That is one proud dad! :)

Mary, I think Gabe would be a stellar candidate for a return visit in a forthcoming Kubica novel! Many thanks for donating your day to us and for being so gracious. So looking forward to reading whatever you put out there for us!!

XO

Mary

I have read Pretty Baby.

I was happy with the narration style of each character.

Christine wrote: "Mary, I think Gabe would be a stellar candidate for a return visit in a forthcoming Kubica novel! Many thanks for donating your day to us and for being so gracious. So looking forward to reading wh..."

Thanks so much for joining in, Christine! Loved your questions.

Stephanie wrote: "Hi Mary,

I loved both of your books and was really excited to see you answering questions here with the group! I don't have additional questions, but really enjoyed reading this whole thread and a..."

Thank you, Stephanie! Can't tell you how much I enjoyed being here!

Sean wrote: "Mary

I have read Pretty Baby.

I was happy with the narration style of each character."

Thanks Sean.

Thanks so much for including me in this wonderful discussion. I enjoyed it immensely!

Thanks very much Mary, and I hope you stay a members and join in when you can.

Robin Burcell is joining us for December Read along.

Susan May in January.

And a Q & A with Clare Mackintosh on January 25th.