Ask the Author: Kim Hooper
Answered Questions (12)
Kim Hooper
Hi Kelly! Thanks for the question. I've never lived in Boise, but I've visited. One of my best friends lives there and I definitely enlisted her help with the Boise details! Glad you enjoyed the book.
Kim Hooper
I've visited. I have a good friend who lives there and she helped fill in some gaps for me.
Kim Hooper
I'll have to check out that podcast. There was no real life story that inspired me, though I did wonder if there were people who disappeared in the wake of 9/11.
Kim Hooper
Hi, Adriana! I'm so glad you liked the book. For me, the story was about bringing Emily full circle, confronting her past and ensuring a future for Claire (via the introduction to her father). I've had so many people ask about the specifics of that future, which tells me readers are very invested in the characters. That's awesome! I've also had people ask about a sequel. Never say never, I suppose :)
Kim Hooper
Hi, Earl. Thanks for the question :) Typically, I don't plan much of what I write. The story began with the first line: People who knew me think I'm dead. I knew a woman was fleeing New York, but I didn't know why until I started writing and getting to know the characters. I didn't even conceive of her having a daughter until I saw her in California. Then the daughter appeared. I knew she was going to revisit her past in New York, but I didn't know how or why until I was very far into the story. Of course, when the pieces of the puzzle came together, I had to go back and edit to ensure the story was fluid. In a way, writing this story was suspenseful for me, just like I hope it is for the reader. I never really know how things are going to go until I start writing.
Kim Hooper
I have no control over when inspiration hits. An idea will hit me out of nowhere and I'll start thinking about the first line of the novel. Then I start writing. I don't outline. I rarely have any idea how the story is going to unfold. That's the fun for me--discovering along the way. Of course, the best way to welcome inspiration is to allow myself enough downtime to feel rested and rejuvenated. I'm a big introvert, so if I'm too busy with life things, I get depleted and I'll have no interest in writing. When I have quiet time, the interest returns.
Kim Hooper
I have a few novels I've started and I'm fiddling with some ideas to see which one might take hold for The Second Book. We will see...
Kim Hooper
Write what you love. Don't worry about the publishing industry. It's a harsh business and if you get too caught up in that, you'll lose the love of writing, which would be a real shame. The conclusion I've come to is this: I will always write. Not all of my books will be published, and that's fine. I have to write them for my own personal reasons and I should enjoy that process, even if it doesn't lead to publication. I believe that writing is about self-therapy, first and foremost. Publishing should be secondary.
Kim Hooper
I don't fight it. If I'm blocked, it's usually for a reason. I have a full-time job, so that keeps my mind busy. I find that if my mind is occupied with other things, the answer to my block will come. Everyone says this, but going for a good walk or run helps. A full night's sleep really helps.
Kim Hooper
Writing allows me to explore all kinds of fears and fantasies. It's a true escape from reality, while also helping me experience reality in a whole new way. I learn so much from my characters and their choices.
Kim Hooper
Years after 9/11, I heard stories of people faking their deaths for insurance payouts. I also heard that one of the most common fantasies people have is leaving their current life behind and starting anew. These two things collided in my psyche and I thought, "What if someone was supposed to be in the towers on 9/11 and wasn't?" That gave me the first line: People who knew me think I'm dead. The story flowed from there.
Kim Hooper
Hi, Jonna! So glad you liked the book! As for what's next, that's a tough question. I have so many ideas and some novels that are already in progress. For a debut novelist, so much depends on how the first book does. I'm hoping to know more about my second book in the next few months. In the meantime, tell your friends to support the new authors. It really helps. Thank you, again!
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