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WORK TITLE: The Vanishing Year
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.katemoretti.com/
CITY:
STATE: PA
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: two.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and scientist. Has worked as an R&D scientist and technical writer for a pharmaceutical company, ten years.
AVOCATIONS:Reading, traveling, cooking.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Kate Moretti is a writer and scientist based in Pennsylvania. She has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for a decade.
Thought I Knew You
Moretti’s first novel, Thought I Knew You, tells the story of Claire, who discovers that her missing husband, Henry, has been keeping secrets. In an interview with a contributor to the Rainy Day Ramblings Web site, Moretti stated: “This was my inspiration for Thought I Knew You–do you ever know another person, really? I attempted to take a look at a ‘good’ marriage going through a rough time and what would happen if it just suddenly ended. Would the remaining partner remember just the good or just the bad? I didn’t know.” Moretti added: “Like a real marriage, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Claire Barnes grapples with the truth, trying to figure out if she ever really knew her husband at all after he goes on a business trip and doesn’t return. She examines the gray area of her relationship, looking for clues. Did he run away? Did he die? Throughout the course of the book, Claire reflects on the ups and downs as she struggles to acknowledge that not only wasn’t her marriage perfect, but she was at least partially responsible for their problems.”
The contributor to Rainy Day Ramblings suggested: “This book is thought provoking and compelling and it raises some questions that I will be pondering for days to come. If you enjoy a book with lots of mystery, suspense and ideas that will make you think, don’t miss this one.”
While You Were Gone
In an interview for the Rainy Day Ramblings Web site, Moretti commented on the connection between While You Were Gone: A Thought I Knew You Novella and Thought I Knew You. She stated: “Thought I Knew You is about a woman whose husband goes on a business trip and doesn’t come back. She has to deal with her real life, with a missing husband, two kids and figure out how to put those pieces back together.” Moretti added: “This is not really a big spoiler because it’s in the first few chapters, but she finds evidence of an affair. While You Were Gone is the story of that affair told from the mistress’s POV. Readers should read TIKY first, but Gone can be a standalone, although I think it’s a better story if you know the outcome of Thought I Knew You.” Moretti continued: “I wanted to write a novella between novels and I’ve always been interested in why Greg did what he did and what Karen’s narrative would be like. What is SHE like? In TIKY, I laid groundwork of her being drastically different than Claire, so I played that up.”
A critic on the Silk & Serif Web site offered a favorable review of While You Were Gone. The critic remarked: “This book would appeal to readers who enjoy clean romance, family struggles, self-discovery and tales about coming to grips with life.”
The Vanishing Year
In an interview with Brandi Megan Granett, contributor to the Huffington Post Web site, Moretti discussed her 2016 novel The Vanishing Year. She stated: “The Vanishing Year is a reinvention story. A woman narrowly escapes a seedy situation in California, drawn to the anonymity of New York City. She finds herself sharing a spotlight, and a bed, with one of the wealthiest men in the city, and before long, her past is back to haunt her. I’m drawn to the same themes in my writing, it seems: knowing your loved ones, reinvention, the idea that you can’t truly escape your past because it’s such an important part of who you are now.” Moretti told M.M. Finck, contributor to the Women Writers, Women’s Books Web site: “In Vanishing, Zoe is constantly having to reinvent herself, at least superficially. She’s the college girl, then the drop-out druggie, then the hipster-ish punk with the fishnet stockings, then Henry’s Wife. She seems to float into whatever identity she finds, making no real attempt to become herself. She recognizes this, too. This was sort of an exaggerated version of my (and maybe most people’s?) twenties and early thirties. We try on a lot of personas: girlfriend, career woman, new wife, new mother. It can be exhausting but part of the gig of growing up.”
A Publishers Weekly reviewer suggested: “Moretti maintains a fast pace and creates a chillingly satisfying villain in suave, manipulative Henry.” A writer on the Kirkus Reviews Web site asserted: “Great pacing and true surprises make this an exciting read. Fans of twisted thrillers featuring complex female characters will devour Moretti’s latest.” Lori K. Joyce, critic for BookPage, commented: “Readers will wonder who is good, evil, or simply the victim of misguided thinking as they devour … Kate Moretti’s latest book, full of expertly placed screens and revelations.” Donna M. Brown remarked on the RT Book Reviews Web site, “Surprises along the way make for stimulating reading as the field of suspects narrows. The outcome will amaze readers.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, July 11, 2016, review of The Vanishing Year, p. 45.
ONLINE
BookPage Online, https://bookpage.com/ (September 27, 2016), Lori K. Joyce, review of The Vanishing Year.
Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ (December 3, 2015), Brandi Megan Granett, “Indie to Traditional: A Conversation with Kate Moretti.”
Kate Moretti Home Page, http://www.katemoretti.com (March 27, 2017).
Kirkus Reviews Online, https://www.kirkusreviews.com/ (June 30, 2016), review of The Vanishing Year.
Rainy Day Ramblings, http://www.rainydayramblings.com/ (December 17, 2012), author interview and review of Thought I Knew You; (August 7, 2014), review of The Binds That Tie, and Kate Moretti, “Including Sensory Detail: Show versus Tell”; (September 24, 2015), author interview and review of While You Were Gone.
RT Book Reviews, https://www.rtbookreviews.com/ (March 10, 2017), Donna M. Brown, review of The Vanishing Year.
Silk & Serif, http://silk-serif.com/ (September 8, 2015), review of While You Were Gone.
Tina Ann Forkner Web site, https://tinaannforkner.wordpress.com/ (October 24, 2015), review of Thought I Knew You.
Women Writers, Women’s Books, http://booksbywomen.org/ (January 14, 2017), M.M. Finck, author interview.
Kate Moretti is the New York Times Bestselling author of Thought I Knew You, While You Were Gone, and Binds That Tie. Her newest novel, The Vanishing Year will be available fall 2016. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two kids. She’s worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life.
She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like.
Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.
08/07/2014
Review, Guest Post and Giveaway: Binds That Tie by Kate Moretti
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Welcome to Thursday, Friday eve. It seems these summer weeks are just slipping by. I am glad that I have had a run of good reads lately, and today's book is no exception. I adore a solid, tight thriller, but haven't read one in awhile. My last few were disappointing. I was thrilled when I picked up Kate Moretti's Binds That Tie. This was a page turner full of twists, turns, shocks and more. I highly recommend this one if you are looking for a book that will keep you glued to the pages, I also loved Ms. Moretti's first book, Thought I Knew You. Grab both and set aside some time. I am pleased to have Kate here today sharing her thoughts on writing, but first, let me introduce Kate to all of you:
6a015390e082b4970b017d3ecddc77970cKate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She’s worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life. She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like. Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway. You can find Kate on her blog, Facebook,Twitter and Goodreads.
Here is Kate:
Including Sensory Detail: Show versus Tell
If you’re a writer, it’s a phrase you’ve heard a million times: Show don’t tell. If you’re new at the craft (even if you’ve been writing for years and trying to hone your craft) that can seem like gimmicky, showboating advice. An experienced know-it-all spouting off some tired trope that means nothing, right? Not so fast.
If you’re a reader, not a writer, you probably don’t quite understand what this means, and furthermore, you might not care. But reading a story too heavy in “tell” is like the Supreme court talking about pornography: you’ll know it when you see it. If you’re reading a story and just not “feeling it”, you can’t connect with the main character, picture the setting, or your mind keeps wandering, chances are you are reading too much “tell”.
As a writer, I’ve struggled with the skill of “showing”. I’ve had long talks with my editor about it means and how to fix it. For example:
The room smelled good and was decorated beautifully.
This sentence gives us nothing specific at all. What room? What exactly does it smell like – “good” means a myriad of things to different people. Beautifully is incredibly subjective.
The kitchen smelled like freshly baked cookies and laundry and reminded me of home. The marble countertops gleamed, spattered black and white, and the stainless steel oven sat waiting for the next batch of bread. On the countertop perched a white, ceramic bowl of lemons, a bright yellow contrast to the modern white cabinetry.
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The reason so many writers skimp on show is because it’s so hard. The second example took me five minutes to write and has three times as many words. It’s descriptive, evokes some kind of mood and as a reader, we can visualize the setting. It also leads us, as readers, to other avenues: what kind of person lives in a kitchen like this? We’re led to believe a baker, someone neat and organized, with a stylistic flair.
In the first example, there are no senses engaged. Yes, we use the word “smell” but we also use the word “good”. Good means nothing to anyone. My toddler thinks her feet smell good, but I’m reasonably sure this kitchen does not smell like feet. In the second example, however, I can imagine fresh baked cookies and laundry and to me, that does smell like someone’s home. I can visualize the lemons, a pop of yellow against the black and white. If, as a reader, you are particularly imaginative, you could even possibly imagine touching the cool marble.
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Writers, are you still a tad confused? Here’s my cheat sheet of removing the tell. I still struggle, three books in, to ensure my readers are fully engaged:
Easy first step: get rid of a lot of the words feel, thought, wondered. Some of this is easy: “I wondered how the car ended up on the other side of town” Versus “How did the car end up on the other side of town?” One is telling us the character is thinking, the other is showing us her thoughts (don’t overdo the questions, though). Another example: “I thought about how my mom used to call the doctor for pimple, I never thought she’d get cancer” vs. “My mom used to call the doctor for a pimple, no one ever thought she’d get cancer”. Don’t tell us your character is thinking, just show us their thoughts.
Engage all the senses. Make sure that as you go, you incorporate smell, touch, color, flavor (if appropriate), as much as you can. Obviously, there can be too much of a good thing and no one likes to read a list of smells and sounds, but make sure to be specific. Good and bad are not descriptive words. Wonderful and beautiful are vague in most instances.
An easy way to turn a tell into a show is to use a simile or metaphor. “She held the mouse in her hand” versus “She cupped her hands like a clamshell around the gray, twitching mouse”. This is an easy little cheat that brings vibrancy and imagery to your writing.
Avoid adverbs. YES. This one again. It’s a rule for a reason! Are all adverbs bad all the time? No, not at all. In my example above, I used the adverb “freshly.” I could make that sentence arguably (see what I did there?) better without it:
The kitchen smelled like baked cookies, hot and fresh from the oven, and laundry. It smelled like home. The marble countertops gleamed, spattered black and white, and the stainless steel oven sat waiting for the next batch of bread. On the countertop perched a white, ceramic bowl of lemons, a bright yellow contrast to the modern white cabinetry.
A better example of removing an adverb might be: “She ran clumsily down the road” versus “She stumbled and fell as she ran down the road, desperate in her attempt to escape.” Obviously, the second sentence paints a more descript picture.
Is it necessary to replace all tell? Nope. I try to aim for sixty/forty. If you full describe and engage all the senses and avoid adverbs in every sentence, your prose would become rambling and wordy. Sometimes, it’s vital to get to the action, and take the shortest, well-traveled path there. But proceed with caution. You know what they say about the road less traveled.
Also, try to avoid clichés (but that’s a post for another time).
A huge thanks to Kate for stopping by today and sharing her thoughts, it just goes to show that there is more to writing than meets the eye. A very informative post! Kate is offering a chance to win an ebook copy of Binds That Tie to one winner. Fill out the Rafflecopter after reading Contest Policies. Open Internationally.
Here is my review:
Binds That Tie by Kate Moretti
20764381Love ties. Murder binds.
Maggie never felt as though she belonged until Chris Stevens showed her what true happiness meant. Ten years into their marriage, miscarriages and infidelities have scarred them both. Despite their perfect-couple image, Maggie can’t look at Chris with anything but resentment. When a charismatic stranger offers the opportunity for a little harmless flirtation, she jumps into the game.
But charm soon turns to malice, and a deadly split-second decision forces Maggie and Chris onto a dangerous path fraught with secrets, lies, and guilt. With no one else to turn to—no one she dares trust—Maggie will ultimately learn just how binding marital ties can be.
Paperback, 340 pages
Published March 2014 by Red Adept Publishing
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review.
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Four and a half Stars: A riveting thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Maggie texts Chris wanting to make dinner plans, but no surprise, he doesn't answer back. So instead, Maggie heads to the local night club to join her two best friends. When a man approaches her, she revels in his attention and even though she tells him she is married, he starts flirting with her. What harm can there be in a little flirting? Before long, the flirting escalates and Maggie and Chris' fragile marriage is once again challenged when things turn deadly. Can Maggie and Chris stick together through thick and thin?
What I Liked:
Wow! It has been so long since I read a good solid psychological thriller that kept me engaged and entertained right up until the final pages. This is stunning book with so many twists and surprises. You won't know who to trust or who to believe. If you enjoy solid thrillers this is a must read. I was reminded just a touch of one of my all time favorite thrillers: Gone Girl while reading this one as it presents unsympathetic characters and a plethora of shocking developments.
I enjoyed the complexity of the characters. Maggie and Chris are both troubled and deeply flawed people. At first, I sided with Maggie as she comes across as the victim in the troubled marriage. After several miscarriages and an affair, she is still hanging in there hoping to turn things around with their marriage, but then the unthinkable happens..... Chris, on the other hand, starts out as the bad guy. He is the one who wasn't completely supportive during Maggie's pregnancy issues and he was the one who cheated. When the big conflict happens, I thought the two would draw closer together, and they do for a time. Then things shift, and surprisingly, I found myself siding with Chris. I liked that this book pulls back the layers and layers of each character and shows all their flaws. Both characters will drive you crazy at times, and you will change your mind several times before you draw your final conclusion. Along with Maggie and Chris, you have a cast of secondary characters who are just as complex. At first, I thought that Jake was the good guy, and while for the most part, he was, there were plenty of flashbacks and such that showed his flaws and mistakes. I liked that all of characters had good and bad sides, and that I never knew what was coming next from anyone.
I loved all the portions of the book pertaining to the trial and pretrial hearing. There were so many shocking developments during this part that there was never a dull moment. I liked how well researched and realistic this section was. I could tell that Ms. Moretti had done her homework in order to make this as believable as possible, and in the end she pulls it off. If you love tight, legal thrillers this is one to read.
This a true psychological thriller from beginning to end. It is shocking, riveting and fast paced. This is the type of book that you need to set aside plenty of time for as you won't want to put it down once you start. This is my second book by Ms. Moretti, and once again she has proven to me what a talented and skilled writer she is. I will continue to read anything she writes. For those of you who enjoy solid thrillers, read either one of her books!
And The Not So Much:
I was a tiny bit let down by the ending. There is so much buildup headed into that final chapter. My head was spinning, and in all honesty, I wasn't sure what I wanted to happen. The final pages left me hanging, as it ends open ended. I wanted more. Could the story really be over?
I was completely intrigued by all the pretrial stuff. There are some jaw dropping surprises and revelations during these chapters. I loved all the legal stuff. However, I was disappointed that there was so much focus on the pretrial hearing and then the actual trial was glossed over. I wanted to follow up on so of those stunning revelations that occurred during the pretrial and see them argued out in court in more detail.
I wished that there was just a tad bit more on Maggie's background. There was some obvious issues resulting from her childhood. I wanted to learn more about her parents, I wasn't even sure what her father did. I was left with many unanswered questions as far as this part of the story went.
I wanted more of Chris after the trial. I would love to see how he accomplished his task regarding Maggie and what his plans were. I really think there needs to be a second book!
Binds That Tie is an example of a psychological thriller done right. I was completely hooked from the first pages until the shocking finale. This is a book that shows what happens when a once happy marriage goes sour and the fall out afterwards. If you are a fan of books like Gone Girl, I would highly recommend this title. Ms. Moretti is one talented gal. Grab this one and while you are at it, get your hands on Thought I Knew You, her other outstanding title.
Favorite Quotations:
"Forgiveness is a skill one learns only be being deeply hurt."
"You can't change the past, but you can change how your past impacts your future."
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
QUOTED: "The Vanishing Year is a reinvention story. A woman narrowly escapes a seedy situation in California, drawn to the anonymity of New York City. She finds herself sharing a spotlight, and a bed, with one of the wealthiest men in the city, and before long, her past is back to haunt her. I’m drawn to the same themes in my writing, it seems: knowing your loved ones, reinvention, the idea that you can’t truly escape your past because it’s such an important part of who you are now."
THE BLOG 12/03/2015 11:43 am ET | Updated Dec 03, 2016
Indie to Traditional: A Conversation With Kate Moretti
By Brandi Megan Granett
JAMIE GRILL VIA GETTY IMAGES
Kate Moretti’s latest thriller, The Vanishing Year, marks a new transition for the New York Times bestselling author. With this novel, she is moving from a digital/print on demand publisher to a traditional publisher. This process represents one that so many independent and self-publishers dream about — cracking into the work of traditional publishing. Moretti kindly shared both her publishing experience with me and details about her exciting new book.
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The Vanishing Year is your first book with your new publisher, Atria. Tell us about it.
The Vanishing Year is a reinvention story. A woman narrowly escapes a seedy situation in California, drawn to the anonymity of New York City. She finds herself sharing a spotlight, and a bed, with one of the wealthiest men in the city, and before long, her past is back to haunt her. I’m drawn to the same themes in my writing, it seems: knowing your loved ones, reinvention, the idea that you can’t truly escape your past because it’s such an important part of who you are now. So while I think my books are all wildly different plot-wise, I seem to still be exploring common ground, which is fun. I use writing to pick apart societal tenets that fascinate me. That being said, it’s my most “thriller” of all three books, I think. There are men with guns and car chases and a layered, complicated marriage and love and friendship.
You are also in the middle of a reinvention story. Your publishing career began with a Print on Demand/Digital publisher, Red Adept, which resulted in your becoming a New York Times Bestseller. What did you like about this type of publishing?
So much. Just so, so much. The personal attention, the friendship, the carefree-ness of it all. The ability to write, just to write, not to worry about contracts and whether they’d accept my next book. Red Adept Publishing signs one book at a time. There’s a freedom there, to not worry about whether the book you’re writing will fulfill a contract obligation. There’s positives and negatives. I liked the marketing RAP does, they vary price point, buy ads, really hit the digital market. I think that’s important in this day and age. Of course, they lacked a proper print distribution and many bookstores turned me down because they do not offer returns. So, I’m happy to see how it goes with a larger publisher. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to Red Adept, and I still may send them a periodic novella if I can. The future is long.
What lead to I Thought I Knew You’s success?
An alignment of stars. I joke, but it’s partly true. At least 50% of it is luck. I’ve thought about this a lot, trying to recreate it with Binds that Tie. First, I think, and foremost was a driving premise. People want to know: what happened to the husband. It’s a high concept novel with a hook. Second, it’s not terrible (In my ever humble opinion). I’m modest to a fault. But I don’t think I’m wrong in saying: it won’t win a pulitzer. It’s well-written, relatable, and compelling. I do think it tackles some interesting ideas: how well you know your spouse, are we allowed to have secrets from each other? How many is too many? Third: the cover is stunning. This is not my artwork, so I can be a bit quicker with the praise. It’s different, memorable and grabs people. Fourth: I worked like a crazy person to get it out on the internet in the year it came out. Every genre blog that was popular at the time had at least a guest post or a feature or a review. Fifth, it racked up reviews and sales through price discounts, and ads. And of course, it was featured on Book Bub on a Monday. I do think by the time it was on BookBub, it had been seen by a lot of people just “around.” A lower price prompted a large wave of people who had seen it, heard about it or read about it to finally click buy. My publisher let the sale ride for the rest of the week. It still sells pretty well, which makes me incredibly happy. I love the story.
Why did you decide to try a more traditional publishing approach with The Vanishing Year?
It was more of an opportunity than a decision. When Thought I Knew You became so successful, I was approached by my agent, Mark Gottlieb and had a mostly finished manuscript ready to go. Again, star alignment. He loved Vanishing and hit the submissions very hard. It sold pretty quickly and I think I’ve found the absolute most perfect home for me at Atria. I could not be more thrilled with the cover, the final product (I say this as I should be working on edits and am instead finishing this interview!), my editors notes and suggestions. Everything has felt very free and very fun.
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Where do you hope to go next?
I started out writing as a hobby. I discovered I loved it and am currently figuring out a way to make it a career or at least part of a career. I always say it’s a curse and a blessing to find your life’s passion at 35. I’m knee deep in kids and mortgages and softball and cheering practices. I came home from a well-paying day job and told my husband I want to do the equivalent of joining a garage band. He’s been supportive, as much as our bank account and current standard of living allows. We haven’t yet decided to change our lifestyle and instead I keep a toe in the water in the pharmaceutical industry. I’m not quite ready to stop being a scientist, or at least a sorta-kinda scientist. I’m not sure this answered the question.... I hope to just keep doing this thing. I’m loving this thing and this part of my life right now. I’m loving where I am, balancing publishing, day job and my family. I’m honestly grateful every single day.
QUOTED: "In Vanishing, Zoe is constantly having to reinvent herself, at least superficially. She’s the college girl, then the drop-out druggie, then the hipster-ish punk with the fishnet stockings, then Henry’s Wife. She seems to float into whatever identity she finds, making no real attempt to become herself. She recognizes this, too. This was sort of an exaggerated version of my (and maybe most people’s?) twenties and early thirties. We try on a lot of personas: girlfriend, career woman, new wife, new mother. It can be exhausting but part of the gig of growing up."
Q&A with Kate Moretti
January 14, 2017 | By MM Finck | 1 Reply
Kate Moretti is the New York Times bestselling author of suspenseful fiction about ‘crap marriages and murder’ which she is quick is say is not autobiographical. Ha. J THE VANISHING YEAR (Atria 2016) follows THOUGHT I KNEW YOU (2012), BINDS THAT TIE (2014), and WHILE YOU WERE GONE (2016). Upcoming in 2017 will be THE YEAR OF THE BLACKBIRDS (Atria). Kate, a scientist who works in the pharmaceutical industry, lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, children, and dog.
Thank you for joining us, Kate. We are thrilled to have you!
Let’s start from the beginning, your beginning.
Where did you grow up? How did it impact the woman you’ve become?
I grew up in a one stoplight town in Eastern Pennsylvania. My parents had no money, my dad was a teacher, my mom stayed at home. I’m not sure I stayed in a hotel room until I was eighteen and could pay for it myself. Our vacations were camping. In my memories, my childhood was very feral – we ran, we played, we came home late.
My parents had a shallow well that would run dry quite a bit. We sometimes bathed in the creek behind my house. I’m sure it was less idyllic than in my memory. I think much of my childhood, and of course the sepia-toned lens in which I view it, gave me a certain resilience and stick-to-it-ness.
There was also a tremendous amount of time spent in the woods, daydreaming. I had lots of neighborhood friends but I liked being alone quite a bit.
What is your day job?
I’m a scientist. Well, I used to be a bench level scientist in the R&D labs of a large pharmaceutical company. When the writing thing seemed to take off, I scaled back to part time and now I work mostly from home, commuting in for meetings. I am now a technical writer for the same(ish) department. People ask me if I want to leave if the writing blows up. I can’t say for certain but I don’t think I would. I like it, and I love the company I work for.
Favorite word?
It changes so much! And I never have just one. Right now, it’s fug, presentiment, rictus, raffish, sluicing, scudded. I’m trying to work them into my WIP. I keep a list in Google docs. This is hopelessly geeky, I know. I need to be able to access my word list from anywhere.
Favorite dessert?
Good old fashioned warm brownie with vanilla ice-cream.
Embarrassing talent?
This one is tough. I do a ton of embarrassing things, but none of them would ever be called a talent (and I could fill this page with them). I would say my most unmarketable talent is probably planning a day trip. I love to do it. If you ask me to plan you a day in any city, I adore organizing the day, figuring out how to make the most of the city map, spend the right amount of time at x museum, while getting lunch at y. I love researching things to do, the order in which to do them, and organizing that into a full day (or two!).
You’ve lived all your life in Pennsylvania. If you were to pick another place to call home, where would it be?
Either New York City or somewhere warm, like Florida. I love the bustle of New York, it’s my very favorite city on earth but I’m so tired of winter. The ice and the snow and the closures and the traffic and the gray-ness. By February every year, I could lose my mind.
The main character of THE VANISHING YEAR is a young woman married to a very controlling man. The reader senses danger where Zoe talks herself out of her discomfort in ways common to women involved in abusive relationships. What research did you do to understand how Zoe would respond to, interpret, and rationalize her husband’s behavior? Were there any parts that you found difficult to write?
This was a fine line to walk, for sure. I’ve never been in an abusive relationship, thank goodness, so I couldn’t rely on my personal experience. I definitely did research. Forums on the internet are good for understanding the wide range of emotions: guilt, fear, the self-talk.
I talked to a few psychologists to understand the things Henry might do to subtly manipulate her: from not drinking the wine she buys to leaving her cash on the counter to his lashing out. The whole thing was difficult to write, I think. It’s hard to balance realistic emotions with a suspense plot. The suspension of disbelief has to be there first and foremost.
Your stories typically have a number of reveals, including a red herring or two. How do you keep straight all the loops? How do you know when to release a reveal?
I don’t keep the loops straight! I do summarize the plot over and over again in my Scrivener file, but even now, I get confused. Vanishing was tough because despite appearances, there was only one coincidence in the whole plot. The rest of it is all Dominoes. In the beginning, there were more coincidences and then beta readers or my editor would say tie this or that up and I’d have to trace it back, insert it somewhere.
For example, Henry met Tara at the library. He later suggested that Zoe hold her event at the same library. I was at a book club recently and someone pointed that out. It’s so minor, I forgot about it. It was a loop I made late in the editing process and I had no idea what she was talking about. So, that was embarrassing.
What themes did you explore in this novel? Were any of them a surprise to you?
I keep writing various riffs on identity. It’s getting old now, maybe in my old age of thirty-eight, I’m finally becoming happy with who and where I am? Impossible. My themes are always a surprise to me. I pick something I sort-of-kind-of want to explore and then I write the plot and characters. Only later do the true themes emerge, which is fun. Then I can go back and underscore them.
In Vanishing, Zoe is constantly having to reinvent herself, at least superficially. She’s the college girl, then the drop-out druggie, then the hipster-ish punk with the fishnet stockings, then Henry’s Wife. She seems to float into whatever identity she finds, making no real attempt to become herself. She recognizes this, too. This was sort of an exaggerated version of my (and maybe most people’s?) twenties and early thirties. We try on a lot of personas: girlfriend, career woman, new wife, new mother. It can be exhausting but part of the gig of growing up.
Where do you get your story ideas? How do they come to you?
Honestly, they come from other stories. Movies, books, television shows (of which I watch precious little, unfortunately), the news, even commercials. Stories are absolutely everywhere. I’m fascinated by high stakes – life and death, so I think my books will all be suspenseful.
One of my favorite books on earth is The Accidental Tourist, but I could never, ever write it. I need an element of the fantastic to really get a thrill from writing. I have a file of story ideas, some more fleshed out than others. I’ll challenge myself: with Vanishing, I wanted to see if I could pull of a shocking ending.
With my next book The Blackbird Season, I wanted to see if I could write a multiple point-of-view, dual timeline book. I adore non-linear storytelling. The book I’m drafting now, I made myself come up with a high concept logline. In short, I come up with ideas two ways: random inspiration from something I see/read/hear. These go into the file. But, other times, I will purposefully set out to do something new and force myself to think about a specific goal for a long time. The best is when an idea from the file gels with one of my goals. Then it’s like kismet.
What part of writing a novel is the most difficult for you? What is your trick at overcoming it? What part is the easiest?
The part of actually writing is the most difficult part of writing! I’m not being smart-alecky. When I read the quote “I don’t love writing, I love having written”, I literally thought oh THANK GOD. I overcome it with word count goals. Just sit down and write the damn thing.
By the time I get to 1 or 2K, I’m in love with myself. It’s embarrassing. When I read it over before I start the next writing session, I’ll think Oh, good grief this is utter crap. Then the cycle repeats. The easiest, most fun part for me is coming up with a premise. I even come up with story ideas I LOVE but can’t ever write (because brand, genre, etc) so I will message all my writer friends and say CAN YOU WRITE THIS FOR ME.
To my knowledge, two of them have taken me up on it and are writing books that originated from my weird story ideas. I won’t tell you who they are and what they are, and truthfully, they’ve veered wildly off course from my original premises (which is perfect, it’s theirs now). But I love that part so much, I’m thrilled I could jump start anyone.
What was it like hearing that you became a New York Times bestseller? Where were you? How did you hear the news?
Oh it was a crazy day. THOUGHT I KNEW YOU had been on Bookbub and a sale and skyrocketed to #2 in the Amazon Kindle store. It hung there for a while, and I jumped up and down and took screenshots but then, you know life goes on.
About two weeks later, I received a Facebook message from an agent who asked me to call him. I called him from my car, in the parking lot of my job, where he told me it landed on the New York Times bestseller list and would I be interested in representation? The most surreal moment of my life.
I cried and told him I’d call him back, and then I called my mom and my husband (in that order). Of course, I did eventually call him back, he’s now my agent, Mark Gottlieb (and he’s fantastic).
Tell us about your publishing journey. You started with a small indie press. How did you learn about them? What went into that decision? What did you learn there?
I was very, very lucky with Red Adept Publishing. Their contracts are short, simple and straightforward. There is a definitive contract expiration, and no option clause. I believe these two points are key with a small publisher, only because you have no idea what kind of job they’re going to do. With a large publisher, their track records are known. You can rely on (hopefully) some media coverage for marketing.
With a small press, the only thing you have is their word. You need a way out. They were completely new when I submitted to them. They posted on a writer’s forum that they were taking submissions. With a five year expiration, no option clause, I had nothing to lose. I had a day job, two babies at home.
Writing was a hobby at the time, not a career. I wanted to publish the book. I learned a ton while I was there. I truly believe my editor taught me how to write. I knew the bones, the basics. She guided me in a way no craft book ever could. I was so fortunate.
How does that experience compare with the experience you are having now at a large house, Simon and Schuster’s Atria?
Honestly, it’s like two completely different careers. The way I managed my writing career at RAP is completely different than what I’m doing at S&S. With my small press books, I focused a ton on the internet: social media, local media, online book clubs, price point marketing, ads and sales. With S&S, I’m definitely doing more events, speaking engagements, talks, that kind of thing. It’s been a learning curve.
I’m not the world’s best public speaker but I’m getting better. I’m enjoying it much more than I thought I would. I’m constantly amazed at the opportunities a larger publisher has afforded me. It’s an exciting time, for sure.
You do a ton of grassroots marketing. Can you tell us about that? How does one budget for marketing? You once got 1,000 entries when you did a book club giveaway. How do you find the book clubs?
That bookclub giveaway was kind of amazing. It was years ago, there was less of this kind of thing, and Rafflecopter was relatively new. I offered to give away up to ten Kindle copies and ten hardcopies of THOUGHT I KNEW YOU to a lucky book club. I’ve seen this giveaway all over since (not because of me at all, it’s not an incredibly original idea).
I put it out there on social media and I think I promoted it on Facebook. To enter, they had to fill out how many members in their book clubs and their email addresses. We picked a winner and my publisher lowered the price for 2 days to $0.99. I emailed all the entrants and told them they didn’t win, but could pick up a copy for $1 and encouraged them to forward to the other bookclub members. I think we sold a few hundred copies that day. I thought this was great!
For a small press, it is great. These are the kinds of marketing campaigns that you can do with indie published or small press. You can play with price points and figure out creative ways of letting people know about sales.
With a larger publisher, they’re much less willing to work with you on pricing. Which is fine! There are other benefits. I never had a fixed budget for marketing. I did whatever I could afford, and whatever I had the time/energy for. If you burn out and do nothing, you never get anywhere. I’ve always challenged myself to get “just one more reader today”. If I built my audience slowly, I was okay with that.
What blogs/organizations can you recommend to our members for support – career, craft, and otherwise? How can writers best support one another?
There are tons and tons of organizations for support! WWWB, for one J. Then, I’m a member of Tall Poppy Writers, an organization which promotes women writers (and not just other members). We thrive on the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats. For craft, I love Writer Unboxed, Writer’s Digest, Writers in the Storm. I love reading Chuck Wendig’s blogs and the forums at Absolute Write are a great place to vet advice and information.
How can readers best support writers?
Buy books! Or get them from a library. Don’t download pirated copies, please, please. Write a short but honest review. Don’t be mean. You can be honest and not mean.
Writers are people. If you love a book, tell your mom, your best friend, your Starbucks barista. Follow them on social media. Let them know you love them and why. It’s not weird and creepy, it’s awesome and it’s why we do this.
What is the most meaningful or helpful mantra you lean on in this crazy career of ours?
I have three.
The writing is the thing. It’s why I started this. When I get the green-eyes or the “why not me’s” (it happens to everyone), I think shut up you little jerk, people would kill to be where you are now, you wanted to write for a living and now you’re writing. So write. Sit down and write if you love it so much and shut up. The writing is the thing. Everything else is noise.
Forever forward. I never go back in my manuscript until I type THE END the first time. I never edit, I never tweak. I just keep going and going and going. Which means sometimes, people change ages in the middle of chapter ten and that’s ok. Forever forward.
You can run really fast if you’re being chased. For me, I write really well under pressure. I like deadlines and I stick to them. If I’m not being chased, I know I’ll slack off.
I have all three of these written on notecards, pinned to my corkboard in my office.
And finally…
Film or Television?
Film.
Heels or Flats?
FLATS.
Wine or Beer?
Wine.
Sporting Event or Concert?
Concert.
Thank you, Kate! We support you now and always. J
QUOTED: "Moretti maintains a fast pace and creates a chillingly satisfying villain in suave, manipulative Henry."
The Vanishing Year
Publishers Weekly. 263.28 (July 11, 2016): p45.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
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The Vanishing Year
Kate Moretti. Atria, $16 trade paper (304p) ISBN 978-1-501-11843-2
Zoe Whittaker, the narrator of this convoluted novel of suspense from bestseller Moretti (While You Were Gone), used to be Hilary Lawlor, a student who dropped out of college in California and turned to drug dealing in 2009 after her adoptive mother's death. Her testimony helped destroy a notorious sex-trafficking ring, but she fled across the country and changed her name before the perpetrators' trial. By 2014, she's married to Henry Whittaker, a controlling Manhattan businessman. After a college roommate recognizes her at a charity function, Zoe is nearly struck by a hit-and-run driver, and her apartment is ransacked. She concludes that one of the traffickers has found her and is trying to kill her, but perhaps she's mistaken. Zoe's blend of disloyalty to friends and naive trust in men with obviously sinister motives renders her unsympathetic at times. An implausible plot and chronological inconsistencies may also trouble some readers, but Moretti maintains a fast pace and creates a chillingly satisfying villain in suave, manipulative Henry. Agent: Mark Gottlieb, Trident Media. (Sept.)
QUOTED: "Great pacing and true surprises make this an exciting read. Fans of twisted thrillers featuring complex fema e characters will devour Moretti’s latest."
THE VANISHING YEAR by Kate MorettiKirkus Star
THE VANISHING YEAR
by Kate Moretti
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KIRKUS REVIEW
A woman tries to hide—and outrun—her past in this fast-paced thriller from Moretti (Binds That Tie, 2014, etc.).
Zoe is living the fabulous life as the wife of the handsome, successful, and rich Henry Whittaker. She can hardly believe her luck—marrying one of New York’s most eligible men, wearing luxurious clothing, and living in a beautiful apartment. But life isn’t quite what it seems for Zoe, because she has a dark past she can’t share with anyone. In fact, she used to have an entirely different name and a dangerous, drug-related lifestyle before she moved to the city and reinvented herself. But now, it seems that someone who knows about her previous identity is looking for her, and whoever it is won’t stop until he or she finds her. Zoe’s knowledge of her own history is tenuous—her adoptive mother is dead, and she doesn’t know anything about her biological relatives. Along with a newfound journalist friend, Zoe searches for the truth about her family in hopes of outrunning whomever’s searching for her. However, the more Zoe finds out about her biological family, the more she—and her family members—seems to be targeted by her mysterious hunter. Soon she isn’t sure whom to trust or whom to turn to for protection. Moretti creates a shocking mystery that will keep readers turning the pages. Parts of the ending may seem a little too coincidental, but the conclusion is explosive and satisfying enough that it doesn’t really matter. Great pacing and true surprises make this an exciting read.
Fans of twisted thrillers featuring complex female characters will devour Moretti’s latest.
Pub Date: Sept. 27th, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5011-1843-2
Page count: 295pp
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: June 30th, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15th, 2016
QUOTED: "Readers will wonder who is good, evil, or simply the victim of misguided thinking as they devour ... Kate Moretti’s latest book, full of expertly placed screens and revelations."
Web Exclusive – September 27, 2016
THE VANISHING YEAR
A socialite's secrets
BookPage review by Lori K. Joyce
Zoe Whittaker, the much-loved wife of a rich, handsome Wall Street guru, has a past at odds with her current situation. A name change and a coast-to-coast move to a new life put her unsavory past behind her—or did it?
The Vanishing Year offers a brief flashback, showing Zoe at the worst time in her life. She’s in mourning after her adopted mother’s death, and to numb her pain, she turns to drugs and alcohol and consorts with the dregs of society, drug dealers and pimps. Once Zoe learns her suppliers are involved in human sex trafficking, she cleans up her act and turns state’s witness. After being starved and beaten by the thugs, Zoe flees California and begins a new life in New York City.
Now it seems that her past is infringing on her present. At first, Zoe blithely chalks up nearly being hit by a car as a quintessential New York City experience. But when her apartment is ransacked, Zoe starts to wonder if the incidents are connected and begins to fear for her life. The story is fraught with Rebecca-esque tropes, such as a disturbingly devoted housekeeper and a husband who worships Zoe, his new second wife, but tends to be suspicious of her actions.
Zoe enlists the help of a society-page reporter to uncover part of her past that she wants revealed, that of her birth mother. Since Zoe’s husband doesn’t support her search, she does her sleuthing without his knowledge, and he becomes even more suspicious of her behavior. Readers will wonder who is good, evil, or simply the victim of misguided thinking as they devour bestselling author Kate Moretti’s latest book, full of expertly placed screens and revelations.
QUOTED: "Surprises along the way make for stimulating reading as the field of suspects narrows. The outcome will amaze readers."
THE VANISHING YEAR
Author(s): Kate Moretti
This psychological thriller evolves into sheer terror as the novel progresses. Moretti has a knack for putting her characters into untenable situations and leaving them there. How they extricate themselves is skillfully handled. Surprises along the way make for stimulating reading as the field of suspects narrows. The outcome will amaze readers.
When someone at a charity event recognizes Zoe Whittaker as the woman she was five years before, she panics. Now the wife of wealthy Henry Whittaker, she leads a fairy-tale existence. Afraid that Cash, the reporter at the ball, is going to feature her in the newspaper column, she meets with him to forestall the publication. Her former life could ruin everything she has worked so hard to build. In California, she testifies against some powerful criminals then refuses witness protection. Using her small savings, she changes her identity and moves cross-country. In Manhattan, she’s at the top of the heap. Life with Henry is not as idyllic as she once thought. She’s alarmed at subtle changes in their relationship. Zoe has become passionate about finding her birth mother and enlists the help of Cash. (ATRIA, Oct., 304 pp., $16.00)
Reviewed by:
Donna M. Brown
QUOTED: "This was my inspiration for Thought I Knew You – do you ever know another person, really? I attempted to take a look at a 'good' marriage going through a rough time and what would happen if it just suddenly ended. Would the remaining partner remember just the good or just the bad? I didn’t know."
"Like a real marriage, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Claire Barnes grapples with the truth, trying to figure out if she ever really knew her husband at all after he goes on a business trip and doesn’t return. She examines the gray area of her relationship, looking for clues. Did he run away? Did he die? Throughout the course of the book, Claire reflects on the ups and downs as she struggles to acknowledge that not only wasn’t her marriage perfect, but she was at least partially responsible for their problems."
"This book is thought provoking and compelling and it raises some questions that I will be pondering for days to come. If you enjoy a book with lots of mystery, suspense and ideas that will make you think, don't miss this one."
12/17/2012
I Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti: Guest Post, Review and Giveaway
Happy Monday! We are heading into the final week of the Christmas rush. I know I have lots of last minute things to do: wrapping, cleaning, baking etc. This will be my last full week of blogging for 2012. After next Monday, my blog will be on break until 2013. So I made sure to feature some great reads this week. Today, I have a riveting read to share with you called: Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti. This is Kate's debut novel, and I can honestly say I was thoroughly impressed. Once I picked this one up, I couldn't put it down, I read the entire thing in one day. Ms. Moretti presents a fascinating tale about a woman who thought she had a good, solid marriage until her husband goes missing without a trace. Then she is forced to accept that maybe her marriage wasn't as wonderful as she thought and perhaps her husband wasn't the person she knew. In all honesty, can we truly say we really know someone inside and out? Ms. Moretti gives you plenty to ponder with her interesting book. I invited Kate here to share with you all her thoughts on marriage. A thought provoking topic indeed.
Here is Kate's bio:
6533463Kate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She’s worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life.
She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like.
Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway. You can find Kate on her blog, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.
Here is Kate on marriage:
I’ve always been fascinated by marriage. What makes a good marriage? What makes a Normanton-on-Soar_Post_Office_-_geograph.org.uk_-_662583 bad one? Do “good” marriages have horrible times – where the husband and the wife just dislike each other? What makes them stick it out? Do “bad” marriages have moments of sunshine, laughter, shared private jokes? There are so many shades of gray there. What goes on behind the closed doors?
I grew up the product of a completely unrealistic childhood. My mother called my father her “boyfriend” and ran to the back door with excitement when his car would pull in the driveway at four o’clock. My sister and I learned to avoid the kitchen for those first ten minutes, lest we be subjected to a canoodle fest that would make the paparazzi blush. Barf. One time (and only once!) I remember hearing them fight, in their room, with the door closed. A actual fight! With raised voices! We huddled in the hallway terrified – they would surely get divorced now. We had no frame of reference. Suddenly, there was a loud crash and a beat of silence, followed by a burst of laughter. Later, when I snuck into their room, I saw a cock-eyed duel closet door off its track. From behind me, my father said, “Well, your mother feels better now.” I think (although I’m not certain) it’s still like that.
Wedding_ringsMuch later, when I got married myself, my expections were impossibly high. I wanted the fairy tale, the perfect marriage. I had no concept of the work that went on in my parents’ relationship. I wanted instant happily ever after, ala Disney-style. Those were some interesting first few years – I learned a hard lesson. Real love is hard work! A good marriage doesn’t just happen. I’ve been navigating the marital waters for nine years now, and sometimes I look at my husband and think, “Did you really just say that? Who are you?” and other times, for the exact opposite reason, he’ll surprise the heck out of me – do something so sweet and thoughtful — and I’ll think “Gah, who are you?”
This was my inspiration for Thought I Knew You – do you ever know another person, 16028596 really? I attempted to take a look at a “good” marriage going through a rough time and what would happen if it just suddenly ended. Would the remaining partner remember just the good or just the bad? I didn’t know. Like a real marriage, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Claire Barnes grapples with the truth, trying to figure out if she ever really knew her husband at all after he goes on a business trip and doesn’t return. She examines the gray area of her relationship, looking for clues. Did he run away? Did he die? Throughout the course of the book, Claire reflects on the ups and downs as she struggles to acknowledge that not only wasn’t her marriage perfect, but she was at least partially responsible for their problems.
The other day, I was talking to my mom on the phone.
She sighed, sounding exasperated.
I asked, “What’s wrong, Ma?”
“Oh, your father. He makes me nuts! Sometimes, he says something, and I just think ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I married you!’”
I laughed to myself. A perfect marriage? Ain’t no such thang.
I couldn't agree more, Kate. Marriage is difficult and at times trying but in the end well worth the journey. I enjoyed Kate's book so much that I decided I wanted to share it with you all so I am going to host a giveaway for an ebook copy of Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti. I decided to do an ebook so all of you who get new ereaders from Santa will have something to read. This was truly one of those books that will stick with me. Don't miss it! To enter fill out the Rafflecopter after reading the Contest Policies. This is open to everyone as long as you can accept an ebook via Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Here is my review:
Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti
16028596
Claire Barnes is shattered when her husband, Greg, goes on a business trip and never returns.
Unwilling to just wait for the police to find him, Claire conducts her own investigation. Her best friend Drew helps her look for answers, but all she finds are troubling questions.
With every clue, she discovers that Greg may not be the man she thought she married.
While battling her growing feelings for Drew and raising her two young children, Claire must learn to live with the knowledge that the truth behind Greg’s disappearance may never be revealed.
Kindle Edition, 276 pages
Published September 15th 2012 by Red Adept Publishing
Buy4._V192207739_Goodreads-badge-add-plus
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Four and a half stars: A riveting read that brings up a fascinating question: Can you ever truly know someone?
Claire Barnes thought she had a good marriage. She and Greg were together for ten years and they have two adorable little girls. But something hasn't been quite right over the last year. Greg is distant and quiet and they don't talk as much. Still every marriage has its ups and downs, it is just a rough patch. When Greg doesn't come home from a business trip, Claire's world comes crashing down. Claire is forced to examine her marriage. As she searches for her missing husband, she uncovers some puzzling facts, leading her to question whether she truly ever knew her husband. Will Claire find Greg and save her marriage?
What I Liked:
I love it when I pick up a book and get an unexpected riveting and fascinating read. Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti was one of those books that caught me by surprise. I was absolutely glued to the pages and couldn't put it down. I ended up reading the entire book in one day! This book is thought provoking and compelling and it raises some questions that I will be pondering for days to come. If you enjoy a book with lots of mystery, suspense and ideas that will make you think, don't miss this one.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Claire as she falls down the dark rabbit hole of despair and depression once she discovers her husband is missing without a trace. Over two years time, she slowly claws her way out and puts the pieces of her life back together. Without Greg, she is forced to maintain a stable household for her two daughters. It is a horrifying situation to deal with the sudden absence of a loved one. In some ways it is worse than a death because there is no closure. Claire struggles with the startling questions left behind. Did Greg really just walk out on Claire and his daughters with no explanation? Was there something so wrong with their marriage that he felt he had to leave? Why would he abandon them? Was there someone else? Where did he go? Day in day out, her mind tumbles over these questions and the possibilities. This book with its captivating story line will keep you glued to the pages as you race to find out what happened to Greg and how Claire manages to get back on her feet.
I loved that this book had some surprising twists and you are left guessing up until the final chapters as to what really happened to Greg. There is plenty of suspense and a good solid mystery throughout.
I admired Claire and her strength and courage as she pulls herself together, deals with the stages of grief and finds a way to be a stable parent for her two girls. It is a tough battle, but she is determined and she has support from her parents and friends. I liked that she chose to keep it together and do as much as she could on her own, from mowing and taking care of her yard, to cleaning out the gutters and everything else.
I liked that Ms. Moretti also included how the sudden disappearance of Greg affects his four and two year old daughters. The girls are devastated and suffer long term affects. They are always wondering if their mother will abandon them, and why their daddy didn't love them enough to stay. It is a heartbreaking and frightening situation for the girls and their mother. Ms. Moretti shows us how crippling a loss like this can be for a family.
I liked that this book kept me engaged and entertained throughout. It is frightening and sad at times, but there are many scenes of hope and courage as Claire puts both feet back on the ground and finds her way again. Perhaps she even has a chance at a new love. This is a book that you don't want to miss.
And The Not So Much:
This book does have a love triangle, but it didn't bother me as much as the triangles in the YA genre. First, because at the beginning of the story Claire is in what she perceives to be a stable marriage, and through the years she has maintained a strong friendship with her best friend, Drew. She and Drew were never a romantic item, but he has been in love with her for years. Even Greg is aware that Drew loves his wife, but again no one ever acted upon their feelings. Once Greg disappears, Drew steps in and becomes Claire's support system. So in the end, this book presents a believable love triangle that I actually enjoyed.
One aspect that I felt was too glossed over was how Claire tackled the financial situation. There are brief mentions in the beginning of how she is writing checks on a wing and a prayer and how she is concerned over money, but then the topic is dropped and not an issue. I am guessing it is because she dipped into the inheritance fund, but it is never conveyed how she manages to survive financially. I know that this would be a huge issue if the main bread winner suddenly vanished.
I wished that there was just a bit more information on Greg's secret life. I was so intrigued by the idea that you can't ever truly know someone and I wanted to know all of his secrets. Unfortunately, most of them remain hidden.
Thought I Knew You was a surprise read that thoroughly entertained me from beginning to end. It covers a woman's hard struggle to put her life back together when her husband vanishes without a trace. Her journey is tough, full of tears and hardship, but Claire is resilient and able to pick up the pieces only to have another huge wrench thrown in her path. If you enjoy a suspenseful mystery with engaging characters and a fascinating story line definitely don't hesitate to pick this one up. I know it is a book that will stick with me for days and days to come. With this strong debut, Ms. Moretti will surely be an author I will read again.
Favorite Quotations:
"How were we going to work as a family until he came home? We were fractured, a puzzle missing a piece until he came home. He needed to be home. He needed to come home and fix it. Fix Us."
"He turned the bracelet so I could see the engraving. All the strength you need is inside of you."
"Our relationship has always been an iceberg. The part the world sees is small and insignificant, where the largest, most complicated parts lie beneath the surface."
"Memories were tricky that way. Time tinted perception, which altered the memory, bending it like a light through a prism, until what a person remembered might only contain slivers of fact. The rest was just a colorful reflection of emotion---hope, denial, anger and fear."
"I didn't say the whole truth-- like making a life with the wrong person was like pushing a boulder up a hill. While making a life with the right person was like having a wheelbarrow instead of a boulder, taking turns pushing each other on the inclines."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
QUOTED: "Thought I Knew You is about a woman whose husband goes on a business trip and doesn’t come back. She has to deal with her real life, with a missing husband, two kids and figure out how to put those pieces back together."
"This is not really a big spoiler because it’s in the first few chapters, but she finds evidence of an affair. While You Were Gone is the story of that affair told from the mistresses POV. Readers should read TIKY first, but Gone can be a standalone, although I think it’s a better story if you know the outcome of THOUGHT I KNEW YOU."
"I wanted to write a novella between novels and I’ve always been interested in why Greg did what he did and what Karen’s narrative would be like. What is SHE like? In TIKY, I laid groundwork of her being drastically different than Claire, so I played that up."
09/24/2015
While You Were Gone by Kate Moretti: Interview & Review
It's Thursday, we are headed into a lovely fall weekend. If you are needing something interesting and entertaining for a weekend read, I urge you to check out While You Were Gone by Kate Moretti. This is a companion novella to Ms. Moretti's novel, Thought I Knew You, which was one of my favorite reads of 2013 (see my review here). In this novella, we are given the other side of the story. I enjoyed both stories, and I am eager for more.
Today, I am pleased to have Kate Moretti here to answer a few questions, so first thing first, let's meet her.
6a015390e082b4970b01a73df73cc3970d-320wi
Kate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She’s worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life. She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like. Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway. You can find Kate on her blog, Facebook,Twitter and Goodreads.
Here is my interview with Kate:
Hi Kate, welcome back to Rainy Day Ramblings. I am pleased to have you stopping by once again.
First, can you tell readers a bit about Thought I Knew You and While You Were Gone?
Thought I Knew You is about a woman whose husband goes on a business trip and doesn’t come back. She has to deal with her real life, with a missing husband, two kids and figure out how to put those pieces back together. This is not really a big spoiler because it’s in the first few chapters, but she finds evidence of an affair. While You Were Gone is the story of that affair told from the mistresses POV. Readers should read TIKY first, but Gone can be a standalone, although I think it’s a better story if you know the outcome of THOUGHT I KNEW YOU.
Why did you decide to write the other side of the story?
I wanted to write a novella between novels and I’ve always been interested in why Greg did what he did and what Karen’s narrative would be like. What is SHE like? In TIKY, I laid groundwork of her being drastically different than Claire, so I played that up.
I am still curious about Greg, is he a villain?
No. Of course not. He’s lost, maybe confused. Definitely does a bad thing, but pays for it in a myriad of ways. But a villain? No, he’s not evil. I really loved reading how readers perceive him. Some hate him. Just spew vitriol. Others feel sorry for him. Still others like him more than anyone else! He’s a polarizing figure, which was a surprise to me. He’s just a regular guy, who hits middle age and gets a little lost. That’s practically a cliché! But then he stumbles and loses everything. To me, that’s hardly a villain. That’s totally human.
Would you consider writing a third book from Greg's point of view?
I can never say never, but I don’t think so. I like that he’s sort of the unknown here. I like the different ways people see him and the air of mystery about him.
For readers who are put off by books that are about cheating, what can you tell them about this novella that might change their minds as far as the adultery?
Probably nothing. Adultery is wrong and hurtful to all parties involved. That’s never debated. But it’s also incredibly common. One of the central themes of Thought I Knew You was questioning what faithfulness means (emotionally and physically). That continues in While You Were Gone. I think readers who are interested in the vast gray areas of marriage, or dissecting the complicated facets of relationships, accepting that good people can do things that are morally wrong and are more interested in exploring the psychology of that. The whys. These readers will like these books. I never intended to write a book that would change people’s minds about adultery. Everyone has their own moral comfort zone.
Who are you more sympathetic toward, Claire, Greg's wife, or Karen the other woman?
Probably Karen. She is young, at a bit of a crossroads, and finding her footing. She falls (much too quickly) for someone she barely knows because she’s desperate for human connection. She’s had very little control over her life thus far. Claire, on the other hand, has made choices that brought her to this point. I have sympathy for both, but Karen is the more lost soul, in my mind.
What are you working on currently?
My next novel, due September 1, 2016 is called The Vanishing Year. It’s about a woman who escapes her past to seek out her birth mother, only to discover that someone will stop at nothing to keep them apart. It takes place in New York City, largely in the Tribeca neighborhood. I’ve started drafting book #4, called Blackbird season about a teacher accused of an affair with a student, who has gone missing. Early stages for that one, though.
What books are you most looking forward to reading for Fall 2015?
Sonja Yoerg’s MIDDLE OF SOMEWHERE,
Sandra Block’s THE GIRL WITHOUT A NAME,
Amy Sue Nathan’s THE GOOD NEIGHBOR,
Holly Robinson’s CHANCE HARBOR,
and THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER WEB (the fourth millennium series novel).
Thanks, Kate, for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by and answer my questions. I am looking forward to what you have in store for next time.
Here is my review:
While You Were Gone (A Thought I Knew You Novella) by Kate Moretti
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A Companion Novella to the NYT Bestseller Thought I Knew You
Despite Karen Caughee’s intense focus on her music, her life is drifting out of its lane. Her alcoholic mother keeps calling from bars for early-morning rides, her boyfriend doesn’t think she gets him, and that Toronto Symphony Orchestra position she applied for ends up going to her friend, Amy. By chance, she meets American Greg Randolf just before she’s in a car accident. He pulls her from the wreckage, but after major surgery, her recovery is slow. Without her music, her life’s pursuit, Karen is pushed further adrift.
Greg stays by her side while she heals, and he sees her every time he’s in Toronto for work. Without any other support or friendship in her life, Karen craves his enthusiastic attention, and their friendship deepens to love. Though she’s fallen hard for him, he doesn’t share everything with her. In one heartrending moment, Karen’s life comes to a crossroads, and she must face the full truth about who Greg is, and about who she has become.
Paperback, 115 pages
Published: September 1, 2015 by Red Adept Publishing, LLC
Source: Author
Buy4._V192207739_Goodreads-badge-add-plus
03half
Three and a half stars: A fascinating look at the other side of the story.
Karen feels like her life is suddenly falling apart. Last night, she retrieved her drunk, alcoholic mother from the bar at three in the morning, the night before her big audition. Thus, her audition for the principal violinist chair was a disaster, then later that night, her boyfriend breaks up with her. Just when she thinks she has hit rock bottom, Karen meets a wonderful man at the bar, but as she leaves in the cab, she is in a horrible car accident. Thankfully, Greg, the man she met that night, is there by her side to help her heal. Karen unexpectedly finds herself falling head over heels in love, but the problem is Greg lives in the U.S. As the relationship progresses, Karen begins to wonder more about Greg and his life. Who is Greg Randolph?
What I Liked:
I am a big fan of I Thought I Knew You so I was eager to read this companion novella to uncover the other side of the story. I was surprised at the range of emotions I felt. I went into this expecting to not like Greg and Karen, but I was immediately drawn to Karen and her plight, and in the end, I couldn't help but like her. Once again, Ms. Moretti proves that you can't ever completely know someone, nor can you judge someone without knowing the whole story. If you have yet to read I Thought I Knew You, I urge you to pick up both books.
Karen is one of those characters you can't help but like. Her life seems to be falling apart around her, and if it can go wrong, it does, but what I appreciated about her was that she didn't sit around and feel sorry for herself. She was determined and driven. I liked how she reevaluated her life once she got on her feet, and I especially liked how she mended the fences with her mother. Again, I expected to not like Karen because she is the other woman, but I was proven wrong.
Even though I knew going in that this was a novel about cheating, I wasn't disgusted or upset about the adulterous relationship. I think because the author handles it so well, and because Karen isn't aware that Greg is cheating. Yes, there were signs she should have picked up on, but she was head over heels in love. I thought the romance and the relationship was well done, and it made you think.
I was pleased that the book ended a year down the road. It was nice to see how Karen got back on her feet, and that she was in a good place.
And The Not So Much:
I am still wanting to understand Greg better. I have now had a glimpse of him through the eyes of two different woman who loved him, but I still don't have a strong knowledge as to who he is. I guess I need a third book from Greg's point of view because as it stands in both book he is the villain, or is he?
I am bothered that there isn't a good explanation as to why Greg decided to cheat on Claire. Was he bored? Was it because he felt a connection with Karen and he didn't really intend to fall in love? I really want to understand his motives.
It has been awhile since I read the first book, so the details surrounding Greg's accident were sketchy, and they were glossed over in this novella. I wish the author had explained the situation better when Claire and Karen meet.
Even though I was satisfied with the novella, and I felt like I got a full story, I wish that the book hadn't flash forwarded into the future. I would have loved to watch Karen get back on her feet instead of getting a recap a year down the road. I was invested in her character and I wanted more story. Isn't that how it always goes with a novella?
While You Were Gone is an intriguing and entertaining read that shows the other side of an affair. Not everything is black and white, and Ms. Moretti will show you that sometimes love blossoms from unexpected situations. I urge you to check out both While You Were Gone and Thought I Knew You. Both books are fascinating reads that will have you questioning relationships and how well you know someone.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
QUOTED: "This book would appeal to readers who enjoy clean romance, family struggles, self-discovery and tales about coming to grips with life."
Review: While You Were Gone
September 8, 2015 · Leave a Comment
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Review: While You Were GoneWhile You Were Gone by Kate Moretti
Published by Red Adept Publishing on September 1, 2015
Genres: Contemporary Women, Fiction, General, Romance
Pages: 115
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Buy on Amazon, B&N
Goodreads
A Companion Novella to the NYT Bestseller Thought I Knew You
Despite Karen Caughee’s intense focus on her music, her life is drifting out of its lane. Her alcoholic mother keeps calling from bars for early-morning rides, her boyfriend doesn’t think she gets him, and that Toronto Symphony Orchestra position she applied for ends up going to her friend, Amy. By chance, she meets American Greg Randolf just before she’s in a car accident. He pulls her from the wreckage, but after major surgery, her recovery is slow. Without her music, her life’s pursuit, Karen is pushed further adrift.
Greg stays by her side while she heals, and he sees her every time he’s in Toronto for work. Without any other support or friendship in her life, Karen craves his enthusiastic attention, and their friendship deepens to love. Though she’s fallen hard for him, he doesn’t share everything with her. In one heartrending moment, Karen’s life comes to a crossroads, and she must face the full truth about who Greg is, and about who she has become.
I originally didn’t realize that While You Were Gone was a novella attached to another of Moretti’s works called Thought I Knew You. I actually had no idea until I was probably half way through when I started realizing that half of Greg’s story was MIA. I wasn’t particularly surprised by the subject matter of the book, early on you get an idea of what’s actually going on behind the scenes, but it was still a fantastic read.
While You Were Gone is an emotional roller coaster ride filled with more than pure romance. Its a story about self-discovery, life choices and reconstructing family ties. Karen is meant to be the every-woman, the late twenties-early thirties who can’t seem to find her way, the one who begins to question their life choices.
Karen’s life is about music. She immerses herself in her career at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and her boyfriend Scott until everything falls apart. Her boyfriend leaves her, she gets into a serious car accident and her beloved career is no longer set in stone. The night of the crash she meet Greg, a man who inspires Karen to be more than just a musician, and causes her to question what she really wants in her future. When Karen learns about Greg’s secret everything falls apart, but in the ashes can she find the strength and courage to become the person she was meant to be?
I didn’t really like Karen and her desire to steal everyone else’s men. I don’t feel this opinion is out of left field since she goes after a guy while they are both on first dates or that she goes after a man who is clearly holding himself back from her. If a guy is reluctant, don’t chase him or force yourself on him! She consistently seems to have her hands in the “someone-else’s-partner” cookie jar but fails to see how this makes her unlikable by other women (I mean, she only has one female friend!).
Otherwise, While You Were Gone was an amazing book with heart wrenching moments, strong characters and the sex scenes were PG. It’s incredibly hard to find novels that have love scenes that end well before anything actually happens. I definitely loved the fact that more focus was put on the love story and Karen’s relationship with her mother and brother rather than sex scenes. I loved that not every second page was filed with intense descriptions of what they did to each others’ body, but instead was filled with text that helped develop the characters, their relationships and the plot.
I also loved that Moretti’s writing is so masterful and strong emotionally that the main family oriented portions of the book were something I could understand. I don’t understand family ties as thoroughly as most people and generally shy away from novels that are heavily family. I usually end up frustrated by the book or feeling like there’s something wrong with me for not really understanding the relationships between the characters. I was shocked to find my lack of irritation with Karen’s desire for family bonds and even found myself cheering her on.
I cannot wait to delve into more of Kate’s work because While You were Gone was unique and extremely well written. I rarely come across a novel that feels so realistic, encompassing and realistic.
This book would appeal to readers who enjoy clean romance, family struggles, self-discovery and tales about coming to grips with life. I would definitely recommend reading on a Sunday afternoon with a glass of wine on the patio. A light hearted romance with a really explosive ending.
4/5 stars
Thought I Knew You, by Kate Moretti
PUBLISHED ON October 24, 2015
thought i knew you
Kate Moretti’s novel, I Thought I Knew You, utterly captivated me. A story about a woman derailed, Claire experiences an abrupt loss of her husband who never returns from a business trip. Now the wife of a missing person, Claire climbs up out of her shock and grief and begins to search for him, but along the way she finds clues that suggest her husband wasn’t the man she thought him to be.
Although Claire struggles with answers to her questions, she doesn’t stop searching and in doing so she learns some things about herself that she’d kept buried throughout her marriage. All the while, Claire is also fighting to protect the feelings and future of her two young daughters, wrestling with her growing attraction for her best friend, Will, and a heartfelt desire to do the right thing even as it becomes more and more possible that her husband may never return.
I turned the pages quickly, waiting for the shocking twist, and when it came I loved it. This novel is beautiful, asking the question of what love really is and answering by delving deeply into human emotion and surprising us with the truth, even thought it makes perfect sense.
Highly recommended!
-Tina