Welcome to Book Breakdown, your inside look at how a book is published: what it takes, what the writing process looks like, how editing works, and how all of the pieces fit together to bring a book from an idea to a bookshelf. Our guest today is Sara Foster, the author of the stunning new thriller, You Don’t Know Me.
Read on!
Sara Foster
How did you come up with the concept for your book?
The very first glimpse I had into You Don’t Know Me was the idea of two brothers fighting at a campsite, as a long-held family secret resurfaced. The campsite didn’t last, but the brothers did, and they became Noah and Tom, two of the main characters in my story, whose lives have both been deeply affected by the sudden disappearance of Tom’s girlfriend Lizzie back in 2006. My story picks up 12 years later, as the brothers are about to be brought back together for the inquest into Lizzie’s disappearance. Tom is still under suspicion, and Noah is torn between his desire to protect his family, his longing to tell the truth, and his yearning for a new life with his soul mate Alice.
What came first, character or plot?
The seeds of both character and plot tend to evolve together for me, and so the brothers’ arrival was accompanied by my awareness of the dark, simmering secret between them.
What does a typical writing day look like for you?
For me, there is no typical writing day! I homeschool my two young girls, and I find that all my different commitments relating to work and family, and my reliance on childcare, make it very difficult to get consistency. However, all my days involve writing at some stage, and at the moment I try to get the writing done earlier in the day, as I’m no longer capable of being a night owl (and boy do I envy those who are!). I also have long weekend writing marathons when I get the chance, so I can immerse myself in the story.
Is your writing process the same each time, or does it vary?
In general, my writing process is similar each time. I like to have a loose plan, and while the story is flowing I’m happy to write. As soon as I get stuck, I go back to the plan and begin shifting things round and figuring out how to tighten and strengthen it all. Sometimes this means making those dreaded cuts to paragraphs or chapters, but during this process I’ll invariably find the story again and it’ll take off.
How do you work with your publisher? Do you come to them with a concept, or do you come to them with a first draft?
I discuss the concept with the publisher, but I don’t usually show them anything until I’ve finished the first draft. That way we don’t get too lost in the editing process, or start critiquing too early.
What was the editing process like? How much did the editing process shape You Don’t Know Me?
The editing process for this book was pretty lengthy, as the story has so many different strands to it. It’s part romance, part suspense, and part crime thriller, and we needed to work really carefully to make sure all those parts were balanced and we could build the story to a satisfying reveal. I have a wonderful relationship with my editor and she always sees things that I don’t and brings the best out of me in the rewrites.
What’s the first thing you do after you’ve delivered a finished book?
Sleep!
Did you have an idea in mind of what you wanted the book cover to look like?
Not this time, and I’m thrilled with the cover that Simon & Schuster produced, as it’s very striking and I think it clearly defines the mood and feel of the story, whilst being full of intrigue.
Does the book match your initial overall vision of what it was going to be?
Absolutely – I’m very proud of this story, as I think it achieves everything I wanted it to be and more. I love that most readers have said they didn’t pick the ending, as it means all the hard work paid off.
How do you feel now that the book is out there?
It’s always exciting to see the book in store, and almost surreal to look at my six novels lined up together. I’ve been so busy with books and babies over the last ten years that only now am I starting to look up and reflect on how far I’ve come. However, I always feel that I can write a better book, so I’m already busy working on book number seven!
Thanks Sara!
You Don’t Know Me is out now
You Don't Know Me
Lizzie Burdett was eighteen when she vanished, and Noah Carruso has never forgotten her. She was his first crush, his unrequited love. She was also his brother’s girlfriend.
Tom Carruso hasn’t been home in over a decade. He left soon after Lizzie disappeared under a darkening cloud of suspicion, and now he’s back for the inquest into Lizzie’s death – intent on telling his side of the story. As the inquest looms, Noah meets Alice Pryce on holiday. They fall for each other fast and hard, but Noah can’t bear to tell Alice his deepest fears. And Alice is equally stricken – she carries a terrible secret...
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