Patrice Kindl, author of DON’T YOU TRUST ME?, on becoming absolutely obsessed with her character

by Jocelyn Rish

We’re delighted to have Patrice Kindl stop by to chat about her latest novel DON’T YOU TRUST ME?

Patrice, what was your inspiration for writing DON’T YOU TRUST ME?

I was working on a very different kind of book (a comic Regency romance) with a character I mentally referred to as, “the psychopathic governess.” Although my mental reference was a bit flippant, it made me pay attention to studies and news articles about personality disorders. When I realized how common they were, that they occur in all levels and kinds of societies, as well as the fact that they tend to come to full flower before or during early adolescence, I felt as though I had to write about it. And of course, it had to be a comedy.

What scene was really hard for you to write and why, and is that the one of which you are most proud? Or is there another scene you particularly love?

I struggled with the decision about pushing two innocent girls down a flight of stairs and locking them in a basement. I could not decide how far I wanted the violence to go. One of the points I was trying to make with this book was that people without a moral sense are not necessarily mass murderers — they are more often simply liars and thieves. It would have been easy to go overboard, or on the other hand to flinch away from anything physical (I don’t even like squishing insects, personally).

What book or books would most resonate with readers who love your book–or visa versa?

If you like unreliable narrators, you might like WE WERE LIARS, by E. Lockhart, the title of which is at least honest about being dishonest.

How long did you work on DON’T YOU TRUST ME?

I got the idea two years before I wrote “The End” on the manuscript. However, I was working on another book at the time I thought of it and my idea had to wait its turn. I think it took a little over a year to write. I am not a fast writer.

What did this book teach you about writing or about yourself?

It taught me that I am highly suggestible. I became absolutely obsessed with the character. Several times I could have sworn I saw her in the flesh. One time she nearly ran me over in her “borrowed” Corvette. On purpose, I might add. You’d think a fictional character would be grateful to her creator, but apparently not.

What do you hope readers will take away from DON’T YOU TRUST ME?

Not everyone out there is like you. Yes, the vast majority of people you will meet in your life are basically decent human beings. But there are those who do not care if, or how much, they hurt you. Be aware, and if a relationship begins to feel too one-sided, or if you suspect you are being consistently lied to, seriously consider ending it.

How long or hard was your road to publication? How many books did you write before this one, and how many never got published?

I was first published in 1993 (OWL IN LOVE, Houghton Mifflin). Before that I had completed one book, a fantasy called “The Witches of Winter Hill.” It was never published. I have written two books since then that did not get published, in addition to THE WOMAN IN THE WALL, Houghton Mifflin 1997; GOOSE CHASE, Houghton Mifflin 2001; LOST IN THE LABYRINTH, Houghton Mifflin 2002; KEEPING THE CASTLE and A SCHOOL FOR BRIDES, 2012 and 2015 respectively, Viking.

Was there an AHA! moment along your road to publication where something suddenly sank in and you felt you had the key to writing a novel? What was it?

Certainly. Here you go: “Hah!” At least, this is almost the same word as “aha,” but different. Should you happen to find out that there is a key to writing a novel, please send me one. I haven’t a clue.

What’s your writing ritual like? Do you listen to music? Work at home or at a coffee shop or the library, etc?
I work from home with my feet up and with at least one dog on my lap. The contortions required when both dogs and the computer require lap space are aging me before my time. I’m half crippled at the present moment (move your FOOT, dog!). Sometimes the parrot sings to me (catchy tunes like “Old MacDonald Had a Farm:” … With a buck-buck here, and a buck-buck there …), but usually no music.

What advice would you most like to pass along to other writers?

Well, the standard advice is: read a lot and write a lot. It’s hard to better that, especially as (see above) I have no idea what I am doing.

What are you working on now?

A sequel to DON’T YOU TRUST ME? entitled, FOOL ME TWICE, thus giving Morgan another shot at killing me off.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Don’t You Trust Me?
by Patrice Kindl
Hardcover
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Released 8/30/2016

A teenage girl switches identities with a stranger and pulls off a long-term scam in this smart, sarcastic thriller perfect for fans of Ally Carter.

Don’t you trust me? I mean, look at me. Blond, blue-eyed, the very image of innocence. Pretty enough, if you care about that kind of thing. I don’t.

But would a normal person switch identities with some wet mess of a girl at the airport, just to get her to stop bawling about being separated from her loser boyfriend and sent to live with some distant relatives? Nope, she wouldn’t. Yet I did. I’m not as normal as you think. And you’ll just have to trust me on that.

Purchase Don’t You Trust Me? at Amazon
Purchase Don’t You Trust Me? at IndieBound
View Don’t You Trust Me? on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Patrice Kindl is the author of the acclaimed novels Owl in Love, Goose Chase, Keeping the Castle, A School for Brides, and several others. She lives with her husband and a variety of animals in upstate New York. Visit her at PatriceKindl.com.

—

Have you had a chance to read DON’T YOU TRUST ME? yet? Have you written a book with an unreliable narrator? Have you ever thought you saw your characters in real life? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy reading,

Jocelyn, Shelly, Martina, Anisaa, Sam, Erin, Susan, Michelle, Laura, and Kristin

Jocelyn Rish

Jocelyn Rish is a writer and filmmaker who loves researching weird and wonderful animals and sharing what she learns. Her debut was BATTLE OF THE BUTTS, about ten animals that do weird things with their butts. Her latest book is BATTLE OF THE BRAINS, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection about ten animals with mind-blowing brain abilities. When she’s not writing, she tutors kids to help them discover the magic of reading. Jocelyn has won numerous awards for her short stories, screenplays, films, and novels and lives in South Carolina with her adorable dog. Find out more at www.jocelynrish.com.

Post @ Jocelyn Rish and/or Adventures in YA Publishing. All rights reserved.

Posted: Sep 3, 2016

Category: Imported from AYAP

Tags: YA Author Interviews

Welcome to Transmedia Mutts

Yellow origami dog on a teal background

Unleash your creative bark!

Shout out to AYAP!

Logo for Adventures in YA Publishing

Thank you to the women who started Adventures in YA Publishing and ran it for years. AYAP and TMM have merged to form Adventures in PUPlishing, and the legacy AYAP posts are now part of TMM. Click here to learn more about the earlier AYAP team.

Click to Join our Facebook Group

Share advice, practice pitching, celebrate successes, and support each other through writing and publishing adventures.

← Previous: Mary Hooper, author of POPPY, on the timelessness of feelings and emotions Next: Chris Vick, author of KOOK, on making it simple and clear →

The first slide is an animation of a science/magic room in a castle. A cartoon character of a mad-scientist looking man in in the foreground says: “Hello! Dr. Frankenstein here to say, Well Done on kid lit zombie week! I’m an expert at reviving the dead, and let me assure you, with a little spark, you can bring dead projects to life. Especially if you dig up parts from other dead things. I’ll even let you have a sneak peek at my laboratory’s store room to consider potential parts for your dead project. If you see something with a yellow glow, that means you should click it. Have fun!”

He points to the right side of the screen and a new scene slides in of a castle science/magic storage room. There are various cartoon Frankenstein body parts scattered around. Some of them have a yellow glow. If you click on them, the images below appear (I’ve added alt text to them, so I hope it works).

The Heart of your story is the main character. The protagonist is the beating core that truly brings your story to life. If your MC doesn't make kids (and their grown-ups) care within the first few pages, your story will flatline. </p>
<p>Your main character needs to be:<br />
• Relatable enough for kids to see themselves<br />
• Unique enough to stand out in the slush pile<br />
• Active enough to drive the story<br />
• Memorable enough to survive multiple readings at bedtime</p>
<p>Where do you find this amazing donor heart? It might be the very thing you loved so much about the manuscript you want to revive. It might be the younger sister from your shelved YA novel. Or maybe it’s the hilarious kid you blogged about meeting at a school visit. Find a character beating with potential and place it in the center of your story.<br />

The Brain of your story is the theme or central message. The theme is the big idea that controls everything else. Picture books are more than stories - they're tiny life lessons disguised with humor and heart.</p>
<p>But your theme needs to be:<br />
• Subtle enough not to trigger the dreaded "didactic" rejection<br />
• Clear enough for a four-year-old to grasp<br />
• Universal enough to speak to both kids and adults<br />
• Fresh enough to prevent agents and editors from responding with "Not another sharing/bedtime/first-day story!"</p>
<p>Check your other dead manuscripts to see if there is a recurring theme, something that really seems to be speaking to you. Find the bit of poetry you scribbled on the back of a receipt to see what theme inspired it. Reread the pep talk you texted your critique partner at 1am. Pick the theme that will drive your story, giving it purpose, direction, and deeper meaning.<br />

The Legs of your story is the plot. Not to be confused with a grave plot.🤪 The plot is what keeps everything upright and moving, as well as providing support for all the other elements. You have very few words to use in a picture book, so you need to do a lot with each plot point.</p>
<p>In general, your plot should:<br />
• Hook readers fast<br />
• Build tension that a child can follow<br />
• Create page turns that feel natural<br />
• Wrap up in a way that satisfies</p>
<p>You can borrow a plot twist (a leg) from one manuscript and the opening (the other leg) from a different manuscript. Consider if the subplot of the middle grade novel you trunked would work better as a picture book. Or maybe your Facebook post about a disastrous camping trip could become a story for kids. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you have your storyline.

The Arms of your story are the side characters.

The Torso of your story is the setting. Setting helps a story breathe and connects all the elements of the story. It isn't just where your story lives, it's what makes your story ALIVE. It's the difference between "this happened in a park" and "this happened in that park, the one with the twisty slide that burns your legs and the creaky swing that sounds like a baby crying.”</p>
<p>Your setting should:<br />
• Make your character's world feel real<br />
• Contain your story in a way that makes sense to young readers<br />
• Connect different scenes and moments organically<br />
• Give your illustrator enough room to add visual subplots</p>
<p>Half-finished manuscripts are a great place to dig up settings, since you worked out the place details before the plot petered out. Or maybe you had to cut a second fantastic location from your chapter book. You can also revisit the detailed caption from your Instagram carousel documenting your tour of that delish candy shop. Disinter a robust setting that can house all of your story's vital organs.

After you press the Click When Done circle button, the lights flash with the sound of electricity buzzing. Then the screen goes black and lightning zaps across the screen with the sound of thunder.

The screen then lights up to show the storage room, and all the Frankenstein pieces have been assembled into the whole monster. An upbeat song plays in the background. Then a speech bubble pops up with the words, “I’m alive! I’M ALIVE!” Then the screen goes to black.

Dog holding a sign that says Pupdates!

Sign up for our newsletter for pupdates and publishing advice