TBR [to be read], a semi-regular, invitation-only interview series with authors of newly released/forthcoming, interesting books.
I first described the book as, “It’s about women who do bad
things to violent men,” which always got an “Oooh!” My team at Harpers softened
it to “A book that asks what it means for a woman to be in control of her own
life.”
Which character did you most enjoy creating? Why? And
which character gave you the most trouble, and why?
Paula, Paula, Paula! She was, by far, the most difficult
character to write because her voice is so particular. With limited formal
education and an undiagnosed learning disorder, her voice is less educated, but
I needed readers to trust and respect her intelligence. It was a difficult
balance, but with each subsequent draft she became my favorite character
because Paula functions as the moral center of the book.
Tell us a bit about the highs and lows of your book’s
road to publication.
The road to publishing this book has been
ridiculously fun. Like the Anne Hathaway movie about a woman who gets a book
published. In brief, this book was pre-empted by my favorite editor of the
group who made offers. Since that time, my team has been amazing. However, this
experience comes after starring in no less than three horror movies filmed over
the previous decade, where a woman questions her life choices after going out
on endless rounds of fruitless submission.
What’s your favorite piece of writing advice?
Persevere, but be kind to yourself. I’m good at the first
part of that advice and terrible at the second part. I always forget that
writing is actually hard work. As though plot, setting and dialogue should just
flow, right?!? When they don’t, I assume the problem is me. This is when I have
to take a step back and remind myself that writing is actually a difficult job
and I shouldn’t be so mean to the writer.
My favorite writing advice is “write until something
surprises you.” What surprised you in the writing of this book?
So many of the twists in this book revealed themselves as I
was writing it. That’s something that always happens, but still catches me by
surprise. I wish I wrote from an outline so I could avoid the stress of not
knowing how outstanding threads will weave into the plot, but I’m just not that
person. In this book, there’s a twist/reveal in the last chapter that didn’t
come until the fourth revision. It was hanging out there unresolved, then
suddenly it clicked. For me, those moments are the most surprising and
satisfying parts of novel writing.
Who is your ideal reader?
Our Kind of Game is marketed as a domestic thriller
or women’s fiction, which makes it a little weird that my ideal reader is men
in heterosexual relationships. While it’s a cathartic read for women, the men
who’ve read it tell me it challenged their perceptions around the way they think
about their partner’s domestic labor. I can’t imagine a better outcome for a
reader than a book that challenges preconceived notions and entertains.
Inquiring foodies and hungry book clubs want to know: Any
food/s associated with your book?
Ahahaha, I have a great recipe for canned cherries! I can’t
say anything else without it being a spoiler, but after people read this book,
they’ll understand why that question made me laugh out loud.
*****
READ MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/our-kind-of-game-johanna-copeland?variant=41141589966882
ORDER THIS BOOK FOR YOUR TBR STACK: https://bookshop.org/p/books/our-kind-of-game-johanna-copeland/21024793