DIY MFA Radio 122: Writing Domestic Suspense - Interview with Cate Holahan
Hey there word nerds!
Domestic suspense has been getting a lot of buzz lately, but crafting a great book in this sub-genre is much more challenging than it seems. Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author Cate Holahan about her latest book The Widower’s Wife. In this episode, Cate gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into crafting a story of suspense and intrigue set in in everyday suburbia.
In this episode Cate and I discuss:- How she crafted the point of view for the story and why she chose to use certain characters’ point of view and not that of others.
- World-building in domestic suspense, and why a close setting (like a house) can be especially interesting for writers.
- The cultural details of the protagonist’s Brazilian heritage (like me!) and the research that went into making the details spot-on.
- How she wrote the investigator in this story, and why she gave this character’s role a particular twist.
- The artistry behind the supporting characters of the book, and why she wrote these characters in this way.
Catherine "Cate" Holahan is an award-winning journalist, former television producer, and author. Her second novel, The Widower's Wife, was praised in a starred Kirkus review as "one of those rare thrillers that really will keep you reading all night." Her articles have appeared in BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, The Record and on web sites for CBS, MSN Money, NorthJersey.com and CNBC. Her first novel, also published by Crooked Lane Books, is Dark Turns. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and dog.
The Widower’s WifeAna Bacon, a young housewife, tumbles off a cruise ship into the dark and deadly waters, but did she take her secrets with her?
Investigator Ryan Monahan is a numbers man. So when his company sends him the Bacon case, which could net a ten million dollar payout, Monahan doubts that her death is just a tragic accident. But the husband has a substantial alibi and a number of witnesses claim to have seen Ana fall. So the official ruling seems to be substantiated.
Still, the more Monahan uncovers about Ana’s life, the more he realizes how many people would kill to keep her secrets hidden. And the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the odds grow that he, too, will take a fatal fall.
Cate Holahan looks at the dark underbelly of a marriage from the perspectives of the detective and the victim in her tense and enthralling page-turner, The Widower's Wife.
For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/122