Looking for the next book that EVERYONE is talking about? One filled with suspense that will keep you up at night? Then look no further, ladies, because Mary Kubica hits it out of the park with her debut novel, The Good Girl.
And holla! Because we have a copy to give away! Just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win. Contest closes on September 14th at Noon PST.
The Scoop: "I've been following her for the past few days. I know where she buys her groceries, where she has her dry cleaning done, where she works. I don't know the color of her eyes or what they look like when she's scared. But I will."
Born to a prominent Chicago judge and his stifled socialite wife, Mia Dennett moves against the grain as a young inner-city art teacher. One night, Mia enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when he doesn't show, she unwisely leaves with an enigmatic stranger. With his smooth moves and modest wit, at first Colin Thatcher seems like a safe one-night stand. But following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life.
Colin's job was to abduct Mia as part of a wild extortion plot and deliver her to his employers. But the plan takes an unexpected turn when Colin suddenly decides to hide Mia in a secluded cabin in rural Minnesota, evading the police and his deadly superiors. Mia's mother, Eve, and detective Gabe Hoffman will stop at nothing to find them, but no one could have predicted the emotional entanglements that eventually cause this family's world to shatter.
An addictively suspenseful and tautly written thriller, The Good Girl is a propulsive debut that reveals how even in the perfect family, nothing is as it seems….
Our thoughts: Just TRY to put this one down--IMPOSSIBLE!
Liz & Lisa's Book Club: The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
1. How did you come up with the idea for THE GOOD GIRL? Did you think of the title?
Before I dive into that question, I wanted to thank you ladies for having me here today. It’s such an honor to be asked to come and chat with you about myself and THE GOOD GIRL.
I came up with the idea for the book shortly after I left my teaching career and decided to stay home and raise my daughter. I was home for the first time ever, in a mostly quiet house save for a tiny infant who slept much of the day. My mind started wandering, and it was then that the ideas for THE GOOD GIRL were formed. I have been writing since I was a young girl, but this was the first novel I was able to write in its entirety, and I knew right away there was something special about this book, something that set it apart from the stories I’d written in my earlier years.
As for the title, that was certainly a collaborative process. We wanted something that put the main character, Mia, at the forefront of this novel. The book is about her, and yet her voice is rarely heard. It was important that the reader knows this is Mia’s story.
2. We read on your blog that you had your publishing deal for 587 days before the book finally hit store shelves. How would you describe the waiting period?
Agony! It felt like a very long time. The offer for THE GOOD GIRL came in December of 2012, and it was July of 2014 before the book was published. Of course that was all very important time, during which the novel got a cover and the much-needed publicity before launch day, but it was hard for me – a generally impatient person – to sit back and wait. During that time, however, I was hard at work on my second novel, which made the time go by more quickly; I was also traveling to conferences to promote THE GOOD GIRL, and on a pre-launch book tour. It was a very exciting time! I see now how important that time was for THE GOOD GIRL, and understand the value of the pre-launch buildup, but as a debut author having no idea of the process, it felt like I’d be waiting forever for launch day! In retrospect, the time went by quite quickly and now, here I am about to embark on the same adventure for book 2.
3. And how would you describe being a published author? What's your biggest tip for aspiring novelists?
This entire process has just been a dream come true for me. The idea that I get to write books for a living is something I’ve always aspired to do – and I can’t believe this is actually classified as a job! My biggest tip for aspiring authors is to keep trying. I received many, many, many rejections before one agent offered to represent THE GOOD GIRL – and that was all it took: one agent. Keep looking until you find that one person who is going to love your work as much as you do.
4.We both have rescue dogs and read that you work at your animal shelter. Can you tell us about that & about your pet(s)? We'd also love to see a pic/pics!
I’m a huge animal fanatic. I’ve been working at the local animal shelter for quite a few years now, and I absolutely love it. These days, I photograph all new arrivals (cats, dogs and the occasional rabbit) for our website, but I’ve done any number of things during my time there, from running a story hour for kids, to offsite events, to cleaning cages, to fostering litters of kittens in my home. It’s a great experience for both myself and my family. One day, I dream of running my own shelter. I’m equally a dog and cat person, though my family started with cats many years ago, and now that 3 more have followed me home from the shelter, it would be a bit crazy to add a dog to the mix. One day we’ll have a dog, but for now we have four cats and any number of fish I manage to keep alive on a given day. I’ve included photos of my kitties. All but the black cat, Einstein, are rescues; the last – a beautiful tortoiseshell named Tabitha – came to live with us after she was diagnosed with liver cancer, and now, ten months later, she’s doing fabulous.
5. Are you working on another novel? If so, can you share any details?
I would love to! I just finished up my second novel: PRETTY BABY. It’s the story of a Chicago mother who encounters a young homeless girl with a baby, waiting beside the train. She becomes quite taken with her, and wants to help her with her plight, but as she does she discovers a dark, hidden past, and begins to see what effect this chance encounter will have on both their lives. As is the case with THE GOOD GIRL, nothing is quite what is seems to be… Look for PRETTY BABY coming in 2015 from Harlequin MIRA.
Thanks so much for having me!
Thanks, Mary!