Mister Tender's Girl
Page 30
What draws you to the thriller genre?
A few things. I enjoy tension, because without it, stories wouldn’t be all that interesting. And I love personal stakes. The idea of an everyday person in an extraordinary situation. I want the reader to be able to put themselves in the protagonist’s place and think, “What would I do? How would I get out of this?” And, more than anything, I love writing paranoia. That sense of all is not right here. Taken together, all the things I love to write point very directly to the thriller/suspense genre.
Are you an outliner or a “panster”? (warning—spoilers ahead!)
I’m the very definition of a pantser. I never outline—I just start with an opening scene that intrigues me and take it from there. I have no idea what the story is about for about the first one hundred pages, and certainly no clue of how it will end. It’s all a huge puzzle that I try to figure out as I go along. A great example in this book is Brenda’s involvement with everything. She was a character I had written in as a friend to Alice, and I had no idea she was going to be a part of the sinister side of things until the chapter where that is actually revealed. It just happened, and I was surprised as anyone by it.
Your book is full of fantastic twists! Do you have any advice for aspiring writers hoping to keep readers on their toes?
Well, again, I ascribe that ability to my pantser nature. If I don’t know what’s going to happen next, usually the reader won’t know either. That makes for terrific twists (and often a lot of editing). But my advice for aspiring writers is not to lean toward too much structure. If a good idea for a twist suddenly pops in your head, pursue it, even if it takes you on a different course from what you were planning. It won’t always work, but when it does, the results may be better than you’d ever hoped.
What does your writing space look like?
Mostly like a Starbucks. Sometimes I write at home, but I do 90 percent of my writing in the mornings in my hometown coffee shop—I like having the energy of people around me, even if I pop on my headphones and dive into work.
I order a double espresso every day, and they even have a special little cup for me. I’m quite fancy.
What author inspires you, and why?
If I had to choose one, I’d be hard-pressed not to say Stephen King. He’s masterful both in his scope of work and his ability to capture nuances of characters with an efficiency of words. I’ve always been impressed with his ability to create tension and fear with just a few choice phrases. His books are long, but they’re not overwritten. They always feel edited to just the point they need to be, which is a really difficult thing to do.
Besides writing, what else are you passionate about?
Family, exercise, and travel. The hard part is trying to balance everything.
If there’s one thing you’d like readers to take away from Mister Tender’s Girl, what would it be?
I suppose more than anything I want the readers to feel that they got their money’s worth from my story. That they read something different, something a bit out of the ordinary, and with characters who stick with them even after they’ve finished the book. The best compliment I’ve ever received is when readers tell me about a character they keep coming back to in their mind. That’s pretty satisfying.
Acknowledgments
This book is dedicated to Ed Bryant, a brilliant writer, Nebula Award winner, Hugo finalist, and friend. Ed dedicated much of his time and soul to helping writers like me by running critique groups throughout Colorado. Our group—Old Possum’s—has been around about fifteen years. We still convene monthly, and up until his death in 2017, Ed was in charge of every meeting. Ed’s privilege was being the last to critique a piece, to have the final word. He’d clear his throat, look down at the manuscript in hand, and in his low, professorial, so-distinctly-Ed voice, would always begin, “Well…” Sometimes he’d praise, sometimes he’d admonish, though usually it was a bit of both, done with just the right amount of care as to not break your spirit. Ed truly helped to shape me as a writer, and I miss him and his wisdom constantly. To the other members of Old Possum’s—Dirk, Linda, Sean, and Abe—I am so grateful for your advice on this manuscript, as well as your friendship.
I am, as ever, endlessly thankful to my agent, Pam Ahearn, who keeps pushing me harder to be a better writer. I was thrilled with her reaction to the first draft of this manuscript, and she worked tirelessly to help me improve it and then make sure it found the right home. That home turned out to be Sourcebooks, who has embraced me in a way an author can only dream. Anna Michels, my wonderful editor, made this story better with her keen insights and clocked countless hours shepherding the book through the long road of production (all the while being a new mom!). And thanks to the entire Sourcebooks team for putting so much of your time, effort, creativity, and boundless enthusiasm into this title. You are an impressive team.
This was the first time I went “on location” to research a book, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time skulking about Manchester, New Hampshire, a city I’d never before visited. In particular, I want to thank Margit and Rob, proprietors at the beautiful Ash Street Inn. If you’re ever in Manchester, I highly recommend staying at their five-room bed-and-breakfast—it’s a gem.
Dad, you are ever-present in my thoughts and in my writing; I suspect some will see that reflected in these pages. Mom, thank you for all your help with proofing and giving me your feedback on the story. I’ll try to use the word fuck less in the next book, I promise.
Jessica, your love and support mean everything to me, and I couldn’t do any of this without you. Ili and Sawyer, you make me a proud dad, and I love laughing with you. Henry, your energy and creativity continue to inspire. Sole, I truly appreciate our friendship over all these years.
A special thank-you to my longtime friend Craig Gerber, who let me bounce some ideas off him when figuring this story out. You’re a smart man, Mr. Gerber.
Thanks to Tim Booth and the rest of the Manchester, UK, band James for allowing me to reprint the lyrics at the beginning of this book. I have traveled across oceans to see James perform, and if you aren’t aware of them, I’d like to suggest a few songs to try out. “Sound,” “Born of Frustration,” “Sometimes,” “Out to Get You,” and “Moving On” are good starters, but don’t stop there. The music of James constitutes a good chunk of my Spotify playlists and is my go-to whenever I need some inspiration.
To all readers, thank you for picking up this book. There are so many forms of entertainment competing for your eyes and ears these days, and I appreciate you carving out some of your time for me. None of this works without you.
Lastly, if you’ve finished the book and were wondering if the website Alice discovers is real or not, you might want to give it a try.
And make sure you have the password.
Carter Wilson
Erie, Colorado
October 2017
About the Author
Elke Hope Photography
Carter Wilson is the USA Today bestselling author of Final Crossing, The Boy in the Woods, The Comfort of Black, and Revelation. He is a two-time winner of both the Colorado Book Award and the International Book Award, and his novels have received critical acclaim, including multiple starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. He lives in a spooky Victorian house in Erie, Colorado. Visit him at carterwilson.com.
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