This is going to sound a bit strange, but my target readers are the people who wouldn’t normally read books. I wrote this book for my husband who has only ever read one book in his life. He is not the type of person to sit down and crack open a book at all. But he stuck with me every step of the way for this and gave great, honest feedback that was so incredibly helpful (albeit somewhat damaging to my ego at times!). I felt like if I could get him to like this book, then I’ve accomplished something great.
K.T. Carlisle – 18 December 2023
The Back Flap
When the Williamsburg Police Department arrives at Catheryn “Cat” Clark’s house on the night of Friday, May 13 only to discover her drunk and covered in blood, even she struggles to believe in her own innocence. After all, few people had better reason to want Elaine Reid dead than the woman whose husband she stole after thirty years of friendship.
But as the alcohol-induced fog begins to fade, strange questions surrounding the night’s events start to emerge: Who else was at the house the night that Elaine was murdered? Why can’t Cat remember anything more than the argument that transpired in the darkened confines of her kitchen? And what might a neighbor’s suicide from her college years have to do with proving Cat’s innocence? As Cat fights to piece together the puzzle of what happened, Detective Rachel McGowen’s fifteen-year hunt for an elusive killer could hold all the answers.
Reasonable is the first in a three-part series that explores just how far one might go to clear their name and protect their loved ones. A fast-paced thrill ride packed with suspense, this enthralling tale of two women’s determination will keep you guessing until the very end.
When the Williamsburg Police Department arrives at Catheryn “Cat” Clark’s house on the night of Friday, May 13 only to discover her drunk and covered in blood, even she struggles to believe in her own innocence. After all, few people had better reason to want Elaine Reid dead than the woman whose husband she stole after thirty years of friendship.
About the book
What is the book about?
Reasonable is a murder mystery novel set in North Carolina that begins with the arrest of Catheryn “Cat” Clark when she is discovered drunk and covered in the blood of her business partner and former best friend, Elaine Reid. At first, Cat is convinced that she is indeed responsible for Elaine’s death, driven to kill after discovering the truth about Elaine’s affair with Cat’s husband, Tim. But as memories begin to surface about the night in question, Cat begins to think that something else may have happened. With nothing more than the word of a semi-recovering alcoholic to go on, Cat worries that she may spend the rest of her life in prison for a crime she did not commit. That is, until a headstrong detective from her college years turns up hunting for answers to a decades-old cold case that may be the key to setting Cat free.
When did you start writing the book?
I began writing the book on March 6, 2023.
How long did it take you to write it?
It took me 119 days to complete the first draft. Over the next two months after that, I worked on it until I completed the eighth and final draft.
Where did you get the idea from?
The idea came to me one day while I was watching a Dateline special on the University of Idaho killings of 2022. I watch a lot of true crime documentaries, but this one in particular stuck with me. While I wouldn’t say that the book is based on the story, it was definitely a major influence on me as I was starting to piece together the idea. After about a week of talking through the plot with my husband, I finally felt ready to get to work on it. A little over three months later, Reasonable was born.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Of course! There are many parts of the book that I either scrapped or changed entirely because I wasn’t happy with it, or I had received negative feedback from beta readers. Some days, I’d spend hours at the blank page only to churn out a paragraph of worthy content. Others, the words would just flow, and I’d get ten pages done. But what helped me the most was having a strong support system that allowed me to talk through the issues I was having with particular scenes or characters. If it weren’t for the people in my life who let me talk through the issues I was having with my own writing, I wouldn’t have been able to continue to move forward with it.
What came easily?
The parts of the book that came easiest to me were the sections told from Rachel’s point of view. I admire her as a character (which I realize is a strange thing to say about someone I invented) and telling her story was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had as a writer. Maybe it’s because I’ve always been fascinated with the way in which killers are hunted down and Rachel’s character is a dogged detective, but something about her character just made writing come so easily.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
I’ve definitely borrowed elements of my characters from people I know in real life. For instance, Cat is very much the person I imagine that I would be if I didn’t have the support system that I have. Many of the struggles that have shaped her into the person she is are based on my own personal life. When I was developing her character, I definitely leaned on my experiences and thought about what I would do and who I would be if things had been different, and I didn’t have the positivity in my life that I am fortunate enough to have.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I’m a huge fan of the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith, so I would say that author has had a big influence on me. But for this particular book, The Pact by Jodi Picoult was heavy on my mind. I admired the way she was able to tell a story from multiple points of view without it feeling forced or inauthentic. I really tried to keep that in mind as I was crafting my own narratives for both Cat and Rachel. Right now, however, I would say the biggest influences on me have been Stacy Willingham, Nicky Shearsby, and Nicola Sanders. These women are all exceptional writers who I look up to and can’t recommend enough. Especially for fans of psychological thrillers, these authors are a must-have on your reading list!
Do you have a target reader?
This is going to sound a bit strange, but my target readers are the people who wouldn’t normally read books. I wrote this book for my husband who has only ever read one book in his life. He is not the type of person to sit down and crack open a book at all. But he stuck with me every step of the way for this and gave great, honest feedback that was so incredibly helpful (albeit somewhat damaging to my ego at times!). I felt like if I could get him to like this book, then I’ve accomplished something great.
Along with my husband, however, I did write a great deal of this book with two very special women in my life in mind. Lauren is a huge Stephen King and Harlan Coben fan while Sara reads just about anything she can get her hands on, so I leaned on each of them a lot for guidance as I was writing, hoping it would appeal to them as much as any of the other books on their reading list. They were (and continue to be) a tremendous help in all of my writing endeavors.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Reasonable is the first full-length novel I’ve ever written, so there was a lot of learning involved with what my “writing process” even was. In the past when I attempted to write a novel, I did so with a great deal of privacy and secrecy. I didn’t want anyone hearing anything before it was finalized. As a result, I finished nothing. This time around, I decided to throw everything I would normally do out the window. Instead of keeping everything to myself, I decided to share it immediately. Every day when I finished writing, I would read what I had written that day out loud to my husband, who would then pick it apart and tell me what worked and what didn’t. The next day, I would go back and edit the parts that I had written the day before, then continue on with the story and repeat the process over again.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
When I first started writing Reasonable, I didn’t have an outline at all. I do not recommend approaching it this way and have since changed my process entirely. By the time I got about halfway through the book, I realized I needed a bit more structure and started planning out a rough outline for each new chapter I was writing. For the sequel (coming spring 2024), I created a highly detailed outline from beginning to end. I think this allows me to be much more organized in my approach and also prevents me from forgetting important details along the way.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
As part of my process, I always go back to what I’ve written the previous day and edit what I can without getting too caught up in the weeds. At the end is when I go back through and edit from a structural and character development perspective, changing or deleting scenes as needed until I’m happy with the general flow. Then I’ll go back through a few more times to proofread and copyedit until I’m satisfied with the final product.
Did you hire a professional editor?
A good friend of mine happens to also be my business partner and a professional editor who was kind enough to tear my first draft to shreds. She is absolutely brilliant and helped me see a lot of things that I was simply too close to the project to catch myself. Even though I am an editing professional as well, it’s absolutely necessary to get that extra pair of eyes on your work. I don’t know a single writer who can give their work an honest assessment without some sort of bias. It can be difficult to take in the criticisms at times, but learning how to work through it is the only way you grow!
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Yes! I listen to the Lo-Fi Radio Station on Amazon Music while I’m writing. It’s the only music I can listen to while writing since it has no lyrics.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Yes, I submitted to about 50 agents before I decided to just take a chance on myself instead.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I decided to self-publish because I got rejected from every agent I submitted to. I knew before submitting that my chances at securing representation were very slim just based on the word count alone. Traditional publishing standards advise against a word count higher than 90,000, and mine ended up being a whopping 133,000 words. I did receive some favorable responses, but it just wasn’t my time, and that’s okay! Everyone’s journey is different, and I’m just happy to be going along for the ride.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I designed my book cover myself.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I was able to secure help from the amazing Catherine Kennedy at CK Publicity for assistance with marketing and publicity, and she has been a tremendous help to me as I prepare for the launch of my sequel this spring. Aside from all the wonderful things she has been able to help me with, I have been advertising mainly through Amazon. I own my own marketing and web design agency as my day job, so that experience has definitely been a huge help to me as I develop campaigns and manage them myself.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
I think one of the saddest things to me is when people put themselves down for being an indie author or pursuing the self-publishing route. There’s this stigma out there that because you didn’t get the traditional book deal or secure representation, your work is lesser, and it simply isn’t true. I’ve read so many amazing books in my lifetime from self-published authors who dared to take a chance on themselves. Don’t stifle your voice just because you have this idea of what your writing journey should be. Sometimes you just need to let go and embrace what it is and where you are right now.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in New Jersey, pretty much all over the Garden State. I’ve moved 27 times in 30 years, so I never really “grew up” in just one place.
Where do you live now?
I live on ten wooded acres in rural Vermont and could not be happier for it!
What would you like readers to know about you?
There’s not much to say really: I’m a huge nerd (most people call me the Word Nerd), I love animals and the outdoors (I have four rescue dogs and eight chickens), and I can crochet better than most grandmas (self-taught for 22 years and counting).
What are you working on now?
I am working on the sequel to Reasonable. Forget-Me-Not will be available this spring 2024. Readers can visit my website at www.ktcarlisle.com to get updates on the release. They can also follow me on Twitter at @KT_Carlisle, Instagram at @k.t.carlisle, and Facebook at /k.t.carlisle.author.
End of Interview:
Get your copy of Reasonable from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
