Mary Kubica: Feedback Is Subjective
Mary Kubica is a New York Times bestselling author of thrillers including The Good Girl, The Other Mrs., Local Woman Missing and Just the Nicest Couple. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. She’s been described as “a helluva storyteller” (Kirkus) and “a writer of vice-like control” (Chicago Tribune), and her novels have been praised as “hypnotic” (People) and “thrilling and illuminating” (L.A. Times). She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and children. Follow her on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.
Mary Kubica
Photo by Sarah Lupori
In this interview, Mary discusses what surprised her in the writing process of her new suspense novel, She’s Not Sorry, her advice for other writers, and more!
Name: Mary Kubica
Literary agent: Michelle Brower, Trellis Literary Management
Book title: She’s Not Sorry
Publisher: Park Row Books
Release date: April 2, 2024
Genre/category: Suspense
Previous titles: The Good Girl, Pretty Baby, Don’t You Cry, Every Last Lie, When the Lights Go Out, The Other Mrs., Local Woman Missing, Just the Nicest Couple
Elevator pitch: An ICU nurse gets too emotionally involved in the care of an unconscious patient who is believed to have jumped from a bridge, only to learn the woman may have been pushed and that her own life might now be in danger.
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What prompted you to write this book?
I’m a huge fan of suspense novels (probably no surprise there!) and find that as a reader, what I love most about this type of book is not necessarily discovering whodunit, but that moment where the rug is pulled completely out from under you and everything you thought you knew isn’t true. That was my inspiration for She’s Not Sorry, and I built my story around a reaction I hoped to elicit in readers.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
From idea to publication, She’s Not Sorry took about two years, although there was nearly a year after I was finished with it where it went through the process of creating cover art, proofreading, printing galleys and building early buzz. The concept itself didn’t change much from conception. Once I had a first draft done, revisions were more about finessing the characters and the pace of the book, and making sure all the pieces came together in the best way possible. Because the protagonist is an ICU nurse, I also wanted to make absolutely certain I portrayed nurses realistically and that my research and medical terminology were correct. I had a few nurses read a draft of the manuscript for accuracy.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
After nine books, I’m finally getting the gist of the publishing process, but it’s still a thrill every time, from the moment the book leaves my hands until it finds its way into readers’ hands. One thing I have learned and seen is the effectiveness of word-of-mouth and social media. There is nothing as powerful as a book that gets people talking! The other thing I’ve discovered over the last 10 years is how welcoming and supportive the author community is. I’m grateful to have made many writer friends throughout this process.
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
I’m not a plotter, so every day is a surprise for me! I never know what my characters are going to do or what secrets they might reveal to me. With this book, I knew the biggest twist going into it, but there was still a lot to learn about the characters and their motivations. There are also some subplots in She’s Not Sorry, including one about a man who is attacking women on the streets of Chicago. I didn’t know at first that this would be part of the book. I added it in for atmosphere, and then over time it became a very relevant part of the story. I also learn and am constantly surprised by my research, much of which focused on nursing—especially nursing in the post-Covid years.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
Mostly I hope readers will be entertained and that the twists will knock their socks off, but this is the type of book that makes you think about the people we put our trust in, and about what we might do in a similar situation, if our own lives, our reputations, or the lives of our loved ones were at risk.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
The biggest piece of advice I can share is go to easy on yourself and to know that every book once started as an awful first draft. It’s a process, and few—if any—authors sit down and write a masterpiece on the first try. All books go through many drafts. Getting feedback from others is extremely valuable too, so be open to that, but also know that feedback is subjective and you don’t have to take every bit of advice you receive.
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