Kate Brody: On Writing About Grief and Sisterhood
Kate Brody lives in Los Angeles, California. Her work has appeared in The Rumpus, Electric Literature, CrimeReads, Literary Hub, The Literary Review, and Noema, among other publications. She holds an MFA from NYU. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Kate Brody
In this post, Kate discusses how examining her own interest in true crime led to her new thriller novel, Rabbit Hole, her hope for readers, and more!
Name: Kate Brody
Literary agent: Hillary Jacobson, CAA
Book title: Rabbit Hole
Publisher: Soho Crime
Release date: January 1, 2024
Genre/category: Thriller
Elevator pitch: Reddit conspiracy theories seduce a grieving woman into an obsession with solving her sister’s cold-case disappearance.
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What prompted you to write this book?
I started to grow uneasy with my own voyeurism as I consumed more and more real-life tragedy in the form of true crime entertainment. Around the same time, I was dabbling in Reddit, which I found addictive and fascinating. I knew I wanted to write a book about grief and sisterhood, and I began to combine all of these ideas into a novel about a young, grieving woman who loses her sense of self in the house of mirrors that is the internet.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
From idea to publication was about five years. The fastest part of that was the first draft, which took about a year. From there, I spent about two years editing the book, alongside my agents and editors (U.S. and U.K.). The initial draft had thriller elements, but the work of editing was building on them to enhance the tension and streamline the plot.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
I was dismayed, at first, with how long it takes to get a book from manuscript to finished product. I think a lot of writers are deliberate and patient people by nature—I’m not. I wish I were. I like to get things done quickly and move on to the next idea, which is not possible when you’re publishing a book. It’s been a good learning experience. Books should be good, not fast.
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
The setting was a surprise. I initially conceived of the book as a road trip novel, with Teddy and Mickey voyaging cross country. Ultimately, it ended up feeling really at home in Maine, where Teddy’s family lives.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
I hope readers find a fast-paced and engaging thriller that also has a lot to say about families, pain, and the way we live now (online and IRL). I have loved hearing from early readers who find the book both propulsive and heart-wrenching. That’s my goal. I wrote Rabbit Hole for people like me, who love thrillers and literary fiction alike, and who are snobby about prose no matter the genre. I hope my sentences live up to their expectations. I know the ending of the book will be divisive, but I wanted it to feel honest and true. I don’t like neat, happy endings that feel forced or fake.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
The publication of my novel is literal dream come true, but when all is said and done, a day spent writing leaves me feeling high, while a day spent on book promotion leaves me feeling hungover. It’s an annoying (but accurate!) cliché that in the end, the work is its own satisfaction.
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