Good evening, friends! Recently I had the pleasure of reading The Secret to Letting Go (my review is here), a fantastic new YA. Today I am thrilled to be hosting it’s wonderful author Katherine Fleet! I hope you guys enjoy reading this Q&A as much as I loved reading her answers. And after checking out this fun interview, Katherine is giving away a signed copy of The Secret to Letting Go — so don’t miss it! Without furthur ado, please welcome the lovely Katherine Fleet.
Author Bio:
Originally from Newfoundland, Katherine Fleet gave up the cold
winters of Eastern Canada for the year round warmth of the
Caribbean. The slower pace of island life has given her time to pursue
a long-time goal—becoming an author. When she’s not writing, she
spends her time baking, chauffeuring her three amazing, talented kids
around, and having sun-filled adventures with her husband and
wonderful friends in Curaçao. She is also a very thankful breast cancer
survivor. In 2007, she joined RWA and has enjoyed the support and
camaraderie of the YARWA and OIRWA writing communities. She’s participated in NaNoWriMo since 2012 and is an active supporter of the associated Young Writers Program. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel. You can connect with her at www.KatherineFleet.com.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter
Where did you grow up?
Hi, Bekah. First, thanks so much for having me here today. I’m a baker as well, so I love the whole concept of your Will Bake for Books site 🙂 In answer to your question, I’m Canadian and I grew up in Newfoundland, an island on the east coast of Canada. It’s a beautiful, fascinating, rugged place, stuck out in the North Atlantic. It has a distinct culture and dialect, and it’s known for its music and story telling.
What inspired you to write The Secret to Letting Go?
I know this sounds crazy and cliché, but I had a dream that was basically the first scene of my book. I woke up and stayed in bed for a long time, just letting the scene and the characters sink in and take hold. I knew Clover was an eccentric girl that had been through something terrible, but retained this quiet strength and positive, innocent view of the world. So, in a way, she inspired me to write the story.
What are some books that have influenced you in your life?
Hmmm…that’s a great question. In general, I use books as an escape. I want to read something that takes me out of my life for a while and makes me feel good at the end. That’s why I generally stick with lighter books about love and family and romance. But if I had to pick one book that’s actually influenced my life and changed the way I think and act, it would be Carol Dweck’s Mindset. It’s an amazing book that helped me realize why I struggle with failure, and how I should approach the opportunity to learn new things. It’s definitely helped me as a writer and as parent.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve found when writing?
Rejection. As a writer, rejection can eat away at your self-confidence and your desire to keep writing. That’s why it’s so important to have a strong support network of family, friends and writers, who can boost you up when you need it.
Who is your favorite author(s)?
I hate picking just one, so I’ll list a few. In adult fiction, I love Dan Brown, Nora Roberts, Lynn Kurland, Johanna Lindsey, and Nicholas Sparks. In YA, I love J.K. Rowling, Gayle Forman, Rainbow Rowell, Huntley Fitzpatrick, and John Green. In all cases, I love authors who develop amazing characters that suck me into their world.
How did you choose the title for The Secret to Letting Go?
By considering and discarding around fifty other options with my editor at Entangled! The working title for this book was Crimson and Clover, but when Entangled made the offer, they were clear that the title would change. I wasn’t surprised or opposed as Crimson and Clover was a salute to one of my favorite songs as a teenager, but it didn’t really reflect the book. In the end, as secrets are such a key theme in the story, it seemed right that they found their way into the title.
Did you picture your main characters as anyone in particular?
🙂 No one has asked me that yet, but I did kind of picture Will (Liam Hemsworth) from The Last Song as Daniel and Dakota Fanning as Clover!
If you could be a superhero, what power would you choose?
Flying. It wouldn’t help me fight any bad guys, but it would be so cool!
What are some of your favorite movies?
Of all time? I love North by Northwest and Vertigo, by Alfred Hitchcock. I love Giant with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean. I also love the cinematography in The Last of the Mohicans and Empire of the Sun. For fun, I love any type of kick-butt, over-the-top, cheesy-one-liner, blow-things-up action movies!
In The Secret to Letting Go, Clover is a baker. What is your favorite thing to bake? 😉
Cookies! If there is chocolate in them, even better!
Many thanks to Katherine for joining me and for taking the time to answer my questions! Had such a blast reading her answers! Before you go, make sure to check out The Secret to Letting Go and this fun giveaway.
About the Book:
One summer can change everything…
Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend’s death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he’ll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she’s hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble.
Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever- after.
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Entangled
Enter the Giveaway!
Thanks so much for visiting Will Bake for Books! Say hi to Katherine in the comments below. ♥
Katherine Fleet says
Thanks so much for hosting me, Bekah! The post looks gorgeous like everything else on your page:) Katherine
Bekah says
It was my pleasure! Thanks again for answering all my questions and for writing such a lovely novel! I had so much fun putting this together. 🙂