Skip to content
  • HOME
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
  • HOME
  • custom-logo
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
Books

Book Tour // Keep You Close (& a Q&A with author Lucie Whitehouse)

June 9, 2016June 9, 2016 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 2 comments
Book Tour // Keep You Close (& a Q&A with author Lucie Whitehouse)

A Q&A with Lucie Whitehouse, author of Keep You Close. // dreams-etc.com Note – I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. No affiliate links were used in this post.

The Book

From the Publisher: When the artist Marianne Glass falls to her death, everyone insists it was a tragic accident. Yet Rowan Winter, once her closest friend, suspects there is more to the story. Ever since she was young, Marianne had paralyzing vertigo. She would never have gone so close to the roof’s edge.

Marianne — and the whole Glass family — once meant everything to Rowan. For a teenage girl, motherless with a much-absent father, this lively, intellectual household represented a world of glamour and opportunity.

But since their estrangement, Rowan knows only what the papers reported about Marianne’s life: her swift ascent in the London art world, her much-scrutinized romance with her gallerist. If she wants to discover the truth about her death, Rowan needs to know more. Was Marianne in distress? In danger? And so she begins to seek clues — in Marianne’s latest work, her closest relationships, and her new friendship with an iconoclastic fellow artist.

But the deeper Rowan goes, the more sinister everything seems. And a secret in the past only she knows makes her worry about her own fate . . .

Released: May 3, 2016 by Bloomsbury USA

Q&A with Lucie Whitehouse

1 // Do you have a detailed outline when you write or do you wing it a bit? What kind of planning goes into a novel like this before you write?

My method has changed almost a hundred per cent, actually, since I wrote my first novel. I’d always known I wanted to write and when I made a real commitment to it in my mid-twenties and started what would become The House at Midnight, I sat down to write with just the kernel of an idea – a setting, a handful of characters and a sense of dread (theirs, not mine) and explored it by writing. That book took six years to write, not only because I had two jobs – one full-time in publishing and also a part-time waitressing gig in the evening – but because I was teaching myself as I went along and working out what the story was. The finished book was about 120,000 words in length but I think I must have written a million.

I used a similar though slightly more efficient process for my second novel, The Bed I Made, but when it came to Before We Met, my third, everything changed. I wrote two complete versions of that book in the manner to which I’d become accustomed and sold the second version to my lovely publisher, Bloomsbury. When I received my editor’s notes, however, I realised that the book was very far from what I wanted it to be and so – with my editor’s go-ahead – I jettisoned the entire thing and sat down to reimagine it, keeping only the central concept: a woman discovers that her new husband has a dark secret history.

I knew the concept was strong and I wanted the plot to match it so when I embarked on the third and final version, I approached it differently and gave myself licence to sit and stare out of the window for as long as it took to work out the details of a plot that would be as twisting and exciting as possible.

When it comes to writing advice, there’s a lot of emphasis on getting words down and that is vital but taking the time to plan in advance really helps to create a tight and exciting plot. A lot of writers start because they love words and writing but I think one of the best bits of writing advice I’ve ever come across is this from Sarah Waters: ‘Writing is not “self-expression” or “therapy”. Novels are for readers, and writing them means the crafty, patient, selfless construction of effects. I think of my novels as being something like fairground rides: my job is to strap the reader into their car at the start of chapter one, then trundle and whizz them through scenes and surprises, on a carefully planned route, and at a finely engineered pace.’

These days I can’t imagine not plotting before writing, and it makes me very happy when readers tell me how much they have enjoyed the twists. I must admit, I had a lot of fun with them in Keep You Close. The plotting took two months, and before I started the writing, I had an eighteen-page outline with every significant beat of the story. As a playwright friend of mine says, plotting doesn’t hamper creativity; it sets you free to create, safe in the knowledge that you’re not going to derail yourself.

2 // How much did the book change from what you originally thought would happen while writing?

After those two months of intensive thinking, I had the story I wanted to write quite firmly in mind but before then, I was working on Before We Met publicity and touring and Keep You Close was the exciting idea I thought about in every spare moment. When I first came up with the core idea – a woman comes back to her hometown, Oxford, after her former best friend is found dead in her snow-covered garden – I wondered if it might be the first in a series with Rowan, my narrator, a journalist for the local paper. I quickly realised, though, that it’s a standalone. The other big difference is that Rowan’s mother was going to be a major character but in the final version, she died when Rowan was just eighteen months old.

3 // How do you incorporate writing into your day-to-day life? 

I’d like to know – any advice would be gratefully received! I have a three-year-old daughter and the time available for writing has shrunk dramatically since she was born. Sometimes I think longingly of more conventional jobs with fixed hours and bosses – if you let it, writing time becomes permeable, subject to every incursion. I have to exercise real self-discipline to ring-fence work time – my natural inclination is always to say yes to other people.

We have an excellent babysitter, though, and my husband, also a writer, is really great at sharing the domestic stuff so somehow, the writing gets done. These days I rent a desk at a space for women writers in Brooklyn, which I love, and I’m here whenever possible. In real terms, that works out at about three and a half days a week from about ten until five, and then every spare hour I can manage in the evenings, at weekends and on holiday. Left to my own devices, I’d work from ten in the morning until about one thirty, take a break to deal with everything practical and go for a walk, then write from about five until midnight. A glass of wine on the evening shift is a lovely thing.

My Thoughts

That is very true! A big thank you to Lucie Whitehouse for answering my questions. I so loved reading the answers!

I’ve been eyeing a couple of Whitehouse’s books for a while, so when I had the opportunity to participate in the book tour for Keep You Close and ask the author a couple of questions, I was really excited. And this book did not disappoint! Psychological thrillers are quickly becoming one of my favorite types of books to read.

I read a majority of this book while sitting in a café in Colombia and I always had to find just the right moment where I was content to put the book down so that I could go back to the apartment. I loved the pacing of this novel. There was a slow build throughout the book, but Whitehouse dropped bits of information along the way to keep the reader interested. While there were a few moments where I thought the story started to drag a bit, they just gave me opportunities to leave the café and return home. They also didn’t detract from the overall storyline.

A Q&A with Lucie Whitehouse, author of Keep You Close. // dreams-etc.comI connected to the characters right away. I loved that most–if not all–of the characters were sympathetic. I also liked that I could see all of the characters being involved in Marianne’s death, but none of them stuck out as an obvious suspect. Since I always assume the obvious suspect was not involved, I wasn’t able to eliminate anyone from my list of suspects, so it kept me on my toes. And then there was The Twist. I did not see that one coming!

Whitehouse’s writing is beautiful and engaging. I loved the focus on Marianne as an artist, although it might be that part of the reason I was so drawn into it is that the way the characters described Marianne’s process is exactly what I’ve been telling myself I need to do (and have been doing) in my own artistic process.

That was how she worked: she drew things again and again and again until she was satisfied, until what was on the paper reflected her mental concept in every detail.

I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to reading more from Lucie Whitehouse in the future.

Find the book & the author on:  Amazon  |  Goodreads  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

tlc tour host

HAVE YOU READ ANY BOOKS BY LUCIE WHITEHOUSE? WHAT SHOULD I READ NEXT?

About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

Post navigation

Book Tour // The Secrets of Flight by Maggie Leffler
Book Tour // Mystic Summer by Hannah McKinnon

2 comments

  1. Heather J @ TLC Book Tours says:
    June 16, 2016 at 8:02 pm

    Thank you for featuring Lucie for the tour!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      June 17, 2016 at 9:07 am

      Thank you for letting me be part of the tour! I loved the book.

      Reply

Share Your Thoughts! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

I took these in early January when the snow still I took these in early January when the snow still felt a bit magical, but right now I’m just ready to walk barefoot in grass.

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like if we got so much snow that it would be piled high above our doors. I wondered if we’d be able to create tunnels in the snow to move around in.

And this year might just be the year we find out. I’m kidding, of course, but at this point I feel like we’ve been buried in snow. We’re even on track to beat some snow records I think (the amount of snow and the number of consecutive days with snow on the ground.

So. What’s the weather like where you are?
February was here and gone in the blink of an eye February was here and gone in the blink of an eye but contained moments I’ll carry with me forever.
When it’s almost halfway through February and yo When it’s almost halfway through February and you still haven’t posted January’s recap. January was filled with lots of family time. 💙
Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. “The water looks cold,” I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. 😂)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle tour with a stop at Thingvellir National Park. My fingers froze as I took these photos but it was worth it to capture this view. 😍 PS - the last photo is from a lake we stopped at on our way from Geysir to Thingvellir.
See More Follow on Instagram

RECENT POSTS

  • Saying Goodbye to Crystal the Writer
  • The Day the Sorcerers Visited Baby Jesus
  • Thoughts on Hope
  • Christmas Playlist // 2022
  • Life Under Construction

CATEGORIES

  • Adventures (52)
  • Beauty (16)
  • Books (147)
  • Creativity (57)
  • Entertainment (18)
  • Life (224)
  • Uncategorized (539)
  • Wellness (8)

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Follow
  • Book Review Policy
  • BOOKS
  • Contact
  • DISCLOSURES
  • Insta Links
  • Seint Links
  • THE DREAMER
Copyright © 2023 | All Rights Reserved | © 2023. All text and photos belong to Crystal Brutlag, unless otherwise stated. Theme designed by Little Theme Shop: https://littlethemeshop.com

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Dreams, etc. // Minneapolis Lifestyle Blog
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.