Interview: Katherine Owen [author of This Much is True][+Giveaway]

This Much Is True by Katherine Owen
Publication date: August 11th 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

Fate brings them together

Fame & lies keep them apart

One truth remains…

She’s become the Paly High girl with the most tragic story…

At 17, Tally Landon just wants to graduate and leave for New York to pursue ballet. Her best friend Marla convinces her to attend one last party—a college party—where she can be among strangers and evade the whisperings about her heartbreaking loss of her twin that follows her everywhere she goes. She meets Lincoln Presley, Stanford’s famous baseball wonder and has a little fun at his expense—when she lies about her age and who she really is—intent on being someone else for the night and escaping her tragic story.

His only focus is baseball, but he can’t forget the girl he saved on Valentine’s Day…

At 22, Lincoln Presley’s star is on the rise—about to finish at Stanford and expected to be taken early in Major League Baseball’s upcoming draft—his cousin’s party serves as a welcome distraction. But then, he sees the girl from Valentine’s Day that he saved from that horrific car accident and can’t quite hide his disappointment when she appears to look right through him and not remember him at all. He vows to learn her name at least before he leaves. What’s the harm in getting to know this girl? What’s the worst that can happen?

They share this incredible connection, but fate soon tests these star-crossed lovers in all kinds of ways…

And yet, despite the lies being told to protect the other, and the trappings of fame that continually separate them, and in lieu of the deception by those they’ve come to trust the most; one truth remains.

This much is true.

Goodreads

Purchase:
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Hi Katherine :) Glad to have you here.

Thank you so much for having me at your blog. I appreciate the opportunity to talk a little about This Much Is True.

Now, to start, what inspired you to write "This Much Is True"?

This Much Is True was a story that I started in one of my advanced fiction classes with The Writer’s Studio a few years ago. The premise really resonated with me and the main character eventually evolved into Tally. I wanted an artistic person of sorts having aspired at one time in my own life to be a ballerina; these thoughts coalesced into Tally Landon over time. In the early drafts, Tally was perfect and sweet, but I soon realized an edgier Tally would be more appealing and perhaps sympathetic (to most). That is why Tally Landon is the way she is in this book. Edgy. Provacative. Inauthentic. Broken.

How would you describe the story to someone who hasn't read it yet? 

Here’s the opening lines from Amazon’s page:

A coming of age story? For sure. A powerful love story? Most definitely. An unforgettable read? Most likely. Intended for mature audiences? Absolutely.

Both on the verge of fame. A ballerina who lies. A baseball player who believes her. Well, the truth changes everything.
This Much Is True is the story of Tally Landon, a protégé ballerina, and Lincoln Presley, an up-and-coming baseball pitcher soon to be signed with Major League Baseball. Fate brings them together through tragic circumstances the first time, and the second they meet both experience this powerful connection.

But the lies Tally tells and the truths Linc withholds and the fame they both experience have ways of tearing them apart. Maybe, it’s the age difference, maybe, it’s Tally’s unwillingness to trust because of what she’s been through, but people and pain have a way of keeping these two apart, even if they seem destined to be together. Perhaps, that seems cliché. But, in this case? It’s hyper realism. This isn’t a sugar-coated love story with a bad boy covered in tattoos and a good girl waiting to be rescued. Um…no. This is an emotional roller coaster read full of angst about a heroine, who is both selfish and self-destructive, and a hero, who has his own set of baggage that prevents him from being there for her when she needs him the most.

Are they destructive? To each other? Yes, at times.

Salvable? Most definitely.

Redeemable? Absolutely.

Describe Tally and Lincoln in 3 words each.

Tally – gifted, distrustful, lost

Lincoln – exceptional, trusting, dedicated

What scene did you have the most fun writing? Why?

Well, there’s a lot of angst in this novel between these two, but I think that first night, when they meet up at Charlie’s party and Linc cooks for her, serves as a lead up to how things could be for these two. He’s just cooking for her, but the subtext of their exchange—both in what’s being said and not said in that scene—provides the necessary optimism and even lends hope as to how great things could be between them if they just give themselves permission. 

In this novel, I barely touch on Tally’s food disorder. I didn’t want to make it front and center in this storyline. It’s a common malady among dancers and should not to be taken lightly; it wasn’t my intention in not addressing it at length in this story, however, I like to think I handled it well enough in this particular context. 

So in thinking back to this scene when he cooks dinner for her—providing her sustenance which she normally denies herself and fights with herself about on a daily basis—that’s pretty telling of Lincoln Presley and his innate ability to understand her and win her over. He’s generous. He’s tender. He knows she probably hasn’t eaten in, literally, days. It’s poignant. It’s special. It’s something.

Why do you write in the New Adult sub-genre?

There’s a lot of freedom in this New Adult sub-genre. As a writer, I felt I could take risks more easily both with storyline and writing techniques. I didn’t really focus on writing to the genre. I knew I had a heroine in Tally that would appeal to a wide range of readers, including fans of New Adult books, however, This Much Is True is not a typical New Adult story. There isn’t a bad boy with tattoos for one. I suppose Tally could be construed early on as a bad girl but that seems too simplistic. She is far more complicated than most of the heroines I’ve seen and read in the NA arena. Readers have positively responded to this book, including fans of the New Adult sub-genre as well as literary fiction and romance, so it seems to be resonating with a wider audience.

Do you listen to music while you write?

Yes, I like to listen to music because it sets the mood and tone for me while I’m writing. In fact, I put together a playlist for This Much Is True. It’s located at my website here: http://katherineowen.net/playlist-much-true/

Did you always want to be an author?

I have always wanted to write. It’s only been the last few years that I’ve been able to write full-time and I am eternally grateful for that opportunity and hope to make the most of it. I’ve written four novels in as many years and seemed to have gained a number of fans for my work.

Does your family read your books?

Yes some of my family reads my work. The material is too sophisticated for my daughter but she helps me with plot lines as does my husband. I write mostly for women but even my brother has read my books. Their feedback is always honest and I really appreciate that but my readers more or less rule my world when it comes to a change in direction with a storyline or genre selection etc…

Can you tell me some of your favorite authors? How about books?

My current writerly crush is Gillian Flynn because of Gone Girl. (Would you call this a love story? Yes, pretty much the worst kind, due to hyper reality. And, if you’ve read This Much Is True, you know why this appeals to me.

My lifetime writerly crush is Audrey Niffenegger with The Time Traveler’s Wife. She broke all the rules in writing this love story. She’s an inspiration to me as a writer for technique and owning the story however it needs to be told.

My forever writerly crush is Tess Callahan who wrote April & Oliver because I’ve read that book again and again for the past five years. This book was an early inspiration for me as a writer. This story stays with me. Whenever I feel I’m writing too much angst I remember the story of April & Oliver. I loved it!

My top angsty love stories, besides mine…which I define as: angsty love stories, as in, filled with angst, not whining…

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

April & Oliver by Tess Callahan

Falling Under by Danielle Younge-Ullman (This inspired me to try my hand at a broken character. Loved this story. Loved it!)

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson (The sole guy on the list. This story still haunts me. Loved it!)

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay (Memorable writing. Some of the best lines I have ever read in my life are in this book.)

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons (Whenever I think I write long, I think of The Bronze Horseman and Simons’ follow-up books in this series. What an incredible journey for Alexander and Tatiana. I loved it!)

Reason To Breathe by Rebecca (Angsty, yet believable storyline and a sympathetic heroine.)

What are you currently working on?

I am working on another book featuring Linc and Tally that will be released later this year. This came about as more readers began to request to read more of Linc and Tally. I eschewed my earlier thoughts about series and decided to deal.I also have another book called Saving Valentines I’m working on that will be released late 2014, if all goes according to plan.

A few short answer questions:

Tea or coffee? Coffee

Do you prefer the sea side or the mountains? Sea side

Sweet or salty? Salty

Print or ebook? I am a huge fan of eBooks for their convenience, but I still collect my favorite ones in print.

Movies or TV shows? Movies

Thanks so much for having me on your blog and featuring This Much Is True. Loved the provocative questions ~ all of them!

Best,

Katherine Owen

AUTHOR BIO

Dark. Edgy. Contemporary. Romantic. Were we describing me? Or my fiction? Sorry. I drink too much...coffee, not enough water. I swear too much for God and my mother, and I slip these into my fiction. Sorry. I'm impatient, a perfectionist, a wordsmith, a dreamer, which ends up being good and bad. I'm a workaholic; ask my fam-dam-ily. I've written four novels in as many years: SEEING JULIA, NOT TO US, & WHEN I SEE YOU, as well as my latest release THIS MUCH IS TRUE. If you love angsty, unpredictable love stories, I'm yours. ♥

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Blog giveaway
ebook copy of This Much is True

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Prizes:

-3 paperback copies (Open Intl, but book can be signed if the winner is in the US)

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