JESS KITCHING “I actually wrote How To Destroy Your Husband (a very rudimentary draft!) before I wrote The Girl She Was Before.”
To celebrate one year of Kelly’s Writerly Q&As, I’m excited to share another interview with Jess Kitching!
Coinciding with the publication day of her second novel How To Destroy Your Husband, I was keen to chat with Jess again to find out all about her first year of being a published author and to discover what’s been different about her publication experience the second time around.
Just to remind you, Jess Kitching is the thriller author of The Girl She Was Before. Originally from the north of England, Jess now lives in Sydney, Australia. She’s signed to Kingsley Publishers, and her debut novel ‘The Girl She Was Before’ is due for its Danish translation release via Lindbak + Lindbak in March 2023.
Hi Jess, thanks for taking the time to answer some more writerly questions. First of all, congratulations on the release of your second novel with Kingsley Publishers!
What’s How To Destroy Your Husband about?
Thank you for having me back! How To Destroy Your Husband is a little different to The Girl She Was Before – more of a domestic thriller than a work of crime fiction.
The book centres around Cassie, a woman who once swore she’d never fall in love… then she met Jamie. Life seems perfect until one month before their wedding, Cassie finds out Jamie is cheating on her with his colleague. Blinded by her rage, Cassie makes it her mission to destroy the pair, only when she looks closer into Jamie’s life, she realises his fidelity is not all he’s lying about.
This book is a revenge story, but it also has strong themes such as the power of female friendship and the impact of toxic masculinity.
That sounds brilliant! I can’t wait to read it. Your last book was about the impacts of trauma, inspired by your own experiences, what prompted you to write this story?
I’ve always been fascinated by people who live a double life, as well as the question ‘if you knew someone was cheating, would you tell their partner?’. I have had SO many debates with friends about that one!! Plus, the idea of ‘how well do you really know someone?’ was always something I wanted to write about.
When I was younger, I was cheated on (a very ‘teenage love’ kind of relationship) but I still remember the burning feeling that came over me when I found out. The anger and humiliation were such powerful emotions, so exploring how they could fuel choices (both good and bad) was my inspiration.
What a great question! I love that you were inspired by this dilemma. I actually don’t know what I would do in that situation. But it’s also great that you have drawn on some personal experience again. You said your last novel took approximately eighteen months to write, how long did it take you to write your second?
I actually wrote How To Destroy Your Husband (a very rudimentary draft!) before I wrote The Girl She Was Before. It received attention from agents, but never quite made it. Over the last few years, I’ve rewritten it a few times – the ending is completely different, as are some of the characters. Because of that, it’s hard to name a timeline, but it’s been in the works for a while! It’s a story I wanted to tell, and I finally feel like the pieces have slotted together.
I’m so happy to hear this. Sitting a manuscript aside until you are ready to do it justice is sometimes necessary and so worthwhile. Did you feel any pressure while writing How To Destroy Your Husband from time constraints or your own desire to write another great story?
Yes! I feel like, as scary as releasing a debut is, there is less pressure because there are so few expectations.
With The Girl She Was Before being so well received, I definitely feel the weight of expectation! I think that’s been the hardest thing to juggle when writing and editing – the nerves about what people will think. I know this book is different to my first – it was an intentional choice to explore another part of the thriller genre so readers would never quite know what to ‘expect’ from a book of mine – but taking that risk is a gamble.
That being said, I’m really proud of the book and hope people love it! I tell myself that How To Destroy Your Husband is a different book, one that some people will like more, some people will like less, but one I am happy with. However, when those first reviews come in, I know my nerves will be at an all-time high ha!
I can imagine how that would feel but also have no doubt in your ability. Some writers say that every time they sit down to write a new novel, they forget how it’s done; are you more confident with your writing process now?
I love that! I think I’m more confident in my ideas, but I definitely feel like I sit down and go ‘…errrrrr… what do I do again?’
I call it the ‘midway wobble’ – I get a good chunk of words done, then halfway through the book, I think ‘what have I written?’ and want to start all over again! Pushing through that to get words on the page, no matter how messy they are, is vital.
That’s so relatable. As long as you have the idea, then the rest you can push through. Has your typical day of writing changed?
I’m much more disciplined than I once was. Before I’d be very ‘do I feel like it today?’ or ‘when can I spare three hours?’, whereas now it’s more ‘you’ve ten minutes, sit down and get something done.’ Deadlines and timelines mean you have to become stricter, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
I’ve also found I’m much more forgiving of myself when I need to step away from my laptop. Rather than staring at a screen and feeling like screaming if I can’t find the words, I allow myself the space to go for a walk or do something else to clear my head, then come back to it. That’s made a huge difference.
I love that deadlines have motivated you. How does it feel when someone rates your book five stars?
There is absolutely no feeling like it. To know that something you’ve poured your heart and soul into has connected with someone… it’s amazing. For anyone to dedicate a chunk of their time to reading something I’ve created blows my mind!
That sounds like the butterflies I get when I’m reading the best books. Do you have any new tips for unpublished writers?
My biggest tip would be ‘don’t give up.’ I know how easy it is to feel defeated by this industry and the rejections, but it’s amazing how often people are one step or one email away from something life-changing!
Another thing I’d recommend is to take social media with a pinch of salt. We all see these amazing posts about people doing cool things, but it’s a highlight reel. I always try to be honest with what I share – to not just show the author interview, but the crippling nerves beforehand too! Writing isn’t always an easy or glamorous career – it can be lonely, it can knock your confidence, and you often feel like you’re not doing it right or doing enough. So, as much as it is easier said than done, don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Your writing journey is yours, and you’re doing great!
I completely agree. Persistence and authenticity always win. What are you currently reading and loving?
There are SO many books I’m loving, but my most recent favourite is Gillian McAllister’s Wrong Place Wrong Time. I also really enjoyed The Good Mother by Rae Cairns.
I’m noting these down. So, what can we expect from you next?
Well, I’ve just signed a further 5 book deal with Kingsley Publishers, so chipping away at writing those ha!
I am working hard to finalise book 3- I want to release it early next year as I will be heading to Denmark for the launch of the Danish translation of The Girl She Was Before. I’m going to tie a UK trip to this, so my dream would be to publish my third book in the UK and get to celebrate that with family and friends.
I’m also hoping to get a few signings and events under my belt. First up is my book launch! Kellie McCourt will be interviewing me for the event hosted with Roaring Stories, tickets for which can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/417003236907
Oh my goodness, congratulations! Writing five more books and an international book launch is certainly going to keep you busy. How wonderful to be able to have an in-person book launch this time. Well done Jess, I’m so glad such a lovely person is realising her dreams.
Thank you so much for chatting with me again. You’ve been so generous, and I’ve learned a lot! Happy book launch!
And thank you for reading!
To find out more about Jess, check out JessKitchingWrites
And to read what Jess had to say when she was a debut author, click here.
