by Karma Brown
I may not be able to recollect falling in love with Matt the first time, but I remember everything about the second time it happened. I can’t explain why the memory of Matt’s proposal sneaked back into what I’m calling my “lost years,” but I’m grateful it did. Because while little else of our relationship was retrievable, that became enough. It was the pivot point, and the foundation onto which we would build. It was the memory that single-handedly brought us to the moment under the rain-splattered umbrella on our wedding day, when a huge gust of wind nearly turned it inside out and Matt whooped as he grabbed for the umbrella, saying the weather was obviously sending us a sign.
This is our real Gone with the Wind moment, he added. To which I whispered back, because I didn’t want the minister to know we were talking when we were supposed to be listening, preparing for our vows, Like, the movie? He laughed then, kissed me even though the minister hadn’t yet told us we could, and a few guests clapped enthusiastically, thinking it was the kiss.
No, not the movie. The Halloween costume that started it all. Remember?
I didn’t remember. It was lost along with so much else. But I knew it had happened—could practically picture every detail because it was one of Matt’s favorite stories to tell—and that was enough.
* * * * *
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to everyone, for everything.
This was almost the shortest acknowledgments section in history! However, I would be remiss not to mention some folks who have made this book possible. So like Lucy’s memory confidence list, here is my Thank You For Making This Novel Better list:
Michelle Meade, who always gives my words, and my confidence, a boost.
Carolyn Forde, my sidekick from the beginning of this adventure.
Shara Alexander (and team), who tirelessly promote me and my novels, and who introduced me to Moscow Mules—Dark and Stormy’s cousin.
Randy Chan (and team), for the creative and inspired ways my books get into readers’ hands.
Erika Imranyi, whose Tweet about a twenty-nine-year-old North London man who after a bike accident woke up from a coma with fantastical, yet false, memories left me asking “what if?”—the question that starts every one of my stories.
Rohit Bhapkar, who kindly gave me his valuable time and insights, making this story, and its setting, more authentic.
Jennifer Robson, Marissa Stapley, Kate Hilton, Liz Renzetti, Chantel Guertin, my strong and talented author friends who make it possible to survive—and thrive—in this business.
Amy E. Reichert and Colleen Oakley, who always read my early words and tell me “You’ve got this!”—even when we all know I don’t.
The Tall Poppies, the most supportive group of women an author could ask for.
Harlequin and HarperCollins, whose combined vision, talents and enthusiasm for my books mean I can continue doing this thing I love.
In researching this book, I found The Memory Illusion by Dr. Julia Shaw to be particularly enlightening in explaining exactly how our memory does—and doesn’t—work. However, this story, its characters and their experiences are entirely fictional and fabricated, and so any errors in wording or description are mine alone.
To my readers, author pals and the tireless book bloggers, your continued support and engagement make getting up at 5:00 a.m. to write the easiest decision of my day.
Finally, to my friends and family, especially the ones who put up with my writing schedule and at-times-frenetic author brain (Adam, Addison), I could thank you with every book (and I will), but it will never be enough.
There is always the fear of forgetting to thank someone, and writing a memory-themed novel—whose research taught me our memories are surprisingly unreliable—has only increased that worry...so if I forgot to thank you, I’m sorry, and, well, thank you!
THE LIFE LUCY KNEW
KARMA BROWN
Reader’s Guide
Questions for Discussion
As fantastical as Lucy’s situation seems, the truth is that our memories are unreliable and not as secure as we’d like to believe. If you were in a similar situation to Lucy’s, how do you think you would cope? How much value do you place on the strength of your memory?
Lucy’s family and friends keep a few big secrets from her in hopes that it will make her recovery easier. Do you think this was the right approach? Would the full truth have made things easier or harder for Lucy?
Even though Lucy’s memories of her marriage to Daniel aren’t real, it’s easy to understand why she is so confused about her feelings toward him. Were you ever rooting for her and Daniel to end up together? How did you feel when they eventually kissed?
Were you surprised by the reason behind Daniel and Lucy’s real breakup? Did it change your opinion of Lucy—or of Daniel?
Matt is incredibly patient with Lucy after her accident and with her false memories. Did you ever feel Lucy was taking advantage of his loyalty?
If you were in Matt’s position, do you think you would handle the situation the same or differently?
Did you agree with Lucy’s decision to find happiness in the end with Matt?
What is one of the most significant memories of your life? Have you ever wondered if you’ve embellished this memory over time, or how accurate it is? And does it even matter?
If you had to create a memory confidence list, what would be on it? What specific details would it be important for you to remember about yourself in a situation like Lucy’s?
A Conversation with
Karma Brown
Lucy’s experience with confabulated memory disorder is a unique take on the familiar theme of amnesia in fiction. What was the inspiration for her story? Is memory confabulation real?
I read a Boston Globe article about a twenty-nine-year-old North London man who had a bike accident, and after waking from his medically induced coma, he had all these fantastical made-up memories. Like many people I’ve told about this story, I had no idea this was a real condition! Or just how complex and unreliable our memories really are. As I read the piece I thought, “What if this happened to me?” and almost instantly Lucy’s character started to take shape...
The relationships Lucy has with Daniel and Matt are both very complicated—she remembers intimate details of her life with Daniel that never really happened while forgetting the truth about her deep connection with Matt. As you were shaping the story, did you find yourself rooting for one relationship over the other, and did you ever consider giving her the happily-ever-after she initially craves with Daniel?
It was an interesting love triangle to write, not only because of the false memories that produced it but also because it allowed me to explore the idea of choice, and creating our own happiness—like how Lucy’s therapist tells her, “You have the right to change your present if it doesn’t fit with the future you envision.” As for who got the happy ending with Lucy, it was always going to be Matt. But I wasn’t going to make it easy for her to realize that!
You finished The Life Lucy Knew by doing something very different from your previous novels: including an epilogue with a happy ending! Can you tell us about your decision to finish the story this way?
I have, so far, finished my novels with what my editor and I like to call “satisfying” endings. Meaning by that last page, readers will probably have cried (in some books, quite a lot) but will also see a glimmer of hope for the characters despite what they’ve endured. However, I knew from the beginning this book had to be different in how it ended—a glimmer wasn’t going to cut it for Lucy. Because while I’m (mostly) the driver when it comes to my characters’ decisions, sometimes they take the wheel and we veer in another direction. This is a perfect example of that phenomenon.
What was your greatest challenge in writing The Life Lucy Knew? What about your greatest pleasure?
&nbs
p; One of the greatest challenges was how to write authentically from inside Lucy’s head when she wasn’t sure which memories were real and which ones she had confabulated. Also, keeping the interactions between the characters from feeling contrived. I told my editor early on to keep an eye out for overtly cheesy moments, but a couple may have slipped in because, well, I’ve learned a little cheese isn’t the worst thing. The greatest pleasure? Writing Lucy her happily-ever-after ending.
Tell us about your writing process.
I am always knee-deep in story ideas, often inspired by people in unique and mind-boggling situations, like the man with the false memories. And once I have an idea I can’t stop thinking about—and usually the beginnings of a character who won’t stop chattering to me—I write down a formal pitch for the story, always starting with a “what if?” question. If I can’t answer that question, I know the story doesn’t (yet) have legs. Then I craft a full synopsis and outline for the idea, including its main players, and only then do I get to work on the actual writing. It’s a long process that involves much coffee and staring off into space and endless internet searches and loads of self-doubt and plenty of evenings where I ask (force) my husband to brainstorm scenarios. It’s a lot of work, but I’d be lying if I didn’t also say it was a lot of fun.
Connect with us for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Subscribe to our newsletter
Share your reading experience on:
Harlequin Books
Facebook
Twitter
Watch our reviews, author interviews and more on Harlequin TV
ISBN: 9781489265340
TITLE: THE LIFE LUCY KNEW
First Australian Publication 2018
Copyright © 2018 Karma Brown
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises (Australia) Pty Ltd, Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia 2000.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its corporate affiliates and used by others under licence. Trademarks marked with an ® are registered in Australia and in other countries. Contact [email protected] for details.
www.harlequinbooks.com.au