Julie is purely fictional, but I definitely understand some of the things she’s going through. It’s always tricky to write about a profession you know well—oddly harder than one you don’t, I find—because it’s so easy to include too many extraneous details. I wanted to give a glimpse of what it’s really like without it being overwhelming.
The plot of Fractured is quite complex, with a deep layering of secrets and a nonlinear time frame. How do you go about crafting such an intricate novel? Do you outline your novels in advance?
I don’t generally outline the whole thing in advance. I think of the premise, the end of the book and the twist, the main characters, and then start writing. Plot comes to me in chunks, usually a couple of chapters at a time. For this book, unlike any other I’ve written, I had to write a short outline because I sold it with the first third and an outline. Then I wrote the book without looking at the outline again. I read it recently—after I finished the book—and was like . . . oh, right, that’s what I was going to do!
You do a terrific job of withholding much pertinent information from the reader, thereby piquing our curiosity even more. Did you know all along how the story would end, or did this come as a surprise to even you?
The precise ending is always a bit of a surprise, but no, I always knew what the central ending would be. I think—in this kind of book, in particular—that’s necessary. But, then again, I always need to know the end before I start writing.
Knowing you’re a native of Montreal, I’m curious as to why you chose Cincinnati as the setting for Fractured? Along the same lines, Julie and her family stem from Tacoma, Washington. Have you ever been to the Seattle/Tacoma area? Why did you choose it as the place she’s come from?
My first three novels were all set in an unnamed city. The next two in fictional towns. I like to set myself a challenge with each book, and so, for this one, I decided to set it in a real place. I’ve spent some time in Cincinnati—my sister’s husband is from there, and I attend the wonderful Books by the Banks festival every year—and I like the feel of the city, so that’s why I chose it. As for Tacoma, my sister-in-law lives in Dupont, Washington, which is near it and Seattle, so I’ve spent some time in the area. I wanted a place that had a different feel from the East Coast, so that’s why I chose it.
Though you do a phenomenal job of keeping the specifics under wraps, we know early on that a crime has been committed and legal matters ensue. How much of your own lawyering background did you rely on to bring the legal elements to life in Fractured?
Almost nothing! I practice civil litigation and know next to nothing about the criminal law system in Canada, let alone the one in Cincinnati. However, with the initial help of the Internet, and then a very generous prosecutor, I got to visit the grand jury room and ask a zillion questions. My first research trip!
Children play a prominent role in Fractured, from preschool to high school–age. Though you have no children of your own, you do a meticulous job of crafting these characters. Are there children in your life who were the inspiration for Julie and John’s kids?
I have four nephews, aged seven to one (Owen, William, Liam, and Anders), and they are constantly saying and doing things that are both hilarious and insightful. Certainly some of the things the smaller kids say come from hanging out with them. As for the teenagers, I fear I have not quite forgotten what it was like to be one, which is at least useful for writing, if nothing else.
There are characters in Fractured I loved, and some I loved to hate. Do you have a favorite? If so, who?
I have a soft spot for Julie. She means well, but the harder she tries, the more mistakes she seems to make.
You’re a full-time attorney and manage to publish a book every year or two. You also run an online book club, generously help promote your fellow authors, and more. I’m so impressed. How do manage your time?
When it’s written out like that, I don’t know! Seriously, though, I’m a pretty organized person, and I also don’t have kids, so . . . that’s my story and I’m sticking to it, though robots might also be involved.
I know you’re an avid reader. What types of books are your favorite to read, and are there any novels or authors who inspire your work?
I read eclectically. I grew up reading detective fiction because there was a lot of it in my house. I read about a book a week: contemporary fiction and some nonfiction, mostly. I try to read all the “big” books; I think it’s important, as a novelist, to know what else is out there. I wouldn’t say there is any one author who inspires what I write, but I am inspired by great writing in general, whether it be in a book, a song, a TV show, or a movie.
What’s next for Catherine McKenzie?
The Murder Game—the book Julie Apple wrote—is based on a book I wrote almost ten years ago that I keep coming back to. So I decided to release it under her name . . . keep an eye out for it!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2016 Jason Trott
Catherine McKenzie, a graduate of McGill University, practices law in Montreal, where she was born and raised. An avid skier and runner, Catherine’s novels Spin, Arranged, Forgotten, Hidden, and Smoke are all international bestsellers and have been translated into numerous languages. Hidden was an Amazon #1 bestseller and a Digital Book World bestseller. Smoke was an Amazon bestseller, a Goodreads Best Book for October 2015, and an Amazon Top 100 Book of 2015.
Visit Catherine online at www.catherinemckenzie.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/catherinemckenzieauthor, and on Twitter or Instagram at @CEMcKenzie1.
Fractured Page 30