Authors Interviewing Characters: Liz Alterman interviews Molly Archer from A Different Type of Poison

A DIFFERENT TYPE OF POISON

How much truth is worth telling?

The Plot meets Disclaimer in a simmering, slow-burn domestic thriller and psychological suspense novel that explores the stories we tell, the secrets we bury, and the price we pay for both, perfect for fans of Sally Hepworth, Liane Moriarty, and Lisa Jewell.

When a bestselling author receives an invitation to return to her hometown to discuss her dark campus thriller, she never suspects she may be walking into the most unsettling plot twist of her life.

After her first two books flatlined, author Molly Archer is thrilled that her latest, Birds at Night, is an instant hit. Newly divorced and raising two children in an upscale community north of Manhattan, Molly will do whatever it takes to sustain her novel’s momentum and support the lifestyle she’s worked so hard to achieve.

When an enthusiastic book club organizer from her hometown reaches out, Molly welcomes the opportunity to meet her readers. Traveling back to Ohio offers the perfect excuse to check on her widowed mom, whose health—and memory—appear to be unraveling.

As much as she looks forward to the trip, one thing troubles Molly: She can’t remember Anna Fox, the woman who extended the invitation and seems all too eager to reconnect. Will Molly’s visit introduce her to a new group of adoring fans or is she stepping into her deadliest chapter yet?

Thanks so much for joining me today, Molly. I wasn’t sure you’d have time. I know the deadline is looming for your sequel to Birds at Night. How’s that going? 

Molly: Thanks for asking. As you know, it’s not easy to juggle writing with parenting. But, honestly, I’m just so grateful to know that readers are interested in my work. I’m very fortunate to do what I love, even if it’s a struggle sometimes.

On that note, any tips you’d like to share for managing that delicate work-life balancing act?

Molly: Well, as I tell aspiring writers, don’t be precious about time and think you need to wait for a two-hour window to work on your story. Write whenever and wherever you can. Even if it’s just a single sentence, jot it down on the back of a CVS receipt, which, let’s be real, are so long, you could pen a novella on them. Send yourself a text, an email, leave yourself a voicemail, if you have to. Oh, and find a supportive writing community!

You found support in the writing workshop where you met Sonny Douglas, the man to whom you dedicated Birds at Night. And yet your ex-husband, Dan, wasn’t very nurturing, and your mom doesn’t read any of your novels. Did you ever find it difficult to keep going and believe in your work? 

Molly: Some stories you tell for yourself, and others, well, you just hope that there’s one reader out there who sees themselves in your tales. 

Speaking of readers, I’d love to ask you a few questions about Anna Fox—

Molly: Sorry, my publicist should’ve told you that topic is off-limits. Next question.

Okay…understood. Let’s look at these lines in which you confess, “I’m nearly forty yet I’m no more mature than a five-year-old pleading, ‘Look at this thing I made and tell me it’s good! Give me all the gold stars! Promise me I’m clever!’” How much of what happens to you can be traced back to your need for affirmation?

Molly (rolls eyes): I mean a lot, obviously, duh. Don’t we all want to be seen and validated? Does that ever go away? If you’ve got the secret, by all means, share it. Please. 

I wish I did! Moving on…You seem to have some issues with the publishing industry. Did you want to talk about your frustrations?

Molly: Well, as you know my first agent really wanted me to “stay in my lane” and yet my lane was leading to a dead end. I didn’t want to put in all that effort only to be overlooked and ignored again and again. So I went in a different direction. As I once told a reporter: “If you’re not getting the desired results, don’t be afraid to get bold or maybe even a little crazy.” If you don’t believe in yourself, Lynn, no one else will either. (winks)

It’s Liz. You definitely seem to have a tough time when it comes to preparing for podcasts, radio interviews, etc. If you don’t mind me asking, have you ever considered hiring a life coach?

Molly: Ouch. You’re not wrong, but have you tried raising children while writing a novel?

I have, actually. I—

Molly: Next question.

You’ve made some, er, interesting choices in both your past and present. Do you regret any of those decisions? 

Molly: I’m not going to say I haven’t made mistakes nor will I invoke that old cliché: Hindsight is 20/20. But I will quote some other famous (and fabulous) writers whose views mirror my own: “Everything is copy.” (Nora Ephron) and “You own everything that happened to you.” (Anne Lamott) Aren’t we all, for better or worse, the sum of our experiences? They shape us. So, I suppose, with that in mind, I don’t regret any of it. 

Thanks for your time today, Molly. I wish you the best of luck with the sequel. 

Molly: I appreciate that. As you know, I need all the luck I can get. 

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Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Interviews