Saltwater and Upmarket Suspense Fiction to Take You Places with Katy Hays (E138)

In today’s episode, I am chatting with Katy Hays. Katy is a Californian, writer and cake aficionado. She lives in the shadow of the Sierra with her husband and their dog, Queso. In addition to writing, Katy works as an adjunct Art History Professor teaching rural students from Truckee to Tecopa. Her academic writing has been published by Ashgate, an imprint of Routledge. Her fiction explores how far humans are willing to go to believe the unbelievable, strange-but-real worlds, and complex female friendships. 

We chatted about Katy being an ex-academic having moved to the mountains to write the novel she always wanted to write. She talks about writing her sophomore novel and all that goes into it. Saltwater is not just about rich people behaving badly, Katy loves looking at family dynamics and the length people are willing to go to maintain appearances. If you are a writer, she suggests using a process journal when you get stuck to include the date, number of words written, where you are at in the writing and how you are feeling. Her book flight features thrillers/upmarket suspense fiction that will transport you somewhere. 

Key Highlights:

• Katy shares her journey as an ex-academic who moved to the mountains to write the novel she always wanted to write.
• She discusses the process of writing her sophomore novel and the unique challenges that come with it.
• Saltwater is not just about rich people behaving badly—it delves into family dynamics and the lengths people go to maintain appearances.
• Katy offers advice for writers: she suggests keeping a process journal when stuck. This journal should include the date, number of words written, where you are in the writing process, and how you are feeling.
• Katy’s book flight features thrillers and upmarket suspense fiction that will transport you somewhere intriguing.

Connect with Katy Hays:

• Instagram
• Website
• Purchase Saltwater

Books and authors mentioned:

• The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani
• The Keep by Jennifer Egan
• The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
• Scrap by Calla Henkle
• Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra
• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Book Flight

• A Beautiful Crime by Christopher Bollen (Venice)
• Other People’s Clothes by Calla Henkle (Berlin)

Ready for a monthly literary adventure? We now have the BFF Book Club. Join us each month to explore a new book. After reading, connect with fellow book lovers and meet the author in a live interview! Can’t make it live? Don’t worry—we’ll send you the recording. You can find all our upcoming book club selections HERE.