We chat with author Sara Foster about Come Back to Me, which is a taut psychological drama that will keep you enthralled until the very last page.
Hi, Sara! Welcome back! How have you been since we last spoke for the release of When She Was Gone?
Thank you for inviting me back! A lot has happened since When She Was Gone was released. I’ve been head down writing for much of it, but I also celebrated a big birthday and travelled around New Zealand’s north island – and I’ve been chatting to a few TV production companies about some of my books too, which has been really exciting.
Come Back to Me was your debut novel and it’s finally publishing in North America! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
A tragic, twisty love triangle.
What can readers expect?
Come Back to Me is a slow-burn suspense, beginning with a chance meeting in a restaurant, when two work colleagues bring their partners to dinner. The partners are supposedly strangers to one another – but it’s immediately clear to everyone that something is wrong, as their reactions on seeing each other are a mixture of shock, horror and despair. As the story unravels, we go deep into the lives of my four main characters – Chloe and Alex, Julia and Mark – all of whom are hiding things, while navigating pivotal moments in their lives, and dealing with turbulent relationships. It’s a story about the difficulties of being truly vulnerable with those we love, and the complex, imperfect, protective love between adult children and their parents.
Where did the inspiration for Come Back to Me come from?
The whole idea began with a very small article in the West Australian (the most prominent newspaper in our state), which detailed a terrible incident in just a few lines. The simple, understated reporting of the tragedy kept niggling at me, as I knew that the event would be life-changing for those involved. I wanted to try to tell a story that acknowledged that this would be a complex and long-lasting event for all those involved, to highlight the potential repercussions and complexities of such tragedies, which are quickly lost in the outer margins of our news cycle.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I was fascinated by the process of trying to write what I felt was a true love triangle, where no one could really be blamed for how it had come about – and now it was up to those involved to try to figure out a way forward. I also really liked writing about the vulnerabilities of the older generation whose children, now adults, are becoming their carers, and have developing opinions on the ways they were raised, how truth was handled or withheld, and the expectations between parents and children.
As this was your debut, do you recall some of the challenges you faced at the time whilst writing?
Yes, absolutely! I worked on this book for a long time – around four years – and my main (very time-consuming) occupation was as a freelance book editor at the time, so I had very little time to really focus on it. I had some encouragement about another novel from an agent that meant I took two months off work to get it done – but then we spent another year editing it before we even sent it out on submission. I think confidence was a big challenge back then, and as it was my first novel I was only just finding my way in to how to tell a story that spans 100,000 words.
What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned when it comes to writing and publishing since your debut?
I’ve learned that each story is its own beast – some are wrestled into shape quite easily, and some take a lot longer to be tamed! If a story sticks around and doesn’t let go of my imagination then it’s a matter of digging in and sticking with it. I also think that when my confidence is low it’s easy to start doing too much reading (whether craft books or fiction) and not enough writing – but the only thing that truly gets me through a slump is staying close to the writing itself, and putting writing time first. We’re often told that it’s vital for writers to read, but we have to be brave enough to put the book down at some point too.
What’s next for you?
I’m over halfway through a new crime thriller right now, and I have some sequel ideas for my last two books (The Hush and When She Was Gone) as well as another epic near-future book I’d love to write – and I’m doing a story for young adults with my daughter. So I have plenty to keep me busy!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
In crime and psychological suspense I’m excited to read Ashley Elston’s Anatomy of an Alibi – she has such a great voice. I’d also love to read Laila Lalami’s The Dream Hotel – a dystopian thriller crossover is right up my street! And Dervla McTiernan’s Three Reasons For Revenge will be released in the next few weeks, and I can’t wait for this one as Dervla’s last standalone, What Happened to Nina?, was fantastic. Finally I’m keen to read Land by Maggie O’Farrell (I’m an O’Farrell superfan) and I really want to get to Charlotte McConaghy’s Wild Dark Shore soon, as I hear great things.
