We chat with author Kat Stoddard about Wasp’s Nest, which is a witty, gripping love triangle unfolding over the course of seven chaotic days at a Cape Cod wedding
Hi, Kat! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a contemporary fiction writer and single parent living in Baltimore. I write stories about queer characters and complicated relationships. I love classic movies, cats, and I’m currently obsessed with Widow’s Bay.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve always been a reader (shoutout to my mom for letting me check out the maximum amount of library books from the start), and I discovered I loved writing pretty much as soon as I could hold a pencil. But I didn’t consider trying to have a novel published until I was almost 30.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The first chapter book I remember reading is The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. I’ve been meaning to revisit it, I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of my current taste was formed there.
- The one that made you want to become an author: I think it was Atonement by Ian McEwan! I was 16 and reading mostly classics (yes, I was insufferable), but that book opened up the world of fiction by contemporary authors for me.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: My Education by Susan Choi is pretty much always on my mind. I wish I could go back and read it again for the first time, it was a genuinely transformative experience for me.
Your debut novel, WASP’S NEST, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Romantic, queer, vulnerable, messy, hopeful!
What can readers expect?
WASP’S NEST is a book about second chances, queer coming-of-age, untangling what we actually want from what we’re supposed to want, and the way that loving other people irrevocably changes us. I hope readers find something that lingers with them after they turn the final page.
Where did the inspiration for WASP’S NEST come from?
The novel was inspired by the 1940 film The Philadelphia Story! The chemistry between Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Jimmy Stewart has always made me curious about a version of the story where the love triangle connects on all sides. What if a socialite’s wedding plans are complicated by the arrival of her ex-husband and a young writer, and what if that young writer falls for them both?
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
The sister relationship between Tess and Georgia, and learning more about Georgia generally, was a lovely surprise. I unearthed a new layer to their history with each draft. I also really loved writing Peter’s relationship with his mentor Eileen, and developing Eileen’s marriage with her wife Laurie. Not everything made it onto the final pages, but every iteration of that initial dinner party scene gave more dimension to Peter’s world. And of course Tess’s younger brother Sebastian was so fun to write—he’s chaotic, but also very sensitive, and that created some interesting tension.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Since beginning this novel I’ve ended my marriage and come out as a lesbian, which was difficult, beautiful, complicated, and necessary. Writing fiction has been a lifeline to me while navigating those transitions. I started writing WASP’S NEST during the first year of the pandemic when I was working from home with a toddler. If it hadn’t been for my writing practice I don’t know how I would have made it to the other side.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Honestly I’ve had so much going on in my personal life over the last five years (see above), that by comparison the publishing process has felt relatively uncomplicated. To be clear, I worked really hard on this book and took the process very seriously, but I also got lucky by finding the right agent and the right publisher as quickly as I did. I’m extremely grateful to every person who helped me on my way, sharing their knowledge about writing craft, publishing, and providing good old-fashioned moral support. They say finding your people is key, and I definitely agree with that!
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on another novel! It’s sapphic, set in the midwest, and centered on a complicated family of artists. The main character is a woman who is trying to balance family expectations and an unexpected romance with living a creative life on her own terms.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I recently read The Payback by Kashana Cauley, which is both cathartic and laugh out loud funny. Also Beloved Disciples by Mario Elías is beautiful and haunting.
I’m really excited to read Living, Together, edited by Samantha Paige Rosen, Appetite by P. Paramita and The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw!
