We chat with author Katherine Kovacic about No Good Deed, which is a muscular, character-driven thriller blends raw emotional stakes with high-risk criminal intrigue in one of Australia’s most unforgiving landscapes.
Hi, Katherine! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I was a veterinarian but became an art historian (there’s a long story there!) and I still do some work in the heritage and arts sector when I’m not writing. Mostly my books are crime fiction, but I’ve also written true crime, as well as a book about dogs for the National Library of Australia.
I live in Melbourne, Australia, and always try to make time to do dog sports with my borzoi, and dance Argentinian tango.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I can’t actually remember discovering a love for writing and stories – it’s always been there. I remember writing stories and giving them as gifts to my parents when I was very little, and I loved English at school (even exams). I put my creativity and love of words to one side when I was studying veterinary medicine; it wasn’t until I was working on my Master’s thesis that I realised how important writing was to me.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Ant and Bee Go Shopping, Angela Banner (I loved that series!)
- The one that made you want to become an author: Indemnity Only, Sara Paretsky
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
Your latest novel, No Good Deed, is out March 31st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Outback, diamonds, murder, grief, widow
What can readers expect?
A road trip through the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia with an older protagonist.
Rena discovers a body in a burning vehicle and quickly learns this is way more than just a tragic accident; and pink diamonds are involved. She’s a retired geologist with time on her hands, a four-wheel drive camper, and no… cares left to give. Of course she’s going to investigate. Just because you’re a woman with grey hair, doesn’t mean you’re not bad ass.
Where did the inspiration for No Good Deed come from?
I had Rena, the protagonist in my head for a long time before I started on NO GOOD DEED. She was sitting behind the wheel of her car, occasionally gunning the engine as she waited for me to jump in the passenger seat and go along for the ride.
Once I did that, the story took its inspiration from pink diamonds, grief, and the stark and spectacular landscape of remote outback Australia.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved exploring the relationship between Rena and local woman Aitch. I didn’t know Aitch was part of the story until she stood up in a town meeting, but from that moment it was clear she had an important role to play. She and Rena are very different women, but unpicking and writing the dynamic between them was a real delight.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
There are always challenges. My biggest one is self-doubt, which bubbles up from time to time. Sometimes my techniques work better than others, but when I’m trying to claw my way out of that sort of mindset, I do a couple of things:
I keep writing. I think if you don’t write, you have nothing to edit, nothing to craft, and you’re not working on strengthening your writing muscle.
I remind myself that anyone who thinks they’re completely fabulous all the time is most likely churning out rubbish.
I go to Goodreads or Amazon, pick a few books by other authors that I absolutely love, and read the bad reviews. It reminds me that tastes are different, people are different, and there will always be someone who gives the most exquisite piece of writing a one-star review!
What’s next for you?
Rena’s on a road trip and I feel there could be more crimes for her to solve – let’s wait and see!
Right now, I’m working on something quite different, a cozy crime with an over the top cast of characters. I think because the world feels a bit scary at the moment, I needed something lighter.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
These are top of my (very long) list!
- A Murder Most Camp, Nicholas Didomizio
- Throw Away the Key, Jason M Hough
- Cool Machine, Colson Whitehead
- Little Red Death, Alexandra Benedict
