Perfect for fans of The Scent Keeper and The Keeper of Lost Things, an atmospheric and enchanting debut novel about two women haunted by buried secrets but bound by a shared gift and the power the past holds over our lives.
We had the pleasure of chatting with debut author Kim Neville about The Memory Collectors, book recommendations, writing, and much more!
Hi, Kim! Tell us a bit about yourself!
Hello! I’m Kim Neville, author of The Memory Collectors, which will be out on March 16 (yay!). I live in Vancouver, Canada with my husband, daughter, and two cats.
After the chaos that was 2020, have you set any goals for this year? If so, how are they going so far?
Oh, definitely no goals here. I knew that after the release of The Memory Collectors I was going to focus on my second novel, but that’s it. 2020 was A LOT, so I figure if in 2021 I keep surviving, and make some progress on the new book, I can count it as a successful year.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
- First book I remember reading: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
- Book that made me want to become an author: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
- A book that I can’t stop thinking about: Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I wrote stories all through my childhood, but I didn’t start writing fiction seriously until I was almost 30. Before that, I aspired to write but was too afraid of failing, so I put it off. Lucky for me, I have a patient and determined husband who never stopped encouraging me to pick up a pen and get started.
Your debut novel, The Memory Collectors, is out March 16th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Psychics heal trauma, undergo transformations.
What can readers expect?
The Memory Collectors tells the story of two women with a shared gift: they can sense the emotions left behind on objects. Ev sees this ability a curse. She’s seen firsthand how dangerous it can be. She seeks to protect herself and others from it, and she calls objects with emotional charges “stained”. Harriet views her gift as a blessing and one of the great joys in her life, and she collects what she calls “bright things” and “treasures”. Both women are haunted by events in their pasts, and when they meet, their lives become intertwined in surprising ways.
Where did the inspiration for The Memory Collectors come from?
The spark for the novel came from my curiosity about how we as humans relate to physical objects. We ascribe meaning to them, and even imbue them with magic, based on our stories about them. They are inanimate and yet they can hold such power over us. I find this fascinating and I wanted to write about it.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
Probably the biggest challenge was juggling writing, work and family. Finding consistent time to write was difficult when I began this novel, especially since my daughter was still young and needed me a lot more than she does now. This is when I started writing in the early mornings. At first I hated it, but later I was able to shift from 5am sessions to 7am sessions, and now it’s my favourite part of the day. I find I’m more creative at this time, and the ideas and words flow faster.
If it’s not too spoilery, were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed writing the sibling relationship in the book. I have a younger brother, and our dynamic is not AT ALL like the complicated relationship in The Memory Collectors. He’s the most easy-going human I know. It was fun to take some of the elements of my own experience of having a sibling—the banter, the shared history—and imagine a more fraught and difficult version of it.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
Best: Be persistent—you only fail when you stop trying.
Worst: A novel written in present tense will NEVER sell. (Er, wrong!) For that matter, any arbitrary writing “rule” like this one is ridiculous. There’s no correct way to write a story.
What’s next for you?
As I mentioned, I’m working on a second novel—it’s about a family of witches and the grimoire that binds them. I’ve been describing it as Little Women meets Practical Magic.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Yes!
The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick: A big, lush fantasy adventure about a con artist who tricks her way into a noble house in order to secure a fortune for herself and her sister. If you’re in the mood to leave all your troubles behind for a deep-dive into a gorgeous world full of magic and political intrigue, this is the book for you.
The Trickster Trilogy by Eden Robinson: This is a coming-of-age story that blends everyday teenage existence with Indigenous beliefs. It follows the journey of a young man named Jared as he learns that his family bloodlines are more complicated than he thought. These books are funny, heartbreaking, and magical. The final book in the trilogy, Return of the Trickster, was just released on March 2 and it’s at the top of my reading list.
