We chat with author K.T. Nguyen about You Know What You Did, which is a heart-pounding debut thriller for fans of Lisa Jewell and Celeste Ng, a first-generation Vietnamese American artist must confront nightmares past and present.
Hi, K.T.! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi everyone! I’m a former magazine editor and debut psychological thriller author. I grew up in a small town in northeast Ohio. After graduating from Brown University with a very practical degree in Art Semiotics, I bounced around between NYC, Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai, and San Francisco. I’ve now settled in a small town in Maryland with my family and our rescue terrier Alice.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Like most writers, I was a voracious reader as a child. I didn’t fit in well in my claustrophobic semi-rural Midwest school (my graduating class had about 50 kids total) and spent most of my time daydreaming. Daydreaming = non-written fiction. As a magazine editor, I enjoyed shaping interviews and secondary research into compelling features.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: A FLY WENT BY by Michael McClintock
- The one that made you want to become an author: ON WRITING by Stephen King
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN by Joanne Greenburg
Your debut novel, You Know What You Did, is out April 16th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
The Shining meets Celeste Ng
What can readers expect?
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID tells the story of Annie Shaw, a first-generation Vietnamese American artist whose life unravels following the death of her mother. Annie’s long dormant OCD comes roaring back, but this time—the intrusive thoughts in her head might just be coming true. When a rich art patron disappears, the police investigation zeroes in on Annie. Spiraling with self-doubt, she distances herself from her family and friends, only to wake up in a hotel room—naked, next to a lifeless body.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID wraps compelling themes of intergenerational trauma and mental health around a traditional thriller framework. I call books like these, “thriller PLUS” (think: The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes, The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok). Page-turners that also make for great book club discussions.
Where did the inspiration for You Know What You Did come from?
I had just read Stephen King’s “On Writing” where he talks about prompting yourself with a simple question, “What if…”? So, while walking my dog I let my mind wander. I have obsessive compulsive disorder which involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts. I asked myself, “What if…my most disturbing intrusive thoughts came to life?” This was the springboard for YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID. Annie’s battle with disgust-driven contamination-based OCD in the novel mirrors my own.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Writing about Annie’s mental health struggle was emotionally difficult but satisfying. OCD is usually treated lightly in the media—the quirky germaphobe or the lovable “superstitious” friend. But in many cases, OCD is a dark and debilitating experience. My raw portrayal pulls no punches. I want the reader to experience the psychological horror of what it feels like to be a prisoner in her own body. Seeing the world through a different lens is a magical experience, and it’s how we begin to connect and empathize with each other.
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Thankfully, I went into the debut experience cold. I didn’t research publishing or seek out information on social media. And whenever I happened upon any advice tinged with negativity or pessimism, I stopped reading, listening, and tuned it all out. I focussed on one step at a time. One chapter at a time until I finished the manuscript. Then I queried and went on sub to publishers. The entire process from typing the first word to launch took place over three years.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on my next psychological thriller featuring complex characters that reflect our multicultural reality. I may or may not be drawing on my previous experience in the world of beauty and fashion (Shhh!).
Lastly, are there any book releases that you’re looking forward to picking up this year?
I was lucky enough to read advance copies of Kellye Garrett’s Missing White Woman, Lauren Ling Brown’s Society of Lies, and Lily Samson’s The Switch—these were all dark, fantastic fun! I’m looking forward to reading Bodies to Die For by Lori Brand, If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay, and Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara—all of which are on my TBR shelf.
