THIS SECRET THING, set in Raleigh, NC, finds the community with all eyes on single mother Norah Ramsey, who stands accused of running a suburban prostitution ring. But Norah’s not talking, she’s definitely not sharing her client list, and she’s definitely definitely not the only one keeping secrets. The scandal will bring the entire town to a crossroads: whether to continue to suffer in secrecy or heal out in the open.
We had the pleasure of chatting to author Marybeth Mayhew Whalen about her new novel This Secret Thing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Marybeth! Tell us a bit about yourself!
Hi—thanks for having me here! I’m a wife, mom, avid reader and lover of anything to do with stationery. Writing stories used to be something I did for fun; now it’s my job. (But I try to keep writing like it’s just for fun.)
With the current state of the world, what are you doing to cope with the changes we’ve had to make with our day-to-day?
I’ve tried to disregard the things that worked before and embrace the new normal. For me that’s been acknowledging that some days I’m just not going to be able to write, and on those days I take a walk or call a friend or buy things I don’t need on the internet (see love for stationery products above). My goal has been that, when I do go to the page, I bring joy with me.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love words and story. I was well into my 30s before I realized that not all humans are constantly composing a story in their heads as they go about their days.
Your new novel, This Secret Thing, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Nothing is as it seems.
Now tell us a little more! What can readers expect?
A woman who runs a successful marketing company in an upscale neighbourhood is arrested as an alleged suburban madam, upending the lives of several people around her: her teenage daughter, her estranged mother, her former best friend, that best friend’s daughter, and the detective who is desperate to uncover knowledge about his missing brother. The title of the novel comes from something one of the characters says: “It was just this secret thing, between us. It wasn’t hurting anyone.” But of course, secrets can—and do—eventually hurt others, especially when they come out unexpectedly, which is what happens in this novel.
What inspired you to write this novel?
Years ago, a suburban madam was arrested in our town. Back then I had never heard of such a thing and was intrigued by the thought that someone who leads such a normal life on the surface could be hiding so much. When I read the article that ran in our town paper, it said that the woman arrested had teenage daughters. I thought to myself, “Man, it’s hard enough to be a teenage girl. Imagine being a teenage girl whose mother is arrested for prostitution!” I didn’t know it then, but at that moment the character of Violet was born.
Did you face any difficulties while writing, such as writing a scene or conducting research? If so, how did you overcome them?
I needed to make all the characters as sympathetic as possible, which can be hard when they’re making some pretty bad choices and dumb mistakes. But in all cases, I wanted the reader to root for them, and that took some honing… and re-honing.
What is your writing process like?
When I’m under deadline, I try to write 1000 words per day. At that rate, I can usually finish a draft in about 4 months. Once I’ve got that initial story written, I can get to work on that honing process I just mentioned.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Don’t lose sight of why you started. Hopefully it was because you felt passionate about a story, or a set of characters. You couldn’t not write. However you can, as often as you can, try to get back to that compulsion you once felt. Figure out ways to transport yourself back there. For me that’s listening to interviews with other writers, reading really good writing, talking to a writer friend, or sometimes just listening to certain songs that inspire me. (This is advice I’ve been giving myself in the midst of the pandemic. Ahem.)
What’s next for you?
I’ve dabbled with a few ideas in 2020, waiting for that “just right” one. I think I might finally have it. It’s haunting me. I catch myself wondering how the characters are. Those are good signs. Time will tell…
Lastly, are you currently reading anything and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I read Anxious People by Fredrik Backman over a month ago and it was so good I was unable to read anything after it for weeks! It was just so good that nothing compared. I am happy to report the book hangover finally faded and I am now almost through with Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam and finding it thrilling.
