We chat with author Robyn Harding about The Drowning Woman, which is a deliciously twisted story of friendship, retribution, and betrayal about a homeless woman fleeing a dangerous past—and the wealthy society wife she saves from drowning, who pulls her into a dark web of secrets and lies.
Hi, Robyn! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello! Thank you for having me! I’m the author of thirteen novels. I started out writing “chick lit” (aka rom-coms) in 2004 and moved to the dark side with my first domestic thriller THE PARTY in 2017. I’ve also written and executive produced an independent film called THE STEPS. I have two adult children, and I live in Vancouver, Canada with my husband and two adorably vicious rescue chihuahuas.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
In third grade, I wrote a short story that my teacher hung in the hallway of my school for everyone to read. I was absolutely mortified! At Dragon Lake Elementary, it was not cool to be an author; it was cool to be good at dodge ball. But I realized then that telling stories came naturally to me. Far more naturally than dodge ball.
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!
The first book I remember reading is THE BIG HONEY HUNT by Stan and Jan Berenstain. I’m not sure if I read it so much as memorized it, but I was obsessed with the story, the cadence, and the illustrations.
BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY by Helen Fielding inspired me to try my hand at fiction. Humor was a great starting point for my career and I still love incorporating some wit into my thrillers.
I am a superfan of Liz Nugent and I got an early read of her latest, STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND. It’s dark, disturbing, and touching all at once. And the moral complexities have kept me pondering.
Your latest novel, The Drowning Woman, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Jaw-dropping, twisty, dark, intricate, empowering
What can readers expect?
This is the story of Lee, a homeless woman forced to live in her car, and Hazel, a virtual prisoner in her seaside mansion. When Lee rescues Hazel from drowning in the frigid Pacific, Hazel tells her she wanted to die. Her powerful husband is cruel and abusive and suicide is her only option. An unlikely friendship develops between the pair, until one day, Hazel asks Lee to help her disappear. Lee feels compelled to help her new friend. But all is not as it seems, and Lee is soon drawn into a tangled web of secrets, lies, and murder.
Where did the inspiration for The Drowning Woman come from?
I was really moved by how women were disproportionally impacted by the pandemic. Businesses owned by women were more likely to fail, female rates of anxiety and depression spiked, and domestic abuse skyrocketed. I wanted to explore two characters who had lost so much of themselves, and tell a story of their resilience… with some murder thrown in, of course.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
This book has a unique structure that I loved writing! Part one offers Lee’s point of view and in part two, I switch to Hazel’s POV so readers see what was happening behind the scenes. This continues through parts three and four. I’ve loved this storytelling device in film and TV, and wanted to try it in a novel.
What’s next for you?
My next novel is called THE HATERS. It’s about high school counsellor Camryn Lane who publishes her first novel to great acclaim. She’s over the moon, until she receives an anonymous email accusing her of invading her students’ privacy. She pushes it aside, but the accusations bloom on social media and soon disturbing incidents invade her personal life. Is this the work of random trolls? Or is the abuse coming from closer to home? Camryn must find out who is behind these attacks before they destroy her career, her relationships, and threaten her very life.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I absolutely loved Ashley Audrain’s latest, THE WHISPERS. It’s a visceral exploration of the dark side of motherhood, suburbia, and female friendships. And FIT TO DIE by Daniel Kalla is a fast-paced, prescient, medical-thriller about a deadly weightloss drug sweeping through the upper echelons.
