Get ready to learn more about the book Can I Trust Her in this discussion with sapphic author Frances Lucas.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Frances Lucas about Can I Trust Her, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Insta-Love category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Can I Trust Her?
I read mysteries and thrillers almost exclusively. When (my) Katie and I were in middle school we used to pretend to be detectives, just like my characters Virginia and Katie did when they were that age. When V & K reunite as high school juniors, they find themselves faced with a “real” murder mystery to solve. The timing for this book was right because I’d just retired from teaching that age group. And, as much as I hate to admit it because I’ve been in a wonderful relationship with someone else for thirty-five years, Katie, the first true love of my life, is never far from my thoughts.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
My favorite character is Katie because she’s the most damaged and has the furthest way to go in her development as a queer girl who accepts herself. But the character I most identify with is Virginia because she’s me. (By the way, I had a sister named Virginia who passed away about a year ago.) My family is oh-so-odd in many ways (I won’t get into that), but most of them never gave me sh*t when I came out to them.
What was the biggest challenge writing this book?
The biggest challenge in writing this book was sticking to the mystery elements and trying not to get too sentimental. There were times when I was writing it that I literally sat and cried, remembering “my” Katie. We actually met in elementary school. We used to sneak away at lunchtime and hide behind the hill at the church across the street to practice kissing. Katie grew out of it. Obviously, I didn’t. This was my opportunity to rewrite history, so to speak.
What part of Can I Trust Her was the most fun to write?
Oddly enough, the part of the book that was most fun to write was near the beginning. Katie has just moved back to Alaska and has enrolled in Virginia’s high school. It nearly kills Virginia to see Katie strolling down the hall with a guy who has his fingers *ahem* down the back of Katie’s pants. Then later, when Virginia waylays Katie in the school parking lot with the totally lame suggestion that they should investigate the murder of their classmate together because they wanted to be detectives when they were younger, Katie lets her have it, both barrels blazing. First she tells her that they’re not cops or secret agents like they used to pretend to be in middle school. And when dumb ol’ hopelessly-in-love Virginia won’t let it go, Katie tells her in no uncertain terms, “…if you want to know what I really think, it’s that this is some weird and pathetic attempt of yours to get us back together. So let me set you straight right now. It isn’t going to happen. I liked you once when were kids, but it wasn’t right or natural.”
Brutal, folks, am I right? And then, of course, good old Virginia who has never been one to second-guess herself barely makes it back to her car where she’s glad that snow covers the windshield so no one can see her crying.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
CAN I TRUST HER? has a double meaning. There’s a scene in the book where Virginia has to admit to Katie that a piece of evidence they’ve found actually belongs to her—Virginia. She wonders if confessing it will negatively impact their newly rekindled and fragile relationship. But the title also implies that Katie may not be able to trust herself. Since she and Virginia parted ways four years earlier, Katie has experienced some very tough times having to do with her parents. So, can she trust herself to find the courage to stand by Virginia when their very lives are at stake? There’s a scary moment near the climax when Virginia wonders it too.
The part of the book that was the SECOND most fun to write was the ending when (*spoiler alert*) Katie tells the school’s student body and a correspondent from a national TV show that she loves Virginia.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
I did write a sequel called IS SHE LYING?, which I hope you’ll feature in your newsletter or on Facebook. To me, it’s just as angsty, romantic, and suspenseful as this one, but sales have been disappointing. I heard another author say once that your audience drops off by a third with each sequel until soon only your mother’s reading it. My publisher also told me that young adult books are a hard sell, so I’m transitioning to the adult market now. And no more sequels.
What is your writing process like?
I’m a pantsing plotter when I write. I don’t know how anyone who writes suspense survives without having her plot points all lined up. Sometimes I’ll hit the end of the first third of the book and think, how’s this going to work? Holy Christmas, this doesn’t make sense! Then, I have to go back to the beginning and figure out what went wrong. I can also write and rewrite the same sentence, paragraph, and chapter dozens of times. It’s why I’m so slow! Where should I place that darn adverb? Should I leave it in or take it out? And most importantly, how do I add elements of suspense, mystery, and danger to what are essentially romance novels? Yeah, I admit it—I’m a sucker for seeing two girls fall in love and get their happily ever after.
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
Ha. Celebrate? First, I think wow, this is the best novel I’ve ever written. Then, I chew my nails while my wife reads it. “Honey, did you like it?” “Yes, dear. It’s really good.” “Just really good or great?” “Oh, I meant, great!” But did she? Is that what she meant and just forgot to say it? Doubt sets in. I lie awake at night and wonder if readers will like it. How could I make it better? Is it too long or too short? Too much description or not enough? Does the dialogue pop? Are the characters flawed, yet still likable? When does the celebration come? Generally, it doesn’t. I’m too angsty. But I do love the process of creating a good story and I LOVE hearing from readers who enjoy my books!
Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing?
My two little dogs, Rocky and Benny, sleep on the bed behind me while I sit at my computer in the spare bedroom (facing the backyard) and write. Rocky is a poodle terrier mix with the hardy temperament of an Alaska sled dog. My wife and I describe him as compliant. He’s a happy little boy that’s always up for a challenge or a new adventure. Five years ago, we adopted Benny, a Lhasa Apso, from a former neighbor who spends most of her time traveling now. We describe Benny as defiant. He’s a prima donna who hates to get his feet wet and will growl at you if you don’t do exactly what he wants. He’s very clear on what he wants and doesn’t want. Fortunately for us (not him) he doesn’t have many teeth. When I take them for their daily walks, people will ask me if they’re related (to each other, not me—ha ha) because they look alike. That’s just a happy coincidence!
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing, and by whom?
Years ago, I got to hear Anne Lamott (author of Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life) speak at a writing conference. She was so down-to-earth and funny. Her advice was to always carry a pen with you so you could write down your ideas. She said she’d recommend a pencil, but then you’d also need paper. See what I mean about being funny? Now, of course, I can record my ideas on my phone, which is so handy in the middle of the night when a book thought is blocking my sleep. Someone else told me to write every single day and try to write at least three double-spaced pages. I don’t always do it, but I haven’t forgotten it.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
I develop extensive profiles for each of my main characters, including victims and villains. This includes what they look like (with photos from the Internet), what their strengths and flaws are, how they speak, and what is their motivation for the way they act. I always worry that I might make them too unlikeable—both villains and heroes…and yes, that does keep me up at night.
What type of books do you enjoy reading the most?
When I was teaching, I read quite a bit of YA fantasy because that’s what my students liked and it was fun to talk about books with them. Every time I finished a book, I’d set it on a large table in the front of my classroom and invite anyone who wanted it to take it. They could bring it back or pass it along to someone else they thought might like it. It was a great way to get book discussions going. After I retired from teaching, I turned to mysteries, thrillers, and suspense. My wife and I exchange books, but I find it so irritating when she’s read a book first and won’t tell me if I’m correctly guessing what will happen next. We usually read early in the mornings while we’re drinking coffee.
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
I was already writing by the time I read FINGERSMITH by Sarah Waters, but I found it to be one of the most intriguing stories I’d ever laid my hands on. Part two blew me away. I went on to watch the PBS series, then invited friends over and watched it again! That turned me on to Tipping the Velvet and a couple of her other books. If you haven’t read her novels, I’d highly recommend them.
What book do you wish you had written?
I wish I’d written THE SUNDOWN MOTEL by Simone St. James. It’s so wonderful and atmospheric. One of my nieces recommended it to me, and I couldn’t put it down. If you haven’t read it, it’s about a girl who goes to work at a seedy motel in Upstate New York in the eighties and disappears. Fast-forward thirty-five years and her niece goes to work at the same motel, experiencing many similar ghostly events. It’s not sapphic and I wouldn’t retell it, but it did inspire me to write WHAT HAPPENED AT LEE HOUSE, which will be published by Bella Books in the fall. (How’s that for a little self-promotion!) I loved the ghostly mystery vibe that Simone St. James created. Since then, I’ve read every book she’s written.
