The following is an interview with author Courtney Psak regarding the September 22nd physical release of the psychological thriller, The Aunt, with Hodder and Stoughton. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Psak about her creative process in balancing the stories for various titles, what readers may take away from the themes in The Aunt, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on tomorrow’s release of The Aunt! What can you share with us about the story’s overall premise?
Courtney Psak: The story is about two sisters, Lexi and Amy, who have been estranged from one another for some time. Lexi, who was always the screw up, is the one that winds up married to a rich husband and has a three-month-old, while her sister, Amy, is on the verge of financial ruin and a divorce after suffering a miscarriage. Amy soon learns that Lexi and her husband Hugh have died, and she suddenly inherits everything including her niece. When the FBI suspect foul play, it’s Amy they are looking at as she had everything to gain from it.
BD: You have been on fire with new releases, including The Tutor and The Hostess (which released this Spring). How would you describe your creative process in balancing so many incredible story ideas and bringing each one to fruition?
CP: Thank you. I’m a big outliner, so once I have an idea for a story, I like to map it out. It doesn’t always line up with how the story actually goes, but it does keep me on track to make sure that I don’t write myself into a corner. And like you mentioned, if I have multiple books coming out, then, sometimes, I need to stop writing so I can edit another one. I find having an outline reminds me where I left off.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. With The Aunt, how do you feel that Amy’s story may connect with and impact today’s readers, and what, if any, conversations do you hope that it may inspire?
CP: Once Amy finds out that her sister is dead, she immediately regrets her estrangement from her. She starts to realize that holding a grudge made her miss out on having a real relationship with her sister. The story is meant to highlight the importance of family and most importantly communication.
BD: What makes Hodder and Stoughton the ideal publishing partner for your work?
CP: They are a great publisher to work with. Not only are they very responsive, but I do like how they published all three of my books in a span of a year, which has proven to be a great way for me to establish a readership.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about The Aunt and your other work?
CP: You can always check my website, courtneypsak.com, and follow me on Instagram (@courtneypsak_author).
