10 Questions with Kimberly Lee, Author of the Thriller, “Have You Seen Him”

I had the great pleasure of interviewing Kimberly Lee about her debut novel. No spoilers, but it's a page turner! Kimberly's a former lawyer and a skilled writer and writing teacher. I met her when she facilitated a workshop I took through the feminist press, Aunt Lute. It was my first time creating a Soul Collage, so much fun!

In this interview, in addition to sharing lots of tips and knowledge, I love the quote she shares by Pat Schneider. It's something I've been thinking about lately, but had been unable to articulate. It's now printed and posted in my office. Anyway, read on and enjoy!

1. You have a new book that’s out. Tell us what sparked that kernel of an idea that inspired you to write “Have You Seen Him”?

When we meet the book’s main character, David, in the first chapter, he’s sifting through mail and sees the missing child ad with his own face. The inspiration for the book is a scenario pretty similar to that—I was sorting the day’s mail and saw an ad for a child who went missing when he was 10. The computer-progressed image showed him at 40 years old. I thought about how this boy’s family had been searching for over three decades  and had never given up trying to find him. The faces haunted me. I tore it out and carried it around in my bag for a while, then sat down to write a story about it.

2. You did such a great job with the pacing and the twists and turns! Who are some of your favorite writers?

Thank you! An early editor reminded me that thrillers need to move quickly. During revision, many chapters and several characters were cut because they slowed things down and weren’t essential to the plot. My first draft was twice as long!

I admire any writer who can craft a world that completely immerses me, with intriguing, quirky characters and a plot that keeps the pages turning. I love Brendan Slocumb’s work, his lush mysteries with jazz at the center. Anything by Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden—I can’t get enough of psychological thrillers. Another favorite is Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, The Serial Killer. I’m still waiting for the sequel to that one!

3. When, notice I said “when,” not “if,” your book gets made into a movie, what actor would you want to play David?

Thanks for the optimistic “when!” That’s a tough one—there are so many talented actors who could play that character. In my daydreams, I’ve envisioned several but will hold off on naming any names! It would be fascinating to see someone take the book’s characterization of David as source material and then add their unique perspective and interpretation.

4. The path to publication is different for everyone. Tell us about the journey to bring your book baby into the world.

I originally envisioned going the traditional route. After my early drafts were workshopped, revised, and workshopped again, and also edited by a developmental editor and a copyeditor, I entered it into Simon & Schuster’s First Novel Contest. My manuscript made it to semi-finalist in that contest and also in another contest by a smaller press. I later sent the first 20 pages to 10 agents. One requested the full manuscript and eventually passed on it, saying she really liked it but wasn’t in love with it as she needed to be. That phrasing stuck with me–that I was waiting for someone to be “in love with it as they needed to be.” I decided not to wait for that, and having placed well in the two contests gave me enough validation that the book was ready. I was in love with my book as much as I needed to be, and that was enough to go forward. I decided to independently publish it under my own imprint, Butterfly Effect Press, with the help of the wonderful team at Author Imprints. As a result, I maintained control over cover design and many aspects of production. They held my hand every step of the way, and their expertise was invaluable. 

5. You have such an impressive writing background! Many people want to write. What was the first thing that you did to get started on your writing journey professionally? 

After leaving my law practice, I took many writing workshops and courses, attended conferences, wrote a lot. But I was waiting for something–I don’t know what–to start putting my work out there. Fear and related emotions held me back. One particularly feisty instructor gave me a list of literary magazines she believed would appreciate my work and encouraged me, meaning pushed me, to do it. Everything I submitted didn’t get accepted, but a good number of things did and that gave me the confidence to keep going. After that, I became a reader for a literary journal, then interned at one, and finally became an editor on the staff of another. I learned a lot about craft and what does and doesn’t work by reading tons of submissions. It was also a great way to immerse myself in the writing community and increase my network.

6. What’s the best piece of writing advice that you’ve received or given?

The late Pat Schneider’s book Writing Alone and With Others has been in my library of books on writing for at least ten years. I highlighted this line and think of it whenever I’m wondering whether anyone will ever care to read what I’m writing : “If you do not record your own story, your tiny bit of the history of the human race is lost.” And this applies to any genre, whether it be fiction, memoir, poetry. We each have a story to tell, a legacy to leave. This keeps me trudging forward.

7. As a creativity coach, Soul Collage® and Guided Autobiography facilitator, do you have a favorite class or workshop that you like to teach? Or what would be your dream class?

I love seeing people light up as they discover and explore their creative gifts. I really enjoy leading workshops that integrate creative and expressive writing with SoulCollage®. The combination of methods offers access to participants’ hidden stories and inner wisdom through both word and image. It’s an opportunity to reclaim our narratives and generate authentic writing, from memory or imagination. I just returned from leading a weeklong retreat at Esalen in Big Sur, California, and have another coming up in August at Hollyhock in British Columbia. It’s a treat and so meaningful to have that amount of uninterrupted time, creating in community, forming connections, immersing ourselves in creativity. 

8. Do you have any tips or tricks for folks who have finished their first draft and are trying to figure out where/how to start in terms of revisions?

Great advice I received (and implemented): 

Set that first draft aside for a little while, get some distance from it, then return to it with fresh eyes. 

Make a chart with what each character is doing on each day and what purpose they serve. If they aren’t helping to develop or move the story along in some way, you know what to do. 

They say this about flash fiction and other short pieces, that every word counts, but it applies to longer works as well. What can you let go of? What helps the narrative? And what doesn’t, as much as you may love it. Take those things out and save them for another piece, your next book, perhaps!

Find beta readers who read your genre, people you can trust to give you an ultra-honest assessment in a kind way.

Keep learning craft and apply what resonates to your manuscript.

Read the story out loud, letting your own words wash over you. You’ll instinctively hear areas that could be modified.

Take joy! You’ve done the hardest part, completed something that many people say they want to do but rarely actually do—a first draft!

9. You’ve been an editor for different lit mags. What are some of the common pitfalls you noticed writers make when submitting to a lit journal?

Many writers, unfortunately, don’t follow the submission guidelines. Things like minimum or maximum word count, what format to use when sending their story, whether we accept previously published work. Those are easy things that hurt a submission right off the bat. Often, it was clear that writers weren’t familiar with the magazine itself. It’s always wise to read at least a few pieces the journal has published to get a sense of the style and aesthetic. Publications may occasionally be willing to include something other than their norm, though. If you have something different that you feel would be a good fit in terms of theme or some other aspect, acknowledge that in the cover letter to show you’ve done your homework, and explain why you’d like the editors to consider it.

10. What’s next for you? With your legal background, can I start calling you John Grisham? ☺  

It’s funny you mention John Grisham, also a favorite! When I was in law school, I’d get up early to read his latest book, prioritizing that before reading the cases assigned for my classes! I think I knew deep down I wanted to someday parlay my background in law to writing fiction, and I admired Grisham’s journey.

Have You Seen Him is the first in a trilogy, so it’s back to my notebook to work on the second installment. Pen to page. A few people have asked me what’s going to happen with the characters, and to be honest, I’m not sure myself, although I have a few ideas. Robert Frost said, “No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.” We’ll all be surprised with the next developments–stay tuned!

You can follow Kimberly on IG or visit her website.