Katie O’Rourke grew up in New Hampshire, went to college in Massachusetts, and settled down in Arizona. These are the environments you’ll find in her stories because she thinks having an authentic sense of place is so important when you’re reading.
She’s been calling herself a writer since the second grade when her teacher had the class bind their stories with patterned paper and put them on display in the library. She writes the kind of fiction she likes to read: character-driven, relationship-focused, and emotionally complex. She has published several novels and a collection of short stories. She’s spent the last twenty years in Tucson where she lives with her sweet yellow lab and even sweeter boyfriend.
About Unclaimed Baggage
2000: This is the year Jenna is supposed to graduate college, become independent, and find true happiness—whatever that looks like. But she is a people pleaser, and when her stepfather’s health deteriorates, she leaves school to help take care of him.
This also means taking care of everyone else: her emotionally fragile best friend, Liam, her twin sister, Julie, who was born second and takes her role as the youngest of the family quite seriously, and their mother, Barbara—who might actually be the baby. Jenna has always felt like the only grown-up around.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I never thought about genre before I started writing. I just wrote what interested me and this is what came out.
I read mostly literary/contemporary fiction, but I do enjoy reading other genres. For instance, I love a good thriller. But I don’t think I could create the sort of plot surprises that are so fun for a reader. That’s just not how my brain works.
I’ve also really enjoyed the work of George R.R. Martin and the intricate world he created that has a consistent, generations-long history. I know how difficult it is when writing a family saga that spans decades. I admire his world building as something beyond my own capabilities and I relate to his character building as something I aspire to in my own writing.
Are you more of a fan of plot-driven stories or character-driven stories?
Definitely character-driven. The plot is just the nonsense I have to make up so I can tell you about these people. I just watched this movie the other night and I could not tell you what it was about plot-wise. It was about a father and his adult daughter and how they come to terms with their complicated relationship and what they mean to each other. The plot points were not important. I loved it.
Fill in the blank: “People will like your book if they like stories about…”
Relationships. Mostly family, but also chosen family, friends, lovers. I’m more interested in how the MC finds herself than how she finds her significant other, though that might be part of it since romantic love is part of life.
What is your favorite website that you use to promote your writing?
Mybookcave.com offers helpful networking to authors with newsletters to share and participate in cross-promotion.
If Hollywood bought the rights to your book, would you want it to be turned into a movie or series?
It depends on the book. Blood & Water is told with alternating narrators, and I see it as a limited series on HBO. Unclaimed Baggage and Reclaimed Baggage would be movies. Since the sequel takes place many years later, I imagine them like the Before Sunset series.
Who is your dream audiobook narrator?
Meryl Streep. I recently listened to a book that she narrated, and I loved it so much, but part of me wondered how much of my affection for the book was dependent on her performance.
Do you try to hit a certain page or word count with each writing session?
I have found that’s the fastest way to trigger writer’s block. It isn’t something that can be forced. If I make myself write three pages today, I’ll have to spend time deleting three pages when I edit them tomorrow.
I’ve participated in Nanowrimo on several occasions but my goal is never a specific word count. It’s about setting the time aside, making it a priority, reminding myself that I am a writer. If it turns out that I have nothing to say that day, fine. At least I made sure I had the chance.
Who would you most want to read your book, living or dead?
I used a quote from Ani Difranco in my last book, Blood & Water, and I contacted her management to get permission. For decades, I had been hearing how impossible it is to use music lyrics in writing, so I was blown away when they agreed. As a thank you, I sent her a copy of the book. I never heard back, but that would be pretty awesome.
Who is on your Mt. Rushmore of greatest/inspirational authors?
Sue Miller, Julia Glass, Ann Packer, Elizabeth Strout
What is your favorite bookish possession?
I met Julia Glass at a book event and asked her to sign my copy of The Whole World Over. It is the only time in my life I have asked someone for their autograph, and I remember feeling so nervous and starstruck speaking to her.
Are you a big reader? Do you own a large collection of books, or are you more of a borrower?
I don’t have a big collection, but I have a handful of authors I love enough to splurge on hard covers so I can reread them when I’m in a stuck writing phase and need to be inspired. Otherwise, I’ll buy cheap used paperbacks before I borrow a library book because I can’t seem to keep books from getting spills on them or curling their pages.
Once, I dropped a book in the lake and continued reading it as it swelled and dried in the sun. Lately, I’ve gotten into audiobooks which allows me to get more reading done, but I really miss getting to put them on my bookshelf.
Have you ever gone away to work on a piece of writing? If not, where would you go if you could?
A hotel room with room service. It doesn’t matter where.
When I was working on edits for my first book, I went away on a big family vacation. Due to a hotel reservation error, I ended up in a room by myself on the other side of the hotel property. Since I was so far away, I often only met up with everyone for dinner. They all felt sorry for me, but it was actually pretty fantastic.
How do you measure the success of your writing career?
I’d love it if Finding Charlie was picked by Reese Witherspoon’s book club or Unclaimed Baggage was made into a film for Netflix, but the pursuit of those things doesn’t drive me. I write because I have these stories in my head, and because I have something to say. I write for myself.
I don’t know if I can say I enjoy the writing itself. The process can be pretty frustrating. But the finished product is very satisfying. I love hearing from readers. I think that connection may be the main reason I write. Success is a good review.
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Always great how you shine a spotlight on other authors…bravo
Thanks and thanks for reading!
Not many people. Probably my mom. She was like a sister, best friend & mom all rolled into one. I miss her every single day. ♥
That’s a great answer, and I hope you can find a travel buddy just like her.