Kate Robards

Kate Robards holds a degree in journalism and works in communications at a nonprofit organization. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and children. Her new novel is The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard.

My Q&A with the author:

How much work does your title do to take readers into the story?

The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard is both a telling and cryptic title. Early in the story, the reader learns that acclaimed journalist Willa Stannard is found dead from an apparent suicide. Her sister, Sawyer, however, is convinced there’s foul play. She begins to dig into Willa’s final days, looking for a clue that might explain her death.

Willa’s death is central to the story, and it hurtles Sawyer into a search for answers, taking her to a small town where a toddler disappeared years before. The mysteries of Willa’s death and this cold case intertwine. It’s fitting that the title references Willa’s death, but … three deaths? What does that mean?

To explain the title would mean I’d spoil some twisty revelations. It’s enigmatic but it doesn’t reveal that the book follows Sawyer’s journey, too. I had alternate titles in mind—as many as 10 titles went to my publisher for consideration! Ultimately, The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard fit the novel best.

How surprised would your teenage reader self be by your novel?

My teenage self would not be surprised at all. I’ve always loved mysteries and thrillers. In junior high, I wrote a series of mysteries that appeared in the school newspaper. In high school, I worked at the local library, where I dreamed of shelving my own books one day. From a very young age, I’ve loved writing, playing detective, and being scared, so penning thrillers is a natural fit!

Do you find it harder to write beginnings or endings? Which do you change more?

With The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard, I knew the ending before I knew the preceding story. I built the story around the twist. I wanted to sprinkle clues throughout the novel without making the outcome too obvious—or leave the reader feeling as if the ending came out of left field.

Do you see much of yourself in your characters? Do they have any connection to your personality, or are they a world apart?

Absolutely. I see myself in both of the main characters, Willa and Sawyer. These characters are purposely very different, because everything from their personalities to their ambition (or lack thereof) drove a wedge between them as they grew up. Willa is a driven, analytical perfectionist. Sawyer, on the other hand, is a bit ungrounded and emotionally sensitive. She wears rose-colored glasses.

While I tend to identify more with Willa, younger sister Sawyer reflects more joy. I can see myself in her hopefulness and energy. While neither character is a direct reflection of my personality, both exhibit connections to me.

What non-literary inspirations have influenced your writing?

One of the biggest influences on this novel in particular is location. Growing up, I spent my summers at a family cottage on a remote lake. The isolation of the cottage set my nerves on edge, and that feeling—and wondering if anyone could help me if something went wrong—inspired the setting and one of the storylines of The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard.

In the book, Sawyer begins to retrace her sister Willa’s footsteps to find how she spent her final days. Her investigation takes her to a tiny cabin in a lakeside community where a toddler went missing decades earlier. There are few neighbors and only one road out, but still, police were unable to solve the mystery of what happened to the little girl.

Spending time at a remote lake house, and the notion that while you may think you’re isolated from trouble, you’re also cut off from help, influenced this book.

Visit Kate Robards's website.

My Book, The Movie: The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard.

The Page 69 Test: The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard.

--Marshal Zeringue