Mina Hardy

Mina Hardy writes books. Usually, they feature good people making bad choices, but sometimes they might be about bad people making good choices. Either way, everyone is basically a mess, and you shouldn't trust any of them. From twisted tales of domestic suspense to darker stories of bumping in the night, you can expect thrills and a few chills.

Hardy's new novel is We Knew All Along.

My Q&A with the author:

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

The title, We Knew All Along, says it all. I hope by the time readers get to the end and find out what it is they all knew (all along) the reader can look back at certain points throughout the story and have their own “aha!” moment.

What's in a name?

Naming characters is a bit like naming a baby. You want to find the perfect fit. The difference is that a writer can create a character that perfectly fits the name you gave them, and children…well, children grow into their own people, no matter what you’ve called them. I like giving my characters names that feel as though they fit, but I also like using names that feel real. For We Knew All Along, I picked Jewelann because years and years ago, my family knew a family with a daughter called Jewelann, and it always stuck with me! I usually also try to be accurate choosing names that match the character’s age or background. The names that are most popular right now don’t necessarily make sense for a middle-aged character, etc.

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

Not much. I’ve always been a fan of dark and twisted stories about people making bad choices.

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

Beginnings and endings are equally difficult and also easy for me. I usually know the beginning, and I often know the end…the middle is that vast wonderland of “What If.” I rewrite my beginnings more often, though. If I’m stuck, that’s where I go back to revise until it feels right. If the beginning works, the ending is much easier to find. With We Knew All Along, I had a solid beginning (the rekindling of an old romance that quickly sours) and I had some idea of where the book would end, but it changed more over time, while the beginning stayed the same. Honestly, the ending changed a few times before I settled on where it would all land!

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

All of my characters have a little bit of me in them, even if it’s their behavior being completely opposite of what I would ever choose. I write about what scares me, what I understand, how I’d do things or how I would never, ever! Basically, if I can’t understand why a character would make a choice, I can’t fully write about them.

What non-literary inspirations have influenced your writing?

I always listen to music. Every book has a playlist. Songs range from current favorites to ones I choose specifically to create a mood or because the lyrics relate to the book’s theme.

Visit Mina Hardy's website.

--Marshal Zeringue