Joe Hart is the author of the new novel I Become Her. His many other books include Or Else. He lives in Minnesota.
Q: What inspired you to write I Become Her?
A: I began to think about the challenges and pressures women face on different levels—ranging from internal to societal—and how the barriers and expectations can vary significantly from those faced by men.
I wondered what a woman who had always struggled to find her place/who she was in the world would do when faced with all of these pressures at once.
Q: You’ve said of your character Imogen that she was “strong and fully formed from the beginning.” Can you say more about that?
A: Imogen had this quiet strength in her from the get-go, but it was shrouded in self-doubt. It was apparent she longed to feel fully comfortable in her own skin, and the book is really a journey about her discovering not only who she is but also what she’s capable of.
Q: Did you know how the story would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?
A: Yes, I knew exactly how it was going to end, but several elements shifted around the ending to make it land. Hopefully it does!
Q: The novel is set in a variety of locations, including the Washington, D.C., area and a remote part of Washington state--how important is setting to you in your writing?
A: Extremely. I adore books where the setting is a character in itself, and I always try to imbue my work with a strong sense of place. I think a fully realized setting is critical in really immersing yourself in the story.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I’m very close to finishing up a novel that’s a little different than anything else I’ve written. There are thriller elements as well as a mystery at its heart, but really it’s a story about what it takes to rebuild a life after tragedy destroys it and how important memory is to that process.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: As always I really appreciate anyone picking up the book and giving it a review on the platform of their choice. Thanks so much for the great questions!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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