The
author of this year’s best-selling trade-paperback novel, “The Housemaid Is
Watching,” really doesn’t want you to know who she is. She uses a pen name,
Freida McFadden, and rarely makes public appearances. “I don’t like to be the
center of attention,” she said in a video interview this summer from her living
room. “I love that people are reading my books,” she added. “But the spotlight
on me specifically is hard.”
“It’s
not just about privacy but also about social anxiety,” she said. The excitement
surrounding her wildly popular suspense novels has only escalated her worry
that she may not be “that amazing person that everyone expects you to be.”
McFadden
did not set out to be a novelist. She is a doctor who specializes in brain
disorders — not a brain surgeon, she was quick to point out — and has two young
children. She would not disclose her age or whether she has a housemaid.
McFadden’s
novels, written in the first-person present, are accessible: “If I leave this
house, it will be in handcuffs,” is the opening line of “The Housemaid.” Her
characters aren’t always believable or likable, but the many twists keep the
plot moving quickly.
It’s
necessary. A character who is shy and doesn’t do much isn’t very interesting.
Some of the characters are like me, if I made different decisions in life. I am
not a gambler, I’m very safe. Everything I do, I put tons of thought into, and
that doesn’t make a very interesting charactYou’re not an exBKinsella.
What
gave you the strength to “I’m ready to publish”?
Rejection.
When I was in college, I wrote a novel and I sent it around to agents, and it
was rejected. Between college and medical school, I wrote a novel. My mother
helped me send it to agents, and I actually landed an agent for that one and
they sent it around, but nothing came of it. So I decided to self-publish. My
goal wasn’t to be famous, my goal was to get my book in the hands of readers. I
can’t emphasize enough: I just wanted a book I could hold in my hands. And once
I did one, I wanted to do more.
You
seem to produce books pretty quickly. How quickly?
I
am limited not by ideas or writing time but good twists. With a thriller, you
have to have a fresh twist. I spend a lot of time planning books. Once I start
writing, I can go very quickly. Also, I am very cognizant of burning myself
out. I am comfortable writing three to four books a year. I started doing this
for fun. I want it to continue being fun. Right now it’s still fun, but if I
start pushing myself to write more, it won’t be.
What
do you hope readers will take from your books?
I
am trying to create the kind of book I enjoy — that’s easy to read and fun. I
was recently going through a hard time, and I started reading “Listen for the Lie,”
by Amy Tintera. It immediately took my mind off my problem. People are looking
for so many deep meanings in my books, but ultimately I want them to be
enjoyable.
Your
success is inspiring. How do you feel about being in that role?
It’s
surreal. It’s wonderful and makes me proud. I want people to know that you can
do it, too, at any age. When I started getting older, I thought I’d missed my
chance, that I’d never be able to do this, but it’s never really too late.
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