Rene Gutteridge Interview

Q: How long have you been writing and what other careers or jobs have you had?

A: I have been professionally writing for about twenty years. My first writing job came right out of college. I was hired by a church to write skits for their Sunday morning services and their Friday night singles service. Before that, to get through college, I worked at an architectural and engineering company answering phones and doing secretarial work.

Q: Do you write in only one genre and if so which one and why? If not, which ones and why?

A: I am definitely multi-genre, and I think that comes from my screenwriting background, which is what I studied in college. Screenwriters don’t think so much in terms of genre as they do story, so I was always taught to follow the story, whatever the genre. When I became a novelist, genre was not important to me, but I did have to make some concessions because the publishing world does like to categorize authors more. My two main genres are comedy and suspense, but I’ve also written a few contemporaries.

Q: How does your faith play into your writing?

A: I always write from a Christian worldview, but I don’t like to be heavy handed about it. I let the story dictate where the faith threads go.

Q: How do you choose your settings for your books?

A: Some of my settings are vaguer than others. It depends on how important it is to the story. I have an entire series of comedies, the Boo Series, where the town is basically its own character. Other times, the setting merely serves as a backdrop.

Q: Do you base your characters on people you know or are they totally made up?

A: They’re totally made up. I pull from here or there, but they all come from my head.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release MISERY LOVES COMPANY?

A: Misery Loves Company is the story of two lives entwined by grief. Jules Belleno rarely leaves the house since her husband’s death while on duty as a police officer. Other than the book reviews she writes on her blog, Jules has little contact with the outside world. On her wedding anniversary she should’ve been sharing with her husband, Jules ventures out to the grocery store to gather items to fix his favorite meal. That’s the last thing she remembers. When she wakes up, she’s tied to a bed in a strange room. What she discovers about who has kidnapped her, and why, will change everything she believed about her husband’s death…and her faith.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

A: I’ve always been a fan of Stephen King even though I really don’t like horror. But his writing and his stories are so good and original that I have to dive in. My favorite of his is Misery, so Misery Loves Company is a bit of an ode to this master writer. It’s a reversal of the plot, so this time, the author kidnaps the fan. That is mostly where the similarities end, but it was definitely fun to play with. The fictional author in my book, Patrick Reagan, is one of my favorite characters I’ve ever created.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

A: I like to explore the emotionally raw side of things, and I think grief is something that we’re a little ashamed that we struggle with. We’re given a certain, allotted time to grieve, and then scripture is heaped upon us to remind us that our grieving time is over. I wanted to explore grief in a different way—the depth of it outside our “allotted” time. Also, I have to say, this is one of my favorite covers of all time! So original. The designer was fabulous.

Q: Tell us what you like about the main characters of this book.

A: I like that Jules Belleno’s faith is messy. I like that she always attached herself to her husband’s strong faith, and when he dies, she’s left with nothing of her own. Patrick Reagan, the famous author who decides to kidnap his fan, is fascinating beyond what I can describe here. He’s mysterious, he’s wise, and he’s crazy. What more could you want in a character?

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?

A: I’m actually working on a screenplay, a comedy about the coping methods of moms with special needs kids. It’s a project I’ve been working on with actress and producer Vanessa Ore for about a year. It’s a project very close to our hearts.

Q: If money were no object what vacation would you like to take and why?

A: Oh that’s such a hard question for me! I’m a bit of a workhorse and I don’t rest well. I’ve actually had to learn the act of resting and relaxation in my adult life. That said, I don’t think sitting on the beach is for me. For a big vacation, if money were no object, I’d want my husband and kids there, but also our extended family. I’m family person. So I’d say something in Europe, maybe a tour of Scotland and Ireland. Or Greece. I’d like to learn things and eat great food. I’m an amateur foodie. Those would be my standards!

Q: What is the silliest thing you have ever done?

A: Oh wow. Hard to narrow it down. I’m the family prankster. So I’m always hiding or coming up with elaborate schemes. One time the kids and their friends were making a scary movie in the garage, so I came up with the idea of sneaking my husband up in the attic while I distracted them, and then at the right moment, the ceiling hatch popped open and he dangled out. They won’t forget that any time soon! Wish we’d caught THAT on camera.

Q: What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

A: There’s no question on that one. It concerned the tornado in Moore in 2013. I was working at home, keeping a nonchalant eye on the weather even though the forecasters had warned us days in advance it would be bad. By the time I noticed things were getting tense and turned on the TV, a tornado was already on the ground, an F5, and it was barreling straight toward my daughter’s school. The meteorologist was frantically pleading with viewers to get underground. “You’re not going to make it if you’re not below ground!” Staring at the TV, I knew I didn’t have time to go get her. It was at her doorstep and soon to be at mine. My mom was on the phone with me, begging me to take cover, and I just froze. I couldn’t make a decision. I knew I couldn’t get to her in time but how could I try to save my own life when she was so vulnerable? I ran outside, the very last thing you want to do during a tornado, and I was standing there not knowing what to do. Some neighbors were flagging me over. I ran toward them and got into their shelter. It happened to be my daughter’s best friend’s family. My neighbor had been vigilant and gone to get her children. All the kids were staring at me, and my daughter’s best friend asked, “Where’s Cate?” I was devastated. I hadn’t gone to get her. She was at school, with no more than a hallway wall between her and an F5 tornado. We could hear the tornado shaking the ground as it passed. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, saving my own life when I knew I couldn’t save hers. But in that dark shelter, I heard God’s voice in my heart. He said, “What are you going to do to stop a tornado?” And a surreal peace passed over me right then.

Minutes later, we’d emerge to find our neighborhood and the school intact. At the very last minute, the tornado had turned and headed east. With that turn, it saved my daughter’s life, but ended up hitting two other elementary schools, wiping them off the map and killing seven children. I still grapple with all of that to this day.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet?

A: I’m everywhere! Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and my website, www.renegutteridge.com .

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us?

A: Thank you for this opportunity!