DEBUT SPOTLIGHT: Kate Myles

Do you love thrillers with wicked-fast pacing and characters who might make you view your own morality in a better light? Then you need to read THE RECEPTIONIST, Kate Myles’s deliciously noir debut set in modern-day Los Angeles. If you have a dark sense of humor, you’ll especially enjoy Kate’s book. From the ambitious and manipulative Emily and her narcissistic playboy husband Doug, to his naïve and unstable paramour Chloe and her bizarre pack of actor friends, there are plenty of fascinating characters you’ll love to hate. I also enjoyed the symbolism in the book: the wave-swept mansion on the Pacific Coast Highway, the claustrophobic feeling of Los Angeles traffic, the menacing influence of the 1%’s wealth and power, and Chloe’s ever-looming risk of poverty. These elements help to effectively convey the decadence and decline of her characters. The Receptionist was easily one of my favorite reads of 2021 and I was so delighted that Kate took the time to chat with me about her masterfully-plotted book.

The Full Synopsis

Murder, money, and ambition fuel a fiery love triangle in this darkly comic and deeply disturbing thriller of rage, manipulation, and revenge.

On the eve of her wedding, Emily, a top Hollywood agent, is devastated to learn that her CEO fiancé is a serial cheater. Refusing to follow her instincts, she goes ahead with the marriage in order to preserve her hard-earned membership in the one percent. A master maneuverer, Emily is confident that she can outsmart her husband, clean up his messes, while enjoying the fabulous fruits of high-powered coupledom.

When her husband embarks on an audacious affair with his volatile young receptionist, Emily’s savvy is put to the test. His reckless decisions set off a chain of shocking scandals, plunging Emily into a cat-and-mouse fight for survival. Someone will die. Someone will kill. The question is, who will be left standing?

“The malicious actions of these angry, narcissistic people are appalling, but that won’t stop readers from turning the pages to see what happens to them.” —Publishers Weekly

And now for our interview:

Paulette: Hi, Kate! Thanks so much for chatting with me! I loved your book. I could not put it down! It had me riveted from the very first page. Can you tell us what inspired you to write THE RECEPTIONIST?

Kate: The Receptionist began as a comedic story. I’d had this character floating around in my head, a fair maiden from a fairytale like Cinderella or Snow White. These ladies were meant to be instructional at a certain point, right? They modeled humility and patience and above all, the importance of being beautiful. I thought it would be funny to drop a complete naïf like this into 21st century Hollywood and watch her navigate the world of fast-talking Princes Charming and too-good-to-be-true Fairy Godmothers. Would her “fairness” be enough to carry her through?

The novel evolved quite a bit from that idea as I expanded the cast of characters and gave the story a different protagonist. It’s pretty much pure noir now. But I do think the readers who most enjoy The Receptionist have a taste for dark humor.

Paulette: I definitely picked up on the darkly humorous aspects and the camp factor in the novel, but it’s still a harrowing nail-biter of a ride. I can only imagine what it was like to craft the story. Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process?

Kate: I daydream a lot and jot down a ton of notes. When I’m sitting at the computer I’m probably at my most productive about an hour into the writing session, and I don’t want it to end. I do feel like I never have enough time. I love tapping into this place of deep concentration – the creative flow or whatever you want to call it. I get these little hits of euphoria when a sentence or paragraph comes together in an elegant way.

Then my least favorite part of writing is when I reread that elegant sentence or paragraph the next day and realize how much work it needs.  

Paulette: Oh, yes. I have been there plenty of times myself! I have entire documents filled with sentences that I once thought were brilliant! But it’s all part of the process. Writing can be a slog sometimes, but those high points make it worthwhile. How have you celebrated some of your milestones as a writer during your debut year?

Kate: I had a reading for my launch, and it was great to see friends. But honestly, I’m not much of a celebrator when it comes to my career. I’ve been kicking around the entertainment industry most of my adult life – first as an actor and television host, then as a producer. There are so many highs and lows baked into the process. I’m happiest when I’ve stepped off the roller coaster entirely.

Paulette: It’s such a volatile industry. There are no guarantees and you definitely learn to develop a thick skin and not see your work as your life. I love going out in nature and re-grounding myself between projects. Going to the beach and letting the sound of the ocean sooth my mind, or just spending time with my family and not thinking about writing can be the kind of reset that I need when it’s time to pick my work back up again.

What have been the most challenging or unexpected aspects of your debut year?

Kate: I was surprised at how exposed I’d feel putting my work out there. Thankfully, I was able to talk to other writers about it, including you, Paulette! It was helpful learning that my experience was not at all unique.

Paulette: Right? Speaking of harrowing experiences! It’s a bit like looking over the edge of a precipice and hoping your parachute deploys when you jump off, but once the book is out there it gains a life of its own through our readers.

Any words of advice for aspiring authors?

Kate: An addendum to my answer above: If putting yourself out there ends up feeling brutal or terrible, that’s okay. Go read that Man in the Arena quote again and toughen up! Or don’t. Seriously - you’ll be fine either way.

Paulette: Very wise words, and I love that quote! There will always be times on this journey where we may need to retreat for a bit to lick our wounds—whether it’s during querying or after (rejection still happens after you’re published), but persistence, patience, and determination are qualities that help an author so much.

Thanks so much for the interview, Kate! I am beyond excited to see what other stories might await from your brilliant storytelling mind.

You can purchase THE RECEPTIONIST on Amazon, locally at The Book Jewel here in L.A., from Bookshop or request it from your favorite indie bookseller.

Kate Myles has worked as television producer for a variety of networks, including Discovery, OWN and the Food Network. Before her producing career, she was an actor and comedian, enjoying a two-year stint as a host of the Travel Channel series, Not Your Average Travel Guide, among other adventures. Her short fiction has appeared in Quarterly West, Necessary Fiction, and Storm Cellar Quarterly. The Receptionist is her first novel. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. You can connect with her through her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.