The Mechanics of Memory by Audrey Lee
Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!
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The Mechanics of Memory
Never Forget.
Memory is Copeland-Stark’s business. Yet after months of reconsolidation treatments at their sleek new flagship facility, Hope Nakano still has no idea what happened to her lost year, or the life she was just beginning to build with her one great love.
Each procedure surfaces fragmented clues which erode Hope’s trust in her own memories, especially the ones of Luke. As inconsistencies mount, her search for answers reveals a much larger secret Copeland-Stark is determined to protect.
But everyone has secrets, including Hope.
To purchase a copy of The Mechanics of Memory, click either of the following links: Amazon and CamCat.
The Mechanics of Memory — Author Interview with Audrey Lee
The Mechanics of Memory centers on Hope Nakano. Tell us about her:
A year ago, Hope’s life revolved around desert sunsets, single malt scotch, waffles on Saturday mornings, and Luke.
Today, not so much. Her new life is about organic food, yoga, and sound baths at the Wilder Sanctuary in Rancho Mirage. Which might not be so terrible, if only she were allowed to leave. And if she could remember why she was there in the first place.
Hope is smart and tenacious, attributes that aren’t exactly an asset at Wilder. She wants desperately to get back to her old life, with Luke and his daughter Charlotte. But as memory fragments begin to surface, Hope begins to question if she truly wants to remember her past.
Many readers who know me have commented on how Hope and I share the same brand of snark. (I haven’t a clue what they’re talking about.)
The Mechanics of Memory is set at the Wilder Sanctuary in Rancho Mirage. What is that like, and how does the setting aid the tenseness of the storytelling?
The Wilder Sanctuary is an uber-posh detox facility that primarily caters to A-List celebrities and has a price tag to match. Residents at Wilder eat Michelin-star food, participate in yoga, meditate, and have a dedicated team of doctors focused on their wellness. However, there’s also a darker side to Wilder. Some residents are there for traumas which have caused memory loss and are receiving cutting-edge “therapies” to help them remember.
A definition of the word wilder is to perplex or bewilder, something I often thought about while creating this world. There are many real-life luxury detox places around the world—ones I will never make enough money to see—but I’ve always wondered if there is something sinister lurking just below the surface at those spas.
I loved creating a setting that is serene and sexy by design, because happy people don’t tend to question their situations. And since it’s a psychological thriller, I also wanted the reader to feel a claustrophobic tension between the sleek veneer of Wilder and the fact that no one can leave.
The Mechanics of Memory plays with memory, making the narrator unreliable. What drew you to that as a concept for your debut novel?
This all happened because I heard an interview on NPR with Dr. Julia Shaw and subsequently bought her book, The Memory Illusion. As I dove deeper, I was simultaneously fascinated and horrified at how unreliable our memories are.
Basically, our brains are like Swiss cheese: we have gaps in what we remember, and our minds fill in those gaps to make sense of the world. And we are highly susceptible to suggestion, to want to please and conform, and to our own confirmation biases. Dr. Shaw uses her powers for good, in trying to correct police interrogation processes and reveal how susceptible humans are to mind manipulation.
But the whole time, my mind kept returning to all the nefarious possibilities of that kind of power. So then I thought, you could do some pretty shady stuff with that ability.
And then, I started writing.
What was the biggest surprise publishing your debut?
This whole thing has been a wild ride with an enormous learning curve. I have loved every minute of it: signing with my agent and publisher, seeing my cover mocks, getting that Goodreads Author badge next to my name, reading my first five-star review from a complete stranger, receiving my shipment of my hardcovers.
One of the highlights of this journey was seeing my copyright page. (That’s the page in the front we never scrutinize but is always there in a book.) I actually squealed when I saw it. When it’s your own name and you see the words Library of Congress, it makes everything you’ve worked for feel legit.
When you’re not writing, you’re working in education. Tell us about that side of your career:
I’ve spent over two decades in education, first as an elementary teacher and then as an administrator.
Now I work as an educational consultant delivering professional learning to educational institutions around how to build systems for students that are more equitable, compassionate, and socially just.
I feel so lucky to get to do this, as it’s something I wholeheartedly believe in. (I’ve haven’t been able to say that at all points in my career!)
What are you working on now?
About six months ago, I finished the sequel to The Mechanics of Memory. But something wasn’t quite right about it, and so I shelved it so I could get some distance.
I recently just finished a standalone novel, currently titled One for Sorrow. It’s still a dark thriller/mystery, but with less technology and a dash of paranormal.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:
Read a lot. Study reading as a writer.
Write every day. I had a writing professor in college who made us turn in a five-page essay every single day for an entire semester. His belief was that the only way you can become a better writer is to write, and it’s true. Keep at it until you finish, even when the imposter syndrome is telling you otherwise.
Write honestly. When you get that weird feeling in your stomach saying something doesn’t feel right or you’re being lazy, listen to it. Readers notice when you pull punches.
Remember that finishing your first draft is just the beginning. Pat yourself on the back, pop that champagne, and then buckle up … there’s a lot more work to be done.
Great advice!
Author Pet Corner!
Luna is so cute, Elena decided she needed two photos!
Audrey Lee — Author of The Mechanics of Memory
Audrey Lee started writing fiction at the young age of eleven, when she and her best friend co-authored a masterpiece about gallivanting around London with the members of Depeche Mode, Wham!, and Duran Duran. Unfortunately, these spiral notebooks have yet to find a publisher evolved enough to understand the genius buried within.
As a result, The Mechanics of Memory is her first work of published fiction.
Before she started writing fiction, Audrey received her master’s degree in education from UC Berkeley (Go Bears!) and spent over two decades in public education. When she isn’t writing books she consults with school districts about creating environments for students that are more equitable, culturally responsive, and socially just.
Audrey lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, son, and Maltipoo, Luna.
When not working, Audrey is compulsively organizing something, bullet journaling, cheering for her son at a dance competition, max betting on a slot machine, or watching the Golden State Warriors with a dirty martini in hand.
To learn more about Audrey, click on any of the following links: Website, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest
Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor
