By Leslie Lindsay
ER doc Kimmery Martin breaks out with her debut, THE QUEEN OF HEARTS, domestic fiction amidst the backdrop of the fast-paced medical world.
When the publishing house reached out with THE QUEEN OF HEARTS (Berkley Hardcover, Feb 13, 2018), I was immediately intrigued. Medical drama–totally. Doctor-turned-novelist–check. A secret lurking in someone’s past–bring it on. Oh, and that cover…swoon!
Plus, it just happens to be Valentine’s Day *and* American Heart Health month, so how could I possibly pass this up?
THE QUEEN OF HEARTS reads a bit like Emily Giffin meets Jennifer Weiner meets Liane Moriarty meets an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” or “ER” or maybe “The Good Doctor.” I found it difficult to put down because this is ultimately a light, fun read.
Meet cardiologist Zadie and trauma surgeon Emma. Best friends since summer camp, the pair has journeyed through medical school and residencies together, ultimately ending up in a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina with their husbands and five children between the two of them. But when a face from the past shows up in the hospital where Emma works, it throws the women into a tailspin. They thought they buried *that* secret many years ago.
So, grab a coffee and book an OR suite, stat—I mean, a comfy place to sit—and join me and Dr. Martin in conversation.
Leslie Lindsay: Kimmery, it’s an honor to be part of your debut. I have a feeling we have lots to chat about. I’m a former R.N. and like you, a self-proclaimed ‘book nerd,’ and I interview authors…I have two kids, not three, and I write. Sound familiar? I am curious what your inspiration was for THE QUEEN OF HEARTS?
Kimmery Martin: Oh yes—we sound like kindred spirits! I am an insatiable reader. My first inspiration to try my hand at writing was born of my admiration for the authors I love; I wanted to see if I could do what they do. So naturally I employed the advice hurled at all novice writers: write what you know. I know the practice of medicine, so there was never any question in my mind that I’d place my characters in a medical setting. For me the years of medical school were formative; they produced these very intense, enduring friendships, and I wanted to try to capture some of the work-hard, play-hard, love-hard ethos of those years.
L.L.: I understand you starting writing long ago, as many of us do, but it’s usually more of a ‘hobby,’ or ‘interest,’ right? You went to med school. I went to nursing school. I always thought, “I’ll get a degree in something…functional…I can always write on the side.” But it’s not that easy! What do you find the most challenging about balancing the writing life with that of a medical professional? Are you still practicing medicine?
Kimmery Martin: Yes, and no. I’m on hiatus from the ER to try to make a go of it as a writer. It happened serendipitously: I was offered a job in an allergy clinic downtown in one of the big financial buildings, which wanted an ER doctor on site in case anyone receiving an allergy shot anaphylaxed. I was getting paid to sit there, and so I was able to devote more time to writing. (Please don’t hate.)
L.L.: There’s a disclaimer in the back of THE QUEEN OF HEARTS that goes something like this (and I’m paraphrasing), “If you are a reader who thinks most fiction is autobiographical, it’s not.” What can you tell us about what’s true and what’s not in this book? So much of it reads like it could be stripped from your real life. And, do you believe there’s truth in fiction?
Kimmery Martin: Unquestionably there is truth in fiction, and unquestionably there is some of me in this book. I have two female protagonists and they each contain bits and pieces of me; despite my disclaimer, I think that is true of all novelists to some extent, and debut novelists in particular. But of course my protagonists also have elements to their personalities that are wholly fictional.
There’s a funny thing about their appearances that I didn’t appreciate until I started getting some heat from reviewers, who occasionally express consternation that both main characters are physically attractive. In my first drafts of the novel—which I wrote without a clue how to write a novel, but that’s another story—I forgot to include any physical description at all. I didn’t realize it until I had a local editor look it over, and she pointed out that readers would want to know what the main characters look like. So I rustled up some quick descriptions. In Emma’s case, I deliberately made her stunning because I thought it would create an interesting juxtaposition with her social awkwardness. But both of them wound up as blends of some of my real-life doctor girlfriends, who I think are absolutely lovely. Plus Zadie and I share a few physical characteristics, although I am certain she would be more photogenic. So when people started complaining the protagonists were too beautiful, I thought: Huh. That is kind of funny. Also a little embarrassing.
Regarding the events in the novel, though: that stuff is fictional. Fictional, y’all! Except for maybe a few lightly-altered anecdotes about my kids, or something inspired by a day at work. (No real patients but plenty of coalesced/adapted material from my years in the ER.) I’ll also add for the record—because I hear this comparison so much—I may be the only person in the world who has never seen Grey’s Anatomy. I’m just not a big TV watcher. I’m thrilled that people love that show, though!
L.L.: As a first-time author, what do you think you did ‘right,’ and what do you wish you had known more about?
Kimmery Martin: I think I found my own unique voice right away. I do have to be reined in because I am wordy by nature—my vocabulary is full-on supernerd—but I never struggled with how the narration sounded.
I wish so much I had written a log line for the book first—a simple one-sentence description summarizing the main “hooky” part of the plot. Actually, I wish I could outline a plot, period. It’s hard for me because so many ideas come to me as I am writing, rather than ahead of time. I’d like to get better at that.
“Whip-smart and full of heart, Martin expertly weaves the threads of friendship, love and betrayal into a story that crackles with humor and compassion. The Queen of Hearts is a brilliant debut.”
-Lisa Duffy, author of The Salt House
L.L.: I’m curious about the revision process and working with an editor. How much was on the cutting room floor? And what was the overall timeline from when you started working with an editor to when you had a finished (nearly finished) polished manuscript?
Kimmery Martin: I don’t even know how many times this got re-written. It took about nine months to a year for the first draft, then another year or two of fiddling with it while I queried agents. I had local editing help through that process. Then when my agent pitched Penguin, I wound up with my beloved editor Kerry and we hacked a huge amount out of the original manuscript—probably at least half of it. I rewrote a massive chunk to include a new plot line and a different ending than the original.
L.L.: What’s obsessing you? It doesn’t have to be literary.
Kimmery Martin: I’m a travel junkie, and I like writing travelogues. (You can read a few of them HERE.) Someday, I’d like to publish a combo travel guide/travel story book.
Unrelated: I am also obsessed with hygge, the Scandinavian concept of making things cozy when it’s bleak outside. I detest cold.
L.L.: Kimmery, it’s been a pleasure. Is there anything I should have asked, but may have forgotten? Like, what your kids are up to? If you’re writing another book? What you ate for breakfast? What your last patient’s chief complaint was?
Kimmery Martin: I have ideas for at least two or three more books! Stay tuned.
L.L.: Thanks for stopping by, Kimmery!
Kimmery Martin: Thank you so much! These were fun, insightful questions.
For more information, to connect with the author via social media, or to purchase a copy of THE QUEEN OF HEARTS, please see:
Order links:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kimmery Martin is a doctor, book reviewer, author interviewer, traveler, and obsessive reader. Her debut novel, The Queen of Hearts, was a huge hit among three of her friends before being picked up by Penguin Random House. Kimmery lives in North Carolina with her husband, three children, and the world’s most obstinate dog. You can read more of her writing, including travelogues, book reviews, and social commentary at http://www.kimmerymartin.com.
You can connect with me, Leslie Lindsay, via these websites:
- GoodReads
- Facebook: LeslieLindsayWriter
- Twitter: @LeslieLindsay1
- Email: leslie_lindsay@hotmail.com
- Amazon
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[Cover and author images courtesy of Penguin/Random House and used with permission. Author photo credit: Stephen B. Dey, master photographer CPP , images of ‘writer at work’ and TQOH surrounded by books retrieved from K. Martin’s website/Instagram. ‘Truth’ dictionary image retrieved from; book cover with glasses from heart stethoscope retrieved from]
Leslie A. Lindsay| Writer & Creative 
Great post! I LOVED this book and enjoyed your interview with the author. Well done, interesting, and informative!