The Mechanics of Memory
by Audrey Lee
Synopsis (from Amazon):
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.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199597622-the-mechanics-of-memory
Author Interview:
How did you do research for your book?
My best friend frequently says she hopes nothing untoward ever befalls my husband, because the FBI will look at my search history and I’ll definitely end up in jail. For The Mechanics of Memory I read tons of medical journals, and did a lot of online research from luxury detox facilities to maps of Palm Springs to “What drugs will knock out a 160-pound human the fastest and not leave a trace?” and “How many milligrams of Diazepam will kill someone?” I also spent some time at a VR arena in Reno shooting up zombies.
How did you decide to write about memory?
I read a book by Dr. Julia Shaw called The Memory Illusion. I was simultaneously fascinated and horrified about 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. And we are highly susceptible to suggestion, to want to please and conform, and to our own confirmation bias.
Dr. Shaw uses her powers for good, but I thought, you can do some pretty shady stuff with that knowledge.
What advice would you give budding writers?
Read a lot. Study reading as a writer.
Write every day. The only way you can become a better writer is to write, even when it’s hard. 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.
Do you have another profession besides writing?
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.
Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?
It happens, usually when I’ve finished a manuscript and don’t know what to start next. In those instances, it helps to read, binge watch something, or otherwise free my mind from needing to come up with a plot or a character. They always show up when you least expect them to!
What is your next project?
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.
Which authors inspired you to write?
I like writers that are dark and imaginative but also manage to infuse a little humor (Lev Grossman and Aaron Sorkin). I like authors who tell a twisty story in a literary way (Haruki Murakami). I love it when I don’t see the twist coming (Gillian Flynn and Samantha Downing). I always appreciate it when I laugh out loud (David Sedaris and Barry J. Hutchison.)
In today’s tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?
I print out my book on paper when revising. I do the majority of my notetaking and planning on paper. I do use a software called Airtable to create elaborate, color-coded spreadsheets of each novel. I write the actual manuscript on the computer.
If you’re a mom writer, how do you balance your time?
My son is off to college this fall, so I’m going to have a lot of spare time.
Author bio:
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.
Website: https://audreyleeauthor.com
Facebook: @audreyleeauthor
Twitter: @audreyleeauthor
Instagram: @audreyleeauthor
TikTok: @audreyleeauthor
Praise:
“Audrey Lee’s mesmerizing THE MECHANICS OF MEMORY is as complex as it is thrilling. All we ever really have are our memories, but what if those memories aren’t real? Lee takes this premise to frightening extremes…Steeped in paranoia and delightfully playful with the concept of reality, THE MECHANICS OF MEMORY is wildly entertaining and, ironically, quite unforgettable.”
– Carter Wilson, USA Today bestselling author of The Father She Went to Find
“One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest meets Inception in Lee’s stunning debut. A must read.”
– James L’Etoile, award winning author of Dead Drop and Face of Greed.
“The Mechanics of Memory is propulsive and muscular. I hung on every word. A technological thriller that keeps us perched on the edge of our seats as well as our disbelief, Lee pulls it together masterfully. In the end I cried in relief…and instantly wanted more. Can’t wait to see what’s coming from her next!”
– Linda L. Richards, award-winning author of Dead West and Endings
“The Mechanics of Memory is a swift, twisty speculative novel that grabs you from page one. With engaging characters and intriguing science, the reader is absorbed throughout. For fans of Blake Crouch and other high-end speculative twist rides.”
-Shannon Kirk, International-Bestselling author of Method 15/33 and the gold medal-winning The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall
“Debut author Audrey Lee has created an intoxicating mix of psychological thriller and domestic drama a la the streaming series Severance. As you take your first steps in The Mechanics of Memory, you will find yourself falling under Lee’s spell, unable to leave her world until the very end.”
—Naomi Hirahara, USA Today bestselling author of Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning Clark and Division
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