Q&A: Karen Winn, Author of ‘The Society’

We chat with author Karen Winn about The Society, which explores power, privilege, and dark secrets set against the backdrop of an elite social club called the Knox in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighbourhood.

Hi, Karen! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m the author of The Society (out now!), and Our Little World (Dutton, 2022). Prior to becoming an author, I was a nurse and nurse practitioner. But these days, I primarily apply my nursing knowledge to crafting fictional medical scenarios. I live with my husband, two children, and our 100-pound Bernedoodle in the charming neighborhood of Beacon Hill, where The Society is set.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t enveloped in stories, both from a reading and writing standpoint. My first “book” I authored was a collection of poems I typed up on my family’s typewriter. I must have been in 4^th grade.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by S. Lewis
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Mothers and Other Fictional Characters by Nicole Graev Lipson

Your latest novel, The Society, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Secrets, disappearance, longing, belonging, old-money (thanks for letting the hyphenated word slide…)

What can readers expect?

The Society is a suspenseful, twisty tale of two women whose lives become intertwined amid a notorious secret society in the heart of Boston, after one of them vanishes without a trace. Readers can expect an immersive and atmospheric foray into Beacon Hill’s glittering elite, where secrets are the currency. To quote Hank Phillippi Ryan, “More than a novel, this is an experience!”

Where did the inspiration for The Society come from?

The idea came to me on a tour I took of the Boston Athenaeum, the city’s old, independent library. The docent mentioned how a major benefactor in the 1800s had amassed a large portion of his fortune in the opium trade, and my creative wheels began turning. I started to envision an influential secret society with roots in the opium trade, set in a modern-day storyline. In terms of character inspiration, like my protagonist Taylor Adams, I was a nurse at Mass General Hospital in my twenties. I worked in the ICU caring for critically ill patients and wondered who my patients were beyond the hospital bed. That question inspired my other protagonist Vivian Lawrence, a glamorous antique store owner facing financial hardship who decides to chase down a possible inheritance to the Knox secret society— and in the process begins dating one of its members. One night while Taylor is working in the ER, Vivian shows up with injuries from a suspicious fall. Taylor is intrigued by her patient, but before she can find out more about her, Vivian disappears without a trace. Following the thin trail, Taylor soon enters the Knox secret society herself—as their newest employee.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Both of my protagonists are outsiders to the Knox secret society, and as the story took shape, I realized that I needed an insider perspective as well. Who better to provide it than the Knox building itself? That was a fun POV to write! After all, if walls could talk, especially those steeped in two centuries of secrets, imagine what stories they might tell…

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I always face challenges while writing—trying to flesh out characters’ motivations, refine the plot, deepen relationships—but struggling with these aspects is inherent to the process.  I actually very much enjoy revision, because it’s my opportunity to dig deeper into the story and its characters.

What’s next for you?

My dystopian short story, “An (Updated) History of the Modern World,” will be published in the upcoming spring issue of Ploughshares. At the moment, I’m writing a dark comedy with two other authors, Carolyne Todjian and Malia Márquez, which has been such a fun collaborative experience. Emily Voss is Definitely Not Dead (working title) follows a washed-up writer forced to Weekend-at-Bernie’s her dead editor at a backwater literary conference to keep up appearances while her career—and freedom—hang in the balance. Finally, my next solo novel is a story about a bookstore owner named Nick, who also makes an appearance in The Society. I’ve mulled over his story for years, so I’m excited to tell it!

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?

Namrata Patel’s next book releasing later this year, Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris, Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel, Kiss, Mary, Kill by Lori Gold, The Thoroughbredsby Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham… too many to list!

Will you be picking up The Society? Tell us in the comments below!