Interview with Kim McCollum Author of What Happens in Montana

In this insightful Author interview, Kim McCollum, the author behind “What Happens in Montana,” shares the inspiration and creative process of her debut novel. She dives into the importance of friendship, the exploration of human flaws, and the intertwining of historical with contemporary themes. McCollum offers a peek into her journey of character creation, setting significance, and her approach to balancing different tones in storytelling. As she discusses the challenges of writing, her influences, and what’s next on her horizon, readers get a concise yet comprehensive view into the mind of a storyteller captivated by the complexities of life and the enduring power of human connections. Join us as we uncover the motivations and aspirations that drive Kim McCollum’s literary endeavors.

But First, Who is Kim McCollum?

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Kim McCollum’s Books

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• Can you share the inspiration behind “What Happens in Montana” and what drew you to explore themes of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness?

What Happens in Montana was inspired by those friendships that stand the test of time. I am lucky enough to have the kind of friends who are there for you no matter how much time and distance comes between you. I do have a group of friends I met when I joined a Mommy and Me playgroup when my first daughter was born. The women in that group are still some of my closest friends nearly 22 years later. I love books that explore friendship, especially female friendship. I think women share a special bond. Like Tracy says when she makes a toast in my novel, “To friends who make this life worth living.” I truly believe this.

As for the betrayal and forgiveness themes, I think they come along with friendship. I don’t mean that I set out to betray friends or that they set out to betray me, but over many years of friendship, things can happen. We aren’t perfect, even with those we love. So, whether it is something big or small, intentional or not, we sometimes betray those closest to us. The key to a lasting friendship is forgiveness. Understanding others’ intentions goes a long way toward finding forgiveness. If someone intentionally set out to betray me and hurt me, it might be harder and take longer to forgive, or I may not be able to forgive at all. But those who are closest to me would never intentionally hurt me, nor would I them, so we can get past anything. These themes make my characters real. They are flawed because they are human, but they also know how to love, which is the greatest ability of all.

• Your novel features a mix of historical and contemporary elements. How did you approach integrating these aspects into your storytelling?

A girlfriends’ reunion takes place at the hot springs retreat where a ghost was murdered, so I thought it would be fun and interesting to tell the tale of the ghost as well. All that is known about this ghost is that she was a prostitute named Simone. So, I delved into the life of prostitutes in Butte in the 1920s. Actually, the ghost’s story starts with her mother, who came to Montana as a single mother in the late 1800s. A fascinating fact I learned during my research is that eighteen percent of Montana’s original homesteaders were single women. I can’t imagine making a life alone on the vast, cold tundra of Montana.

It was a fun challenge to figure out how the ghost could tell her story. I didn’t want it to be corny where the people in the book could hear or talk to the ghost, so it had to be done in a more professional manner. I decided it would be best for only the reader to hear her story, but the telling gave the ghost strength to carry out her ultimate goal, which was to find release from her tether to this world.

• Developing characters that resonate with readers is crucial. Could you share your process for creating compelling characters?

For What Happens in Montana, I had two different processes for character development which I believe will help with future novels. First, there were the girlfriends who were modeled after my real-life friendships. I started with their personalities and then made up their backstories. Since I know their real stories, I was able to just shift and change things a bit so as not to completely give away who they are – or spill their real-life secrets. I then embellished their stories a bit, which was the fun part.

For the ghost, the research I did into single women homesteaders in Montana led me to create her character. I loved delving into Montana’s past to imagine what circumstances might have led a woman to leave her family to head west all alone. Circumstances must have been quite tragic and the women who embarked on this endeavor must have been incredibly strong and resilient. So, I built the ghost and her mother based on these assumptions. Once you begin to visualize your characters and imagine what led them to their current situation, they take over. It might sound weird, but they know the story they want to tell, and I am just the vehicle. I’ve had many scenes I believed would go a certain way and my characters had different ideas.

As for Maude, the nearly eighty-year-old chef at the retreat, she was just fun to write. She is a no nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is character who says the things we all wish we could. She is wise and believes she has everything figured out until this group of ladies comes and changes her entire perception of life and what it means to her.

• Setting plays a significant role in any story. Without giving too much away, what can readers expect from the settings in your book, and why were they important for your story?

My story came together around the setting. I found the hot springs retreat when my family’s usual route to the lake was detoured about three summers ago. I asked my husband what the hulking, stucco building was that looked so out of place in the middle of nowhere Montana and when he told me it was a haunted, holistic hot springs retreat, I knew I had stumbled upon my setting. I wanted a strange place for a reunion since change happens when we are out of our comfort zone. I hadn’t considered a haunted setting, but it ended up being the perfect way to introduce the historical fiction element. I enjoy stories where I learn something but I’m having fun while doing it, so the ghost story introduces some fascinating bits of Montana’s history without feeling like a textbook. Butte’s history with prostitution is quite famous, so I jumped at the chance to learn and write about it as well.

• Balancing different tones in a novel can be challenging. How did you manage the tone throughout “What Happens in Montana,” particularly when dealing with serious themes?

Maude’s character adds a welcome bit of humor that helps balance some of the more difficult themes in the story. The ladies’ friendship also adds a lightness to the story. Their tight-knit bond helps them tackle the many challenges thrown at them in the book. The ghost’s historical perspective on some of the same themes sheds light on how many issues facing women have changed, but also remained the same.

I have four different POVs in this novel which also helps to balance the tone. I enjoy books that tackle difficult themes from different perspectives and varying tones, so that is what I was striving for with this novel.

• Strong relationships often drive character development and plot. What role do relationships play in your book, and how do you craft these dynamics?

Relationships are the most important aspect of this book. The strong bond of friendship between the four ladies is enough to catapult Maude and the ghost into action. Maude, the nearly eighty-year-old chef at the retreat, had expected, and hoped, to live out her life alone with just her dog and the ghost for company. But she is drawn to these women both because of the strong connection she feels among them, and also because one of them reminds her of her deceased daughter.  Each character is they way they are because of their past, so the novel delves into what shaped them and how they came to form the important relationships in their lives.

• Research seems to play a significant role, especially with the historical aspects related to Prohibition-era speakeasies. Can you talk about your research process and any interesting discoveries you made?

When I learned that eighteen percent of Montana’s original homesteaders were single women, I wanted to know more. I couldn’t imagine braving Montana’s harsh winters in a tiny twelve by twelve homestead with nothing more than mud and newspaper for insulation. I read countless books and articles about these brave women and wanted to create a historical fiction about them.

I was also fascinated by prostitution in Butte during the prohibition era, so I decided to combine these two interesting aspects of Montana’s history into the story of the ghost. I visited the Dumas Brothel in Butte which has been left nearly as it was when it shut down in 1982. It was the longest running brothel in the United States, open from 1890 until 1982. It’s also haunted, which was partially where I got the idea for the ghost at the hot springs retreat to tell her story.

As for my research process, I wouldn’t call it a process so much as a fun way to procrastinate. I’d start writing a scene, realize what I didn’t know, and start googling things until I found what I needed. Many fascinating rabbit holes were discovered. I wanted the historical portion of the book to be as authentic as possible, so I researched everything. I even researched what types of makeup would have been available to prostitutes in Butte in the 1920s. That is a really interesting rabbit hole!

• Writing a debut novel is a monumental task. What were some of the challenges you faced during the writing process, and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge was imposter syndrome. I believe this is every writer’s biggest challenge. So far, with my second novel it hasn’t gotten any better, either. There is always that niggling doubt as to whether what I’m writing is any good and if it will be of interest to a reader. I know I’m not alone in this feeling. I’ve heard that even the most successful writers have felt this way at one point or another.

Other challenges were finding the time to write and just sitting down to do it. I found that when I set a goal of writing 2,000 words per day five days per week, I was so overwhelmed that I wouldn’t even begin. I found every excuse not to sit down and write. So, I started smaller. I set my goal at 500 words per day five days per week and that worked. Some days, writing those 500 words was excruciating. On other days, I’d write 2,000 words before I even realized it. That is still how I write today. I also give myself permission not to write when I’m on vacation or when other big events are happening. After all, isn’t that one of the beautiful things about being a writer? The flexibility?

•  Are there any authors or books that have significantly influenced your writing style or approach to storytelling?

Liane Moriarty is my favorite writer of all time. I love her character development. It feels as though I am sitting down with close friends whenever I pick up one of her novels. I’ve had a few reviewers liken my book to some of Moriarty’s and that is the biggest compliment I could ever receive.

I also admire Jodi Picoult, Kristin Hannah, and Philippa Gregory. I love an enjoyable, fun read where I also learn something, and I believe these authors deliver on that. One of the reasons I only made it halfway through my MFA program at Harvard was that their focus was on literary fiction. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate literary fiction, but sometimes I just want to relax and be entertained without having to work at dissecting literature. I know there are many readers out there like me who want to escape into a good book that is easy to read, so that is what I set out to write.

•  Lastly, can you give us a glimpse into what’s next for you? Are there any new projects or sequels to “What Happens in Montana” that you’re currently working on?

I’ve been asked by readers if there will be a sequel to What Happens in Montana, but as of right now, I don’t think so. I loved these characters and the story, but it feels complete. I’m not saying never, though. You never know.

Right now, I’m working on a book entitled Harriet Hates Lemonade which, in the same vein as A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, features a quirky, initially unlikeable character who is convinced she’s got life all figured out. She is ornery and set-in-her-ways and, much to her dismay, she’s funny. She hopes desperately to keep to herself, but when the daughter of the across the street neighbor comes to her for help with her abusive father, Harriet knows she must get involved. What she doesn’t realize is that by helping her neighbor, she will find herself.

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We extend our heartfelt thanks to Kim McCollum for taking the time to share her thoughts, inspirations, and experiences with us. Her openness and insight into the creative process behind “What Happens in Montana” have been incredibly enlightening. We are grateful for the opportunity to delve deeper into the themes and stories that drive her writing. Thank you, Kim, for your valuable contribution and for enriching our understanding of the art of storytelling. We eagerly anticipate your future works and wish you continued success in your writing journey.