Jesse Q. Sutanto is the prolific writer of books like Dial A for Aunties, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, Well That Was Unexpected, the Theo Tan series and more! Now, this fall, she’s releasing her adult thriller I’m Not Done with You Yet. She earned her Masters in Creative Writing from Oxford, where part of her upcoming book takes place. She Reads got the opportunity to ask Jesse about her process, what she’s working on next and the twisty thriller endings she didn’t see coming.
About I’m Not Done with You Yet
Jane hasn’t seen Thalia since that fated, bloody night at Oxford. She disappeared without a trace and Jane is now unhappily moving through life as a midlist author struggling to make ends meet. When Thalia turns up for the first time, it’s on the New York Times bestseller list. Jane decides to attend one of Thalia’s book events and throws the trip on a credit card. This time, Thalia won’t be getting away from Jane.
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Exclusive Interview with Jesse Q. Sutanto
You have become so prolific, writing in multiple genres very quickly, how do you choose your next book to write?
It really helps me to write in multiple genres because after writing in one, the next project I take on has to be the opposite of the previous one. For example, after writing my dark suspense, I’m Not Done With You Yet, I was like, “Phew! That was…really dark. I’m ready for something lighthearted now!”
What genre is your favorite to write in?
I recently finished writing a grimdark fantasy, and while I enjoyed it, it also roundly kicked my a$$ because of all the worldbuilding that I needed to take into account. I think anything in the contemporary world is my favorite to write because it’s so much less complicated!
What book has been the most challenging to write?
Definitely the fantasy.
In your latest book, I’m Not Done with You Yet, you’re back in the thriller genre. What inspired you to write this book?
It’s my favorite genre to read, so it felt inevitable that I would one day write that. But this particular book was inspired by a super petty argument I had with my husband. After our argument, I wrote that first scene where Jane and her husband have a tiff about tidying up (can you guess what my argument with my husband was about? lol). Then I went and wrote a whole book around that scene, because everything I do, I do out of spite.
What are a few thrillers you’ve read recently that had twists you didn’t see coming?
I read my writing bestie Laurie Elizabeth Flynn’s upcoming book and I kept thinking I knew where the story was going, and then NOPE. Her twists are always so unpredictable! Also, anything by Alice Feeney usually promises really good twists.
What is something your readers would be surprised to know about you?
I am a chronic over sharer on Instagram, so by now I doubt there’s anything they would be surprised by.
What are you working on next?
I’m considering a sequel to my YA suspense, The Obsession, since readers keep asking me for one. I need a plot first though.
Is there any news you can share about forthcoming adaptations? What is your role and what are you excited about?
No news yet. I’m super excited about casting! I can’t wait to see these characters come to life and I’m dying to see how the producers and directors interpret them.
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