Christina Baker Kline
Author Interview - Christina Baker Kline
Author of A Piece of the World, Orphan Train, The Exiles and PLEASE DON'T LIE
Please Don’t Lie is a twisty psychological thriller set in the wild beauty of the Adirondacks. It follows Hayley Stone, a young woman trying to put her life back together after some devastating losses. Newly married, she moves with her new husband to a remote mountain town, hoping for a fresh start. But it’s not that simple. As cracks begin to show - both in her relationship and in the seemingly idyllic town - Hayley uncovers secrets that make her question everything. Please Don't Lie is a story about betrayal, survival, and what we’re willing to believe or ignore when we’re desperate to feel safe.
Author Interview - Christina Baker Kline
Author I draw inspiration from:
Megan Abbott writes psychological thrillers that are tense, atmospheric, and deeply rooted in the interior lives of women. I love how she plays with power dynamics; the danger in her books often comes from within relationships between friends, sisters, mothers and daughters. Dare Me in particular was a touchstone for me. Abbott manages to make every interaction charged, every line of dialogue a possible threat. That kind of slow-burn suspense is something Anne and I wanted to explore in Please Don't Lie.
Author Interview - Christina Baker Kline | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
That’s an easy one. My favorite place to read is in a cozy armchair in my house in Maine, right by a window overlooking the bay. It’s quiet, the light is soft; I can hear seagulls over the water and the wind in the trees. Being surrounded by that kind of natural beauty slows me down, helps me sink into a book in a deeper way. It’s the place where I read the most -- and where I like to write, too.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
I'd probably go with Mary DiNunzio from Lisa Scottoline’s legal thrillers. She’s sharp, tough, funny, and totally no-nonsense -- but she also has heart. If we were stuck together in an elevator, I think she’d immediately take charge in the best way: calling building security, calming everyone down, cracking a few jokes to keep the mood light. And once we got talking, I bet we’d be deep into a conversation about justice, loyalty, and family before the elevator moved an inch.
Author Interview - Christina Baker Kline | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I think I always knew I wanted to be a writer -- I was one of those kids who was constantly making up stories. But the moment it really clicked was in fourth grade, when I went to summer camp. I was shy and a little nervous, not sure how I’d fit in. But I wrote a play about a stuffed animal named Beary who comes to life, the camp put it on, and to my surprise, it was a hit. Suddenly I wasn’t just the quiet new kid; I created something people thought was funny and entertaining. I think that was the first time I understood the magic of storytelling: that something I’d imagined in my head could spring to life. I was hooked.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
I love the beauty and heft of a hardcover. It feels substantial, like you’re holding something meant to last. That said, paperbacks are just easier: you can toss them in a bag, bend the cover back, read them in bed without propping them up. I don’t read many ebooks; I spend so much time on screens already that reading digitally doesn’t really appeal. And while I know people love audiobooks, I don’t listen to them often. For me, there’s something about seeing the words on the page -- the rhythm, the sequence, the structure -- that’s a crucial part of the experience.
The last book I read:
The last book I read was Skylark by Paula McLain, which comes out in January 2026 - and I have no doubt it’s going to make a big splash. It’s a lush, confident novel that marks a return to Paris for her, both geographically and emotionally. She’s so good at weaving history and intimacy together, and this one feels especially rich: full of atmosphere, longing, and insight. It’s the kind of book that reminds you what literary historical fiction can do at its best.
Author Interview - Christina Baker Kline | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
I usually start with pen and paper. There’s something about the physical act of writing that helps me get into the flow, especially in the early stages when my ideas are still forming. Once I have a feel for where I’m going, I move to the laptop. That said, with the thriller I co-wrote with Anne, I found myself writing almost entirely on the computer. I’m not sure why -- maybe because we were collaborating, and it made sharing drafts and building momentum easier. It was a different rhythm, but it worked. Each project seems to ask for its own process.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Erin from The Last Thing He Told Me, by Laura Dave. She’s resourceful, emotionally intelligent, and has an innate sense of loyalty, even when everything around her is uncertain. I appreciate people who can stay grounded in chaos, who act out of love even when they’re terrified. I’d trust her. We’d be friends who help each other figure things out when the floor drops out from under us.
Author Interview - Christina Baker Kline | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
... book editor. That’s the other career I always imagined for myself. It's a thrill to engage deeply with writers about their work -- asking questions, helping shape a narrative, finding the emotional core. I find it deeply satisfying to be part of that creative process, even if I'm not the one writing the words.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
1970s — for the wild mix of bohemian and disco. I relish the contradictions: flowy loud dresses and glam sequins, earthy palettes and glittery eyeshadow. It feels a little rebellious, a little chaotic -- everyone was trying to break out of the mold and figure out who they were. That tension appeals to me.
Place I’d most like to travel:
New Zealand has always seemed remote and mysterious and breathtakingly beautiful -- and just out of reach, which only adds to its magic. I’m drawn to landscapes that feel cinematic and a little untamed, where something unexpected could be hiding just around the bend.
My signature drink:
Diet Coke by day, gin & tonic by night -- always with a local gin if I’m traveling somewhere new. In the Adirondacks, where Please Don’t Lie is set, that would be Lake Placid Spirits' P3 gin, which has a clean, woodsy flavor that tastes like the forest after rain. A G&T is both bracing and refreshing. Just like a good thriller!
Favorite artist:
When I think about the moody, shadowy beauty of the Adirondacks, I think of Winslow Homer, especially his darker, more dramatic watercolors, or Sally Mann’s haunting landscapes. Beauty edged with danger appeals to me -- and evokes the world of the novel.
Number one on my bucket list:
This is the first thriller Anne and I have written together, and we're both excited to go on tour and talk with readers about it. Collaborating on a book — and now getting to share Please Don’t Lie with the world — is a whole new adventure. I can’t wait to hear how readers respond to the twists, the secrets, and the characters we created together.
Find more from the author:
https://www.facebook.com/bakerkline/
https://www.instagram.com/bakerkline/
www.christinabakerkline.com
About Christina Baker Kline:
Author Interview with Christina Baker Kline
A #1 New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including Please Don't Lie, The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline is published in 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as the New York Times and the NYT Book Review, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, LitHub, Psychology Today, and Slate.
HBL Note: Check out my interview with Christina Baker Kline about her novel A Piece of the World.
