Take a Glance at new mystery thriller set in Chapel Hill

Author Kate McGaughey knows Chapel Hill. As a former UNC associate provost, she lived here, frequenting local staples like The Carolina Inn, TOPO, Carolina Coffee Shop and many Franklin Street stores that now appear in her books. Her first self-published mystery novel, “Feel the Heat,” was sold nationwide. This week, she has published her second novel with a Chapel Hill setting, called “Hear The Bells.”

“Feel the Heat” and “Hear the Bells” follow Lucy, a UNC medical student. In the new book, Lucy becomes swept up in local gang activity after encountering children in the ICU who showed symptoms of unknown lung infections.

We sat down with McGaughey while she was in town for a lecture led by her former boss, Dr. Dick Richardson, to talk about writing and the self-publishing process.

Q. What gave you the idea for writing “Feel the Heat” and “Hear the Bells?”

McGaughey: The idea came out of knowing a colleague and her husband when I was working there at Chapel Hill. Her husband was badly burned by a fire, and my lifelong fear of fire is something that really stuck with me. That was the idea behind it. Then I came up with Lucy’s character.

Q: How did you decide on a female medical student as your protagonist?

McGaughey: I wanted to write about a med student after my husband’s experiences going through med school. And honestly, I could write much better from a female perspective than I could from a male perspective.

"Do it! I would say get it on paper. You know, the most important thing is to get it down and then edit it, just keep writing and editing and crafting, but do it."
-Kate McGaughey's advice for aspiring authors  

Q: Why was it important to write a book with ties to Chapel Hill and UNC?

McGaughey: I love Chapel Hill. I just think it’s an incredible town, so Chapel Hill just seemed like the absolute perfect setting for this book.

Q: What have you noticed regarding your first book’s success?

McGaughey: It has been so much fun going to book clubs, talking with people about books (and) how much I love reading. That’s been just an added benefit. I really had no idea that I would have the opportunity to meet so many terrific people through book clubs. That’s been really incredible.

Q: Can you walk us through the process of self publishing a book?

McGaughey: I did the thing that everyone said. I hired an editor and worked with her extensively, which was a great learning process. I would highly recommend that to anyone, to hire a professional editor. She was tremendously helpful. And then there’s this huge experience of going out and trying to find an agent. And now because I think there’s so many publishers (that were) cut back significantly because of digital book sales, they don’t really engage in trying to promote new emerging authors. I just took a leap of faith and heard about this self-publishing group.

Q: What did you learn from that experience?

McGaughey: I think out of all of that process, the thing I learned was just how difficult it is to be self-motivated in marketing yourself. The second book, I was really fortunate. I got into an emerging authors program, and they do so much direction, so much focus (and) really help guide you through this process. I feel so fortunate to have been asked to get in that program – that was tremendously helpful.

Q: What has been the most challenging aspect about being an author?

McGaughey: For me it’s self-promotion. It’s putting yourself out there and talking about yourself. And finding your niche. The market itself is so big – knowing where it is you fit in is really important.

Q: What is your motivation to keep writing?

McGaughey: I really get into the story line. I really do. I find having an imagination is a wonderful thing, and it’s a great way to find a niche in your brain outside of your daily routine. Creating a character and having her say whatever it is you want to say, and having characters do whatever it is you want to do is really fun.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to self-publish their own books?

McGaughey: Do it! I would say get it on paper. You know, the most important thing is to get it down and then edit it, just keep writing and editing and crafting, but do it. It took me 10 years to get the first book done, and I wish I had the initiative and the drive and the motivation to get it done right off the bat. So the best advice is to do it. Absolutely.

“Hear the Bells” became available in bookstores and online on Sept. 19. For more information about purchasing your own copy, please visit McGaughey's website and Facebook page.