1--What is the title of your latest release?
THE MEMORY COLLECTORS
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
What would you do if you could spend an hour in your past? Four strangers in the beach town of Ventura, California, step back into their pasts only to find themselves trapped in time. As their paths intertwine unexpectedly, they unearth shocking secrets hidden in the shadows of their shared history.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I’d been visiting my friend Kes Trester, whose beach home in Ventura, California, inspired the setting of this story. Its sundrenched beaches and serene waves contrast beautifully with the winding highways that vanish into pitch-black nights, making it the perfect backdrop for this story.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
There are four protagonists in THE MEMORY COLLECTORS, and I feel like I know them so well that they’re real. I would definitely want to experience an ordinary day in their lives with them.
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
There are four protagonists, so I’ll share something for each:
Elizabeth: Heartbroken
Logan: Craving former freedom
Andy: Seeking vanished love
Brooke: Haunted by regret
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
Every moment we get to live and breathe is filled with possibility. This is what all four of the protagonists experience in the minutes after they jump to a time in their past.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I’m an edit-as-you-go writer. That’s because I tend to let my creative mind decide where it wants to work in any given session rather than demanding that I write a specified number of words or a certain chapter. Some sessions might be entirely devoted to editing, which helps me immerse in my characters, fine-tune their voices, clarify their inner-emotions, and deepen their challenges.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Easy. Homemade ice-cream from Antico Nuovo. Chai Lattes from Groundwork. Deviled Eggs from Superba.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
My first four novels were written in the basement since I didn’t have a home office. I could only write at night, as I was busy producing during the day and raising three children. In 2020, I gave up my production offices and renovated a room attached to our garage that had once served as a workshop for Douglas Donaldson, a metalsmith and silversmith who was a leader of the Arts and Crafts movement in Los Angeles. The space still has its original 1920s wood shingle roof and two walls of windows overlooking the back garden, infusing it with incredible creative energy.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Barbara O’Neal. I’m reading her novel Memories of the Lost now. Her books allow readers to see themselves in her stories, finding comfort in how she navigates the complex beauty of human connection.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
Harlan Coben’s Trust No One and Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook were books that sparked my interest in writing novels because they showed me how powerful storytelling can be, whether through heart-stopping suspense or emotional depth that stays with you long after you’ve finished the book.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
It was a total shock, because I was going about my day working on a jillion other things as an Executive Producer in television. Then the call came, and I thought, “Is this really happening? Is this real?” And when I realized it was, I was swept up with joy. I had already met my editor at Crooked Lane, Holly Ingraham, and was beyond thrilled that I was getting to work with her on this book.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
Not surprisingly, mysteries! I prefer mysteries that focus on puzzles rather than on-the-page physical harm and I love mysteries where character relationships and motivations take center stage.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
I can’t choose just one! Meet Me in St. Louis and Groundhog Day. On rainy days, I also love Little Women, the 1994 version starring Winona Ryder and Claire Danes.
15--What is your favorite season?
I live in Los Angeles, so people think we don’t have seasons here, but we definitely do. I love LA in Spring after the rains because it transforms the city into something completely magical. The mountains stand crisp and clear against the sky and the city sheds its dusty coat and reveals its vibrant colors.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
When my kids ask me what I want for my birthday, I’ll often say I want to watch one of my favorite movies with them. But we also celebrate by going for a hike and enjoying a delicious meal at one of my favorite restaurants.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
The Creative Act. This is a WOW book for me because it feels like the author, Rick Rubin, is speaking directly to me about fostering creativity in every facet of your life, reinforcing what I love to do.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
It’s too hard to choose! I love something from every cuisine: agnolotti with spring peas, olives and pickles, clam chowder, and fresh hot bread.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I don’t have much free time but when I do, I like to head outdoors and read, go for a walk around the neighborhood, or spend time with friends and family.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I’m the Executive Producer of Weather Hunters, an animated series for kids ages 4-8 that inspires interest in weather and science, in collaboration with TODAY Show weatherman Al Roker. Weather Hunters will premiere on PBS Kids beginning July 7, 2025.
I’m also the Executive Producer of an Apple TV+ series for kids (not yet announced) based on an award-winning children’s book. The series will be premiering on Apple TV+ June 13.
I’m also at work writing a speculative/mystery novel entitled What Hides in The Quiet and another novel in collaboration with author Camille Di Maio, Random Acts of Christmas.
Four strangers time travel to the past and find themselves stuck on the day all their lives were changed in this stunning speculative mystery from award-winning film and television producer Dete Meserve, perfect for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, Wrong Place Wrong Time and The Paradox Hotel.
What would you do if you could spend an hour in your past? Four strangers in the beach town of Ventura, California are about to find out.
Elizabeth aches for one more precious hour with her son who died in a senseless accident. Andy is desperate to find his first love who vanished after a whirlwind romance. Logan craves the rush of surfing and mountain climbing, yearning to reclaim the freedom he lost after a misstep landed him in a wheelchair. Brooke is looking for an hour of relief from the guilt of an unforgivable mistake.
Enter Aeon Expeditions, the groundbreaking time travel invention of Mark Saunders—which allows some lucky clients the chance to spend an hour in their past. Even though Aeon’s technology ensures time travel can’t alter the future, all four clients, including Mark’s ex-wife Elizabeth, yearn to revisit the hour that changed their lives forever.
But when their “hour” extends beyond sixty minutes, they find themselves stranded in the past. As their paths intertwine unexpectedly, they unearth shocking secrets hidden in the shadows of their shared history: All their lives were shattered the same night on a secluded highway by the beach. As they delve into the hidden truths of that pivotal hour, a startling revelation emerges. They were not alone. Someone else was present, harboring deadly intentions.
The Memory Collectors is a heart-wrenching, genre-bending novel brimming with hope, grief and second chances.
Mystery | Paranormal [Crooked Lane Books, On Sale: May 20, 2025, Trade Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9798892422420 / eISBN: 9798892420730]
Dete Meserve is a best-selling novelist and an award-winning creator and producer of films and television series. She wrote the screenplay adaptation of her debut novel, Good Sam, and produced it as a feature film for Netflix. Inspired by a question posed to readers—"What would you do if you could spend an hour in your past?—" her fifth novel, The Memory Collectors, explores the universal desire to revisit pivotal moments in our lives, whether to reconnect with a loved one, undo a painful mistake, or relive a joyous memory. In this suspenseful and emotional journey, four strangers step back into their pasts only to find themselves trapped in time. A shocking twist forces them to unravel hidden connections between them—uncovering secrets that change everything.
No comments posted.
© 2003-2025 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy