Windham resident Kristine Delano released her second novel, “The Lies We Trade,” in January and is currently engaged on a book tour in support of the release. Its next stop will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 at the Baxter Memorial Library in Gorham.
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| Windham author Kristine Delano has written her second novel, 'The Lies We Trade,' and will be promoting the new book during an appearance at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 at the Baxter Memorial Library in Gorham. COURTESY PHOTO |
“I’m a storyteller,” she said. “I wanted there to be a smart protagonist and I wanted it to be set in the world of finance because there’s not a lot of books that even explore that area and the stakes are high.”
“I wanted to write a book that I wanted to read, and one that I would be proud to put out there,” Delano explained.
Her publisher, Tyndale House Publishers, added another layer of challenge for “The Lies We Trade”, as Delano wrote the book on proposal. While the publisher approved of the concept of the novel, it was not a complete manuscript when approved, leaving the author to write it to meet a deadline. The idea was approved on Feb. 14, 2024, with publication in January 2026, meaning that Delano spent nearly two years at work on the novel.
“My publisher asked for a preempt of another book, but came back and said, ‘we say no to the book but yes to Kristine. We’re really intrigued, and we think there’s something here. We would just like her to write something else’,” she said. “It was a panic, but I had the confidence that I know how I want this book to be. It became my full-time and two more part-time jobs to get it done.”
The publishing house had initially expected the novel to be available to the public in May or June of this year, but the process of editing and preparing it was done more quickly than expected, allowing the book to be released in January.
“Coming out in January in Maine actually was a really big blessing,” she said. “People don’t have a lot to do, so they’re coming to events and people need things to read. It ended up being a beautiful time for launch.”
While working on a previous manuscript, Delano learned that education was going to be key to her goal of becoming an author, as there is more to writing than adding words to a page.
“My first manuscript was cathartic. These characters were way too close to real life, but it helped me understand that I could finish a story. I could write 90,000 words and it could make some sense,” she said. “That’s when I realized I needed to go back to school. I needed to really understand the art of fiction.”
Another learning experience for Delano was overcoming writer’s block. The easiest way to avoid it, she said, is by being prepared and spending sufficient time researching so that the writing comes naturally.
“By the time I allow myself to write a scene, I know these characters intimately. I can see the scene; I can hear their voices” Delano noted. “If there’s any time that I can’t write, I can review what I’ve researched, or I can play with it. I can write it from the point of view of the coffee table so I can get into the scene. I feel like preparation has been my way into becoming a writer.
“I sometimes have to pull myself back, ‘You’re not ready to write this story yet’,” she said. “That’s been a huge learning for me.”
Delano is retired in name only, as she also dedicates her time to building a network of people involved in the publishing world, attending conferences with other writers, and even speaking at financial conferences to help others learn how storytelling can help in business.
“My husband jokingly asks, ‘How’s retirement?’” she said, “I am in massive learning mode. I put the same amount of tenacity that I had in my financial career into writing.”
She maintains her connection to the financial world through her podcast, “We Talk Careers,” which is sponsored by Women in ETFs, a non-profit organization that helps support professionals in the ETF (Exchange Traded Funds) industry. The podcast also helps give Delano inspiration for her literary efforts.
While the passion remains the same, Delano is aware of the differences between her former career and the art of writing.
“One thing is how opaque writing is, when in finance, you get results every day. You know where the markets are, you know where the numbers are. With writing, people are going to like this or not,” she said. “It’s extremely objective. Not every book is for every person.”
While Delano currently lives full time in Saco near her husband Chris’s architecture firm, they maintain a house in Windham where they spend their summers with their three children, Genevive, Miranda and Zach. Delano also returns whenever she needs to find a moment of peace.
“It’s this peaceful countenance,” she said. “Anything that I’m noodling through, there’s a clarity that comes when I’m standing on the shores of Highland Lake.”
Attendees to the event at the Baxter Memorial Library will be able to enter a raffle for an original Erin Flett bag. Delano has worked with Flett in the past and was surprised to have the textile creator offer an item for her event.
“I’m super excited because her bags are beautiful,” she said. “I adore her and what she does.”
Baxter Memorial Library is located at 71 South St. in Gorham. More details on the event can be found at www.baxterlibrary.org.
“The Lies We Trade” is available now at Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop in Windham, along with all other booksellers. <
