In this week's edition of Endnotes, we take a look at Susan Choi's Flashlight, a family mystery that spans multiple continents and perspectives. In its review, PW says "This gripping story of a family in crisis is tough to shake."
Here's how the book came together:
Susan Choi
“My agent Jin Auh and Jenna Johnson were so crucial to me in such different ways that the book would not exist without their contributions. Jin recognized the book as my next project well before I did, when the short story by the same title was in the New Yorker. Jenna took hold of my sprawling, shaggy, confused draft and worked such editorial magic I can hardly describe it.”
Jenna Johnson
“The novel was basically complete when I came into the process, which is to say the shape of the story was here. There were elements, though, that needed filling out: backstories for characters, historical grounding, tensions or lost scenes in relationships. Susan and I talked about what the reader needed to know, how much the characters themselves know, and when to let them each in on the information. ”
June Park
“It was important to Susan and the FSG team that the cover be more than just visually appealing—it needed to carry layers of meaning that reflect the heart of the narrative. Flashlight spans across continents, timelines, and generations, and I wanted the design to capture that sense of longing, connection, and the emotional pull between the characters.”
