Wednesday, August 06, 2025

Q&A with Mara Williams

From my Q&A with Mara Williams, author of The Truth Is in the Detours: A Novel:
How much work does your title do to take readers into the story?

I find that titles either arrive immediately while drafting or are endlessly evasive. The Truth Is in the Detours was the tenth title for this book. I tried on several while drafting, none of which quite fit. When my editor bought it, she suggested a new title, so we changed it again. Further into the editing process, we decided the new title didn’t capture the wit and lightness. So, I went back to the drawing board and suggested The Truth Is in the Detours. It captures the spirit of the book with a bit of whimsy and a nod to the major themes but isn’t literal. My characters embark on a road trip in search of the truth related to a family secret, but they also discover truths about...[read on]
Visit Mara Williams's website.

Q&A with Mara Williams.

--Marshal Zeringue