Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Don't You Forget About..



HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: So, see this picture? I have NO memory of it being taken. I am told this was in Dallas, at Bouchercon. With bestseller author Kimberley Belle on the right, and rockstar librarian Jen Jumba in the front, and me.  And now I know the fourth person is Hannah Mary McKinnon! But truly, this moment is a blank space in my brain.

Can you imagine if that happened for much of your entire past?

And as an author, you’d pretty quickly realize that without being to insert “backstory,” you’ve got your work cut out for you.

And who better to talk about that today than the amazing Hannah Mary McKinnon! (And spoiler alert--the book she was so worried about is now in its second week on the Canadian bestseller list!)



Don’t you forget about me – 
     the challenge of writing an amnesiac character
       By Hannah Mary McKinnon

I’ve always been optimistic, including when I embarked on my writing career. Oh, go on, we’ll call it naïve. 

For example, when I embarked on penning my debut Time After Time, I had no clue how the market worked, how long it might take to get an agent or a book deal, let alone what was involved after publication. It was a simple approach: I dreamed of being published, and when inspiration struck, I went for it, deciding I’d handle whatever came my way whenever it arrived. Thankfully, after much trial and error, things worked out, and here I am a few years later with my fifth novel, psychological suspense You Will Remember Me, which published on May 25!.

When I finished my fourth book, Sister Dear (May 2020), I was positively jubilant. It took a mere four and a half months to write. Single point-of-view character, linear timeline, and a solid plot—the words seemed to flow not quite effortlessly, but easily enough despite going through the usual love-hate relationship with the manuscript. Once I’d sent my editor her first draft (my millionth pass), I felt confident the story was in a good place to start our editorial collaboration.

“I’ve cracked it,” I thought. “After four books I finally know what I’m doing. I’m in control.”

(Enter stage left: antagonist, aka, You Will Remember Me, who slaps the author around the face while cackling, “Muahahahaaaa!”)

As with Sister Dear, I’d plotted You Will Remember Me extensively before I’d written a single word. I’d developed my characters by interviewing them with the help of a handy three-page questionnaire. I’d figured out the larger plot-points à la Save the Cat by Blake Snyder and Plotstormers by www.WritersHQ.co.uk, and had broken down these stepping-stones into thirty bullet-pointed chapters. I’d even put together a photo gallery of my cast. I was ready!


You Will Remember Me opens with a man who wakes up on a beach and has no idea who he is or how he got there. He remembers nothing. Zip. Zero. Nada. Researching the type of amnesia he suffered from had been simple, and as I’d plotted I’d quickly narrowed it down to retrograde, the kind where an individual can’t remember anything before a certain point in time. So far, so good. Confident I knew where I was heading and the experience would be as painless as it had been for Sister Dear, I wrote, only to hit a big, fat, brick wall when I realized I’d completely underestimated how difficult writing a point-of-view character with amnesia would be.


Let me revise that—it wasn’t difficult, it was writing hell. I hadn’t thought enough about telling a character’s journey without him knowing anything about the backstory I’d developed (try keeping secrets from your characters, they don’t like it). I couldn’t give him any memories, couldn’t allow him a flashback, and most certainly didn’t want scene after scene of other characters saying, “Let me tell you all about you.” How utterly boring that would be!

So, how to solve the conundrum?

In A Dark, Dark Wood, Ruth Ware’s spectacular debut, the story of her amnesiac protagonist, Nora Shaw, is told via a non-linear timeline with chapters from past and present interwoven—it’s brilliantly written, but that set-up didn’t fit my story. S.J. Watson used diary entries in his huge hit Before I Go to Sleep, but I couldn’t copy/paste that idea. I didn’t want my protagonist to have a Hollywoodesque scene where his entire memory came rushing back—it felt altogether too convenient—nor did I want him to remember everything about his past anyway. I needed him to stay confused and muddled for the entire duration of the story, so, what to do…?


I realized I had to divulge his history—or at least enough of it for his storyline in the present to make sense to the reader—through the two other point-of-view characters, Lily and Maya. Although the word count in the novel is split almost equally between the three characters, it was Lily and Maya’s job to carry my amnesiac protagonist’s past all the while driving their own story forward. This presented an interesting challenge, but also allowed me to delve deeper into their minds—and show Mr. Amnesiac’s history from two different perspectives, but not his own. Have them reveal clues both to him and the reader, not too much and not too soon, but gradually throughout the book.

Once I’d figured this out, writing the darn thing was still a challenge. I’d been stuck for a few weeks, which had unsettled me. My optimism waned. That control I felt with Sister Dear? Gone. 


When I sent You Will Remember Me to my editor, I knew the manuscript had issues. The plot felt somewhat convoluted, I wasn’t comfortable with how I’d handled the use of opioids in the story despite fellow author A.F. Brady’s incredible input, and I didn’t think I’d nailed who my characters really were. Turns out not giving someone a history on the page makes them a little estranged from the author, and it took me a while to work things through. Thankfully, my editor pinpointed what needed to be done and with her expertise we took a lot of the story back to the studs and rebuilt it, making it a hundred times stronger.


Some have asked if I’ll ever write another amnesiac point-of-view characte
r. Nope, and if I’d known how hard it was, I may never have tried it in the first place. As far as I’m concerned, it’s ‘author achievement unlocked’ and I’m moving on to other challenges. Don’t get me wrong, I love the final product and am hugely proud of the novel (I think it’s my best, most twisted ending yet), but I’ll never forget how hard it was birthing You Will Remember Me.

How about you? Got a writing experience you never want to repeat or something for which you’d like a do-over? Tell us in the comments!

Other books with amnesiac characters you should check out:

The Life Lucy Knew by Karma K. Brown

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty


HANK: This is such a twisty great book! And I cannot imagine writing about amnesia--there would have to be so many rules. Hallie, didn’t you write an amnesia book? Have any of you ever known anyone who had it?

And here’s a question for you--what’s the very FIRST thing you remember?

(And look at that first photo again. I must have taken my heels off.)



And don’t forget--join Hannah and me on First Chapter Fun on Facebook and Instagram! Every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 PM ET, we’ll read you the first chapter of a wonderful new book! Today, Kate White’s THE FIANCEE. Thursday, Aggie Blum Thompson’s I DON’T FORGIVE YOU! It’s https://www.facebook.com/groups/firstchapterfun on FB and @FirstChapterFun on Insta!





Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland and now lives in Canada. After a successful career in recruitment, she quit the corporate world in favor of writing. She lives with her husband and three sons. You Will Remember Me is her fifth novel. Connect on Facebook and Instagram @HannahMaryMcKinnon, and on Twitter, @HannahMMcKinnon, and visit www.hannahmarymckinnon.com

93 comments:

  1. Goodness, I’d never thought about the difficulties of writing a story about a character who knew nothing about his past. And, no, I’ve never known someone with amnesia.
    Despite the difficulties, I’m glad you persevered, Hannah . . . I’m really looking forward to reading “You Will Remember Me” . . . .

    What’s the first thing I remember? Standing with Jean in the foyer of our grandmother’s house having our picture taken. [We were obviously bribed . . . we each have a cookie in our hand!]

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    1. That is adorable! Do you remember how old you were?

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    2. Two, maybe . . . we're really little.

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    3. Thank you, Joan. Your memory is so cute! Cookies usually work, lol.

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  2. Very interesting. I never would have considered all those challenges. Thanks for sharing a little background with us.

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    1. My pleasure! Your comment makes me feel a bit better about not thinking all the details through in advance.

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    2. Yes, so fascinating, right? To deconstruct it?

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  3. Hannah,

    When I heard Hank read the first chapter on First Chapter Fun, I immediately put the book on my TBR list! I can’t begin to imagine how difficult it was for you to write and rewrite it. Congratulations on your success with it!

    My earliest memory: I’m the oldest of five. I remember the day my parents brought my first sibling home from the hospital. She was tiny and adorable, and looked like a doll. I believed with all my heart that she was a gift my parents had gotten for me! She’s here in CT with me right now; she’s taking me to the hospital in a little while for my knee replacement surgery, and she’ll be with me for a week. We’ve been sharing memories since she arrived from NJ on Saturday. And she IS a gift in my life!

    DebRo

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    1. DebRo, all our warmest wishes for a successful surgery! Your sister really is a gift!

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    2. Deb,that is the sweetest sibling memory ever! Wishing you a successful operation and recovery. As soon as you are well enough to drive, we'll grab that coffee/lunch!

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    3. AW..that is wonderful! And you were completely right with your first impression!

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    4. Judy, I can’t wait to meet you in person!

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    5. That's sooooo sweet, Deb! I hope you have a lovely time together, and that your knee replacement surgery is smooth and successful!

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    6. DebRo- That is sweet. I recently had my ankle reconstructed and my Mom came to stay with me. We shared many memories and it was a true gift to have all that time with her and all to myself!
      Best wishes for a quick recovery.

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  4. Wow, I can't even imagine how hard writing a character who has no history in which to ground their experiences. Can't wait to read this one to see how you did it.

    I'm not sure which of my earliest memories are real or come from pictures my parents took. One non-photo memory is when I was playing outside my grandparents' farmhouse and managed to find myself in the middle of hill of black ants. The kind that bite. NOT a good memory by any means but very vivid. And it may explain why ants still freak me out.

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    1. Yes, that's the pitfall. Are we really remembering? Or has seeing a photo made it SEEM like a memory?

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    2. Annette, I’m sure you would be happy to forget that anthill memory! Anthill Amnesia!

      DebRo

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    3. Eeeek! Yes, I think I'd remember that, too. Ouch!

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  5. Fascinating stuff, Hannah. I'm glad you got through it! This spring I've been writing a three-POV, two-era book, all new stuff to me, and quite the challenge. At least they all have their memories...

    I remember the scent of sweet peas my mother planted in the house we moved out of before I was five. When I was four I was selected to be on a children's TV show (we lived near Pasadena). I remember being all dressed up in my party dress and playing outside before we left for Hollywood, and I was so excited I wet my pants. I'm not sure I remember anything before that, not even when my baby brother came home (but I wasn't yet two, so no surprise).

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    1. Whoa--those are complicated memories...

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    2. Oh, dual timeline and multi-POV! I chose that in my second novel The Neighbors. I used and Excel sheet to keep track of dates and wrote the chapters in linear sequence before shuffling them at the end (and then editing a LOT). Are you doing anything similar?

      As for the memories, I remember going to school with my big sister to visit her class and not daring to ask the teacher to go to the bathroom. Yeah...same thing happened. I think I was about four but the memory's very vivid. I'm pretty sure I cried.

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  6. Welcome Hannah, you are a rock star to us, just like Hank! This book sounds agonizing to write and fascinating to read...

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    1. AWw. ANd yes, the idea o NO backstory, so no conscious motivation or reliance on pst experiences. Think how often we ask--why did this person do that? and if they don't know, we don't, either.

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    2. Thank you, Lucy! It was the hardest yet. Thankfully the one for next year cooperated, ha, ha.

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  7. Congratulations on your new release!

    My dad had Alzheimers, so I've experienced a different kind of memory loss. He recognized me, and more important, knew the names of all my dogs. Occasionally I'll give a secondary character memory loss and confusion, but otherwise, it's too painful.

    My first memory? Falling into the neighbor's fishpond about age two.

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    1. Yes, it does depend on point of view, and that must have been very difficult.

      You fell into the fishpond? Poor little thing...

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    2. I'm so sorry to hear about your father, Margaret. That must've been very hard.

      Oh no! The fishpond? Oops!

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  8. This is chilling. I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to write. A special thank you for the WritersHQ link. What a great resource.

    First memory? The blue rug in my parent's apartment. It had a nubby, uncomfortable, texture. We moved from there before I turned a year old. My next is in the playground at the new apartment. My brother is pushing me on a swing. I have no idea how old I was, but I'm zooming high, giggling, and looking at my feet clad in those white leather high-top shoes kids wore back in the day.

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    1. That is fascinating about the rug! I wonder how your brain was developing at the time..hmm.

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    2. You're very welcome, Kait. WritersHQ's Plotstormers course really has been instrumental to me. I use it all the time and it works.

      I remember we had a coconut mat that was so scratchy. Apparently my sister hardly crawled and walked early - my parents suspected it might have been because of the mat. But your remembering the blue rug before you were 1 is extraordinary!

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  9. Congratulations on You Will Remember Me, Hannah ! I’m looking forward to read it.

    My first real memory is seeing my ex-neighbour arriving alone on his tricycle to play with me. We were best friends when I lived on the upper floor of his father duplex. We now lived many miles away and he had to ride his tricycle along a very busy street at only four years old to be with me. I was so surprised and so happy. My father couldn’t believe it and went to call his worried parents who had no idea where he was. They couldn’t believe it either but they were relieved to learn he was safe and sound.

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    1. Wow, Danielle. There's a whole book in that story!

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    2. Aww..that is devotion! ANd interesting to dissect--a little kid like that has no concept of how difficult it would be to get someplace. Got to wonder waht was gong through that little brain. Did you ever ask him about it?

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    3. Danielle, two of my siblings did something similar when they were three and four years old. Our parents were NOT happy!

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    4. Oh my gosh! How utterly impressive and equally terrifying!

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  10. Welcome, Hannah! You're braver than me. I don't think I'd attempt an amnesiac POV character. But this is definitely going on my TBR list because I want to see how you did it.

    First memory? Gosh, just snippets. I have a dim recollection of riding my first bike (with training wheels). And I remember being so proud of the box of 48 Crayola crayons I took to school with me (must have been kindergarten). But I don't know which came first.

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    1. Training wheels! Yes. And remember the fragrance of those crayons? 48 colors, too, very cool with lime green and turquoise.

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    2. For a brief, shining moment I was the coolest kid in the class!

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    3. Yes! Training wheels! And Crayola crayons. I loved those.

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  11. Wow! Seriously, how did you do it, Hannah? I'll just have to read the book to find out. I think my first memory was me in the kitchen and my father had just brought home a beaver he had trapped! For some reason that was very scary - that black tail - and I was screaming. I was no older than 3 at the time.

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    1. A BEAVER?? You were probably traumatized for life. YIKES.

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    2. I have a very patient and brilliant editor!! :-))))

      Wait, a beaver??? What happened to it?

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  12. Congrats on your latest book, Hannah! I have enjoyed 'meeting' you via FCF on Facebook. Such a great initiative by you and Hank.

    I am feeling a bit amnesiac myself this morning, as I cannot recall anything from my very early days. And, if I do, it's only via the photo of the moment or the story that is told by others of that moment, not the actual moment itself within me.

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    1. Hard to untangle which is which, I agree! xx

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    2. Thank you, Amanda, and I'm thrilled you're enjoying FCF.

      Memory is such a funny thing. We can see a photo and think we remember the occasion but that's not necessarily true. I can be the mind building stuff out or pulling filaments together, even if we don't have amnesia. The brain is quite fascinating.

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  13. Hannah, welcome to JRW. How great to see you here this morning! Your book is on my TBR list and about a dozen libraries around here indicate that it is "on order." That is a good thing!

    It is so much fun to hear about your writing process. I'm pretty sure that I don't contemplate the difficulties and challenges writers have when I am sitting on the screen porch with my third cup of coffee, totally immersed in a wonderful story. Writing a POV of someone with limited memories must be incredibly difficult. Back story is what gives a character the qualities that make readers interested in his presence. There must be many writers looking to see "how you did it."

    As for memories Hank, it is fascinating to see photos of moments we've forgotten completely. It has happened to me. Sometimes I will find speeches I gave or letters I've written and I just go, "WOW." The worst is when someone reminds you of things you did together that you have to dig to recall. At a reunion, a high school friend reminded me once that she was always in the car when my mother let me drive to rehersals for our musicals. I did not remember that immediately and she was pretty insulted. I was aghast. It was important to her. Where was my head?

    My earliest memories are mostly from the few months we lived in Tucson when I was about 3. I remember hundreds of things from that time, in particular, meeting Hopalong Cassidy when he appeared in the Old Tucson Days Parade. My mother's friend grabbed my hand and lead me from the bleachers to a spot where the famous cowboy stopped to say hello and I petted his stunning white horse. I probably remember some stuff from before we left Connecticut, but those memories are mixed up with others from when we returned.

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    1. Oh, that's quite the memory! (I can completely picture Hopalong Cassidy (what a truly silly name!)

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    2. I had to google Hopalong Cassidy :-)

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  14. A really interesting post, Hannah! I loved S.J. Watson's Before I Go to Sleep, as well as Tana French's The Witch Elm, that also features some amnesia after traumatic brain injury. So I can see why you were drawn to writing about an amnesiac. But it sounds VERY challenging!

    My earliest memory is of being outside with my older brothers, who are 12 and 15 years older than me. We saw a fox, and one of my brothers swept me up onto his shoulders to keep me from being afraid. I couldn't have been more than three years old for them both to have still been at home.

    In the vein of Hank's forgetting about the picture, I recently had an unnerving experience. I reconnected with a dear old friend from high school with whom I had lost touch years ago. He told me that when we were seniors, he was elected drama club president and a few months into his term, I basically told him he was doing a TERRIBLE job and should step down and let me take over, as I could certainly do it better. Which he did, and chooses to interpret as the biggest favor I ever did for him. I have absolutely no recollection of any of this. And yet, when I think of the arrogant self-confidence of my youth, I suspect it is absolutely true. I am mortified now, but grateful that he clearly remembers it with good humor.

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    1. OH, I so agree about Before I Go to Sleep. AMAZING. (The movie was so terrible, though, avoid at all costs.)

      ANd Susan, whoa. That IS quite the story. And that you forgot is even more interesting.

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    2. Let's be honest, Hank. I've probably repressed it. I mean, who would actually WANT to remember doing something like that?

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    3. That's so funny, Susan! I bet what you call "arrogant self-confidence" served you well though, surely? Let's just rephrase it as your being assertive :-)

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  15. I did write a book about a woman who doesn't realize she's got amnesia - after traumatic brain injury she thinks she remembers what happened. That's what people with amnesia often do - backfill, because NOT being able to remember your own past, particularly when its traumatic, can be unbearable. But she was NOT a POV character! My favorite book that pulls off an amnesiac POV character is Peter Abrahams' OBLIVION. It begins before he loses his memory and continues to after. Oh yeah, also Walter Moseley's brilliant THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GREY which is narrated from the POV of a man with dementia. Hannah, your book sounds fantastic - I need to read it!!

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    1. OH, I remember Oblivion. Peter Abrahams is such a genius.

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    2. Oh, I haven't read OBLIVION - I must do that - and Walter's book, too. Would you write another amnesiac character, Hallie?

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    3. That character was also depressed, which is ALSO very hard to write. ... and make interesting.

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  16. Oops - my book about the woman with amnesia was called AMNESIA - I forgot to mention that ;-)

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  17. Wow! I had never considered the difficulties of writing a character with no known backstory. Incredible. I love how you soldiered through, Hannah! Can’t wait to read it and congrats on the bestseller’s list! Bravo!

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    1. Yes, so agree..I love the way her brain works!

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    2. Thank you both so much. I had to soldier through - my editor expected the book, hahahaha. I had to make it work or I was in big trouble :-)

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  18. Wow, Hannah, what a challenge! I've written characters who were forgetful, but I haven't tackled amnesia. And I am so impressed by your outlining and preparation! I can't wait to find out Amnesia Man's story.

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    1. Yes, Hannah is incredibly organized. It's...intimidating. :-) In a good way.

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    2. Thank you, Deborah! I really hope you enjoy it.

      Hank - it's a blessing and a curse. A curse for my three sons, hahahaha.

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  19. I can completely relate to Hannah because I love tackling a new writerly challenge when I start a new book. I've been trying to nerve myself to do a locked door mystery, but I'm not sure 1) I'm clever enough and 2) it's enough to sustain a whole novel, as opposed to a short story or novella. (Hmm, that's an idea. Maybe a novella.)

    Anyway, I don't recall reading any stories with amnesiac protagonists (see what I did there?) but I ADORE the trope in movies, so I'm excited to dive into YOU WILL REMEMBER ME!

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    1. Yes, try the novella. But is that bar higher or lower???

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    2. Thank you, Julia! Maybe you can trick your brain into believing you'll "only" write a novella...and then it becomes a novel...?

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  20. Hannah, welcome to Jungle Reds! Speaking of amnesia, I wonder if my bout with meningitis before my 2nd birthday wiped out my memory, though I seemed to remember the toys in my baby room.

    Question: Do you have sisters or are you an only child?

    Hank, I can relate since I had a similar experience as you did regarding photos. I would find photos of myself with people that I thought I had met later and I was surprised. I would say "Oh, that is how I met that person through a mutual friend" for example.

    Great post today.

    Diana

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    1. I think I remember toys, too. And My mother painted a huge giraffe on the wall--I THINK I can picture that, but I might be making it up.

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    2. ANd yes, that photo! Not one cell in my brain remembers it, even when I see it!

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    3. Gosh, Bibliophile, I don't think I can remember anything from before I was about six. Or maybe I do but it's probably because of photographs I've seen.

      Yes, I have a sister who's two years older than me :-)

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  21. This is fascinating. Two members of my extended family suffer from infrequent amnesiac migraines. The first time it happened, they both said it was absolutely terrifying. Both hid it from those close to them at first and I found that impulse really interesting. Congrats and I can't read to read it, Hannah!

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    1. Oh, that is fascinating that they tried to hide it...vey good detail for a mystery. x

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    2. I've never heard of amnesiac migraines. I do have migraines from time to time (darn you, hazelnuts) but I've never lost my memory, just felt spaced out. That must be terrifying.

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    3. The way they described the first occurrence was just awful. They thought they were completely losing it . . .

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  22. Brava Hannah, I'm looking forward to reading your latest.
    My earliest memory is sitting in a cardboard box with all my toys. My sister recently moved across Canada to Ontario & was going through some old photos she found packed away. She sent one back to me...sitting in a cardboard box! I remember the kitchen, Mum making Sunday dinner, & the half-hour of Big Band music show playing on the radio.

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    1. That's so wonderful! I'm in Southern Ontario (Oakville) - might I be one of your sister's neighbours??

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  23. Cleo Coyle's Brewed Awakening had her heroine waking up on a park bench after being missing for several days. She's forgotten the last 15 years of her life and only recognizes people she knew from that time before. My earliest memory was when I was 2 or 3 at my parents' first home they'd bought. I was in a very small bedroom on a twin bed, supposed to be taking a nap while Mom was ironing. Being bored, I'd stuck a penny in my mouth for no particular reason. Accidently swallowed it. I don't remember if I told Mom or not. On one hand I was upset for losing my penny. On the other hand I didn't know what her reaction would be.

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    1. That is SO cute! Guilt is SUCH a complicated motivation! :-)

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    2. Yikes! And I can't believe so many of you can remember things from when you were two or three. I find that extraordinary.

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  24. Congratulations on your new book, Hannah. I have it waiting for me on audio, and I plan for it to be my next listen. I have Sister Dear in print waiting for me. My goal is to get to both this year.

    Hannah, you and Hank are doing so much for reading and readers with First Chapter Fun. I'm thinking there should be a category in the awards departments at conventions for something like this. There was the "Best Online Content" one that the Jungle Reads here won. Is it still around?

    One of my earliest memories was the month I turned three, February 1957. My father had had some bronchial problems, and his doctor suggested a change to a warm climate for a bit. Of course, this information came about later, not part of my memory. So, our whole family of mother and father and four kids, plus a friend of Daddy's to help drive, moved to Ft. Meyers, Florida for a month, the month of February. We rented a house. Now, what I remember is a coconut tree out in front of the house, and my brother, who was three years older than me, getting a coconut from the ground. I remember the soil was sandy around the house, too, so we must have been near water. I don't remember anything about inside the house and only a vague Craftsman style shape to the house outside. I remember a girl who must have been my age that lived by us, that she and I played together, but very vague. My siblings all had to attend school while we were there, so I don't remember being with them, except for the coconut find and a parade. We all went to some parade in town, and I just remember being with my two older sisters (eight and ten years older than me) and some other teens their age at the parade. I'm not sure if the following is a memory or it's from being told I said it, but there was a float sponsored by Pepsi, and the saying was "Pepsi Cola hits the spot." Well, I said "Pepsi Cola hits the pot," which apparently had my sisters and their friends laughing.

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    1. That is so sweet...and you know it's all in your brain somewhere. That's a lot of detail!
      And aww....thank you! That is so kind of you, dear Kathy. xx

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    2. Thank you so much, Kathy. I hope you enjoy the audio. I loved the three narrators: Melissa Moran (Lily), Lauren Ezzo (Maya), and Alex Wyndham (the man from the beach). The blend of their voices is brilliant.

      Such a kind thing to say about the award. I'm so happy you're enjoying FCF.

      As for your memories, it's fascinating that you can recall so much and in all that detail. Amazing!

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  25. My first memory is a gruesome one, which is why I am sure it became a memory. I'm about 2 years old. As the story goes, my dad was using the electric hedge trimmers at my grandparents house and cut his hand. A lot of blood. I was sitting on a picnic table, and someone ripped my diaper off me to capture the blood and put pressure on the wound. My memory is from the perspective of lying on the table, looking up. I remember the panic of everyone, the blood, and the diaper yanking! The memory is a 5 second clip, tops, but it's hung around for almost 50 years!

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    1. YIKES. (And whoa. Someone was thinking fast.) So this age of two seems to be the pivotal age... Poor little thing! xxx

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    2. Goodness, that must've been quite traumatizing! Was your dad okay?

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  26. Hannah, what an amazing accomplishment! I wouldn't even know how to begin a book about a character with amnesia.

    My first memory? Sitting in a high chair and drinking apple juice. (Guess I was always a foodie!)

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