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Book Club Conversation with Kimberly Lee | Author of Have You Seen Him

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Behind Have You Seen Him: Identity, Secrets, Storytelling & the Journey to Finding the Truth

Welcome back to another exclusive Book Club Conversation from The Page Ladies Book Club. Today we're sitting down with Kimberly Lee, award-winning author of Have You Seen Him, to talk about writing thrillers, crafting unforgettable twists, deleted scenes, publishing, creativity, and what's next for David's story.

📖 Featured Book

Have You Seen Him What if everything you believed about yourself was totally wrong? Attorney David Byrdsong has spent most of his life trying not to think about the day he was abandoned at an airport as a child. When he unexpectedly discovers his own face in a missing-child advertisement, his search for answers leads him into a deadly web of corporate conspiracies, long-buried secrets, dangerous truths, and questions about the people he trusts most. Fast-paced, emotionally compelling, and impossible to put down, Have You Seen Him blends psychological suspense with a moving exploration of identity, family, belonging, and resilience.

💬 The Conversation

  1. Three words to describe Have You Seen Him?
    Page-turner. Twisty. Touching.

  2. Why explore identity and belonging?
    Kimberly shares that every piece she's written eventually circles back to belonging. "We're all searching for answers to 'Who am I?' and 'Where do I belong?'" The missing-child premise offered the perfect way to examine those universal questions through suspense and romance.

  3. Where did the idea come from?
    Kimberly explains how a real missing-child advertisement, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and a simple writing prompt asking "What if?" all collided to inspire David's story.

  4. Can you silence your inner editor?
    Not really! Even though she encourages writers not to edit while drafting, Kimberly admits she's constantly revising as she writes and she's learned to embrace that process.

  5. Favorite part of writing?
    Polishing. Returning to finished chapters with fresh eyes and refining every sentence is where she finds the most joy.

  6. Plotter or pantser?
    Kimberly doesn't create detailed outlines. Instead, she often knows the beginning and ending, allowing her characters to discover the journey in between.

  7. Favorite deleted scene?
    One cut chapter featured a school custodian secretly helping Gayle escape campus while telling eerie local folklore surrounding the school. Although it didn't survive edits, Kimberly hopes readers may see it appear in a future book.

  8. Do you plant clues?
    Absolutely. She intentionally added subtle clues during revisions for observant readers hoping to solve the mystery early.

  9. What makes an unforgettable thriller?
    Kimberly believes memorable thrillers combine twists, pacing, surprises, humor, emotional connection, and characters readers genuinely care about.

  10. Biggest literary influences?
    Maya Angelou inspired her voice and courage. John Grisham inspired her love of legal thrillers and ultimately encouraged her to combine her legal background with fiction.

  11. Best writing advice?
    Write every idea down. Even the ones that seem silly. You never know which one will become your next novel.

  12. Biggest publishing surprise?
    Kimberly shares a deeply personal reflection about fear, losing her father unexpectedly, and choosing to pursue publication despite feeling uncomfortable with self-promotion. She leaves readers with Audre Lorde's powerful reminder: "When I dare to be powerful…it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid."

  13. What's next?
    Have You Seen Him is only the beginning. Kimberly is currently writing the second book in the trilogy during an upcoming writing residency and can't wait to reunite with these characters.

👩 About the Author

Kimberly Lee, JD, is an award-winning novelist, editor, workshop facilitator, and creative guide dedicated to helping others discover their authentic voice through writing, expressive arts, mindfulness, and reflective practices. She is a graduate of Stanford University and UC Davis School of Law and serves on the faculty of Hugo House, The Loft, Arts & Healing Initiative, and Women on Writing. Her workshops have been featured at Esalen Institute, Hollyhock Retreat Centre, Omega Institute, The Huntington, and numerous organizations throughout North America. Her writing has appeared in Literary Mama, Carve, F(r)iction, LA Parent, The Ekphrastic Review, BetterSleep, and many other publications. Kimberly lives in Southern California with her husband and three children.

🌿 Beyond the Novel

In addition to writing fiction, Kimberly leads expressive writing workshops, SoulCollage® retreats, and creativity experiences designed to help participants reconnect with imagination, intuition, and authentic storytelling.

🛒 Purchase Have You Seen Him

🌐 Connect with Kimberly Lee

📅 Upcoming Appearance

Book Reading & Signing
📍 Vroman's Bookstore
Pasadena, California
🗓 Sunday, July 19
⏰ 4:00–6:00 PM

Thank you for supporting The First Editions. Your membership makes conversations like these possible while helping us connect readers with the authors behind the stories we love.

Until next time… Happy Reading!
—The Page Ladies Book Club